Teaching Text

Romans 16:1-16

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

Sermon Recap

This week, Pastor Jon Tyson continued our sermon series on Missional Formation by teaching on the distinctive of Communitas and the discipline of core accountability through Romans 16:1-16, which uncovers the communal structure of the Early Church and challenges us to rethink community in light of God’s Kingdom. Jesus’ vision for the Church is more than just a group of people who are formed by their own preferences and opinions, but a people unified by shared mission.

God is a relational being, constantly in community with Himself through the Trinity, and He created humanity to flourish in the same way. The Church is referred to as both a “flock” and “the body” throughout Scripture. However, we often choose not to participate in community out of selfish isolation, crushing expectations for the Church, our own preferences, or because we’re afraid to invest our relationships in a transient place like New York City. Looking at the Early Church reveals there is more available for us than a preference-based lifestyle. Paul addresses people by name, calling them beloved, co-workers, spiritual mothers, and mentions people who were imprisoned or risked death for their faith. This wasn’t just a small group of friends; they functioned through relational depth that was formed around a common purpose.

Pastor Jon called for our Church to move from preference-based community to ‘communitas’. The word communitas describes a group of disciples formed around the person and mission of Jesus, radically committed to Him, each other, and advancing God’s Kingdom in the world. We can intentionally form our community around mission—moving from a place of comfort into relationships that may require risk, sacrifice, challenge, and vulnerability. By forming our relationships around the person of Jesus, we become missional disciples who can effectively take part in the things God is doing in our city.

This week, we invite you to join us in saying yes to everything Jesus died to give us, increasing our commitment to each other, and moving into the intentional communitas that is available inside the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit.

For additional information and resources about “Communitas” you can check out the guide here.