“All the churches of Christ greet you.” (Romans 16:16)
Every congregation of Jesus is autonomous. They each have their own eldership. They each exist and make decisions independently of one another. There is no head church or lead pastor. We have no papacy or authoritarian regional board. Each congregation is commended directly to the Lord (see Acts 14:23)
However, don’t confuse autonomy with isolation. There ought to be a rich and deep interwoven tie that binds the hearts of all God’s people together. When we are serving as we ought, distance doesn’t separate our fellowship, and our shared faith draws us to each other as much as it draws us to Jesus. May we greet each other as fellow laborers in the same vineyard with an appreciation for the good others are doing in places we are not able to be.
Today’s Reading: Romans 16:1-16
Questions to ask:
- How is Paul feeling as he writes today’s passage? What is his mood?
- What are the central themes in Paul’s preaching and teaching which are being emphasized, or how are the central themes in this epistle being emphasized in today’s reading?
- How does our reading show Paul’s people skills, especially how he handles conflict?
- What in this passage would change the lives of the believer(s) being addressed? How does it make me a better disciple?
- How does this show the “good news” of the gospel? How can I share that with someone else?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision