City Life Starter

I. The Word: Romans 15:22-29

22This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. 23But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

II. Reflection Questions:

1. What is hindering Paul from going to Rome?

2. Think of a time you have had to choose between being comfortable and accomplishing something you felt God was calling you to do. What did you do and why?

Paul’s hinderence in coming to the church in Rome was not the result of a lack of desire. Throughout romans Paul makes reference to his desire to see them, give encouragement, pray for them, etc. (Romans 1:10, Romans 1:13,Romans 15:29, Romans 15:32)

At the time of the writing Paul had already been on three missionary journeys from Jerusalem to multiples cities across Greece and Asia Minor proclaiming the gospel. With all that travel what would have kept him from seeing a congregation he cared enough to write a 16 chapter letter to and going to what effectively served as the capital of the gentiles world? The gospel had been preached in Rome, we know this because there is a Roman church he is writing to. While it would be nice to see the heart of the Roman Empire and maybe even relax a little in a place that the gospel was already established, the importance and the weight of accomplishing his call to “preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone elseʼs foundation ‭‭(Romans‬ ‭15:20‬)” was the over riding theme that allowed Paul to choose Christ over comfort. 
In my mind the appeal of going where people know and respect you in a large city with people who share the same beliefs as you (and more importantly Rome had running water) is like choosing rather to live in Houston vs Cut and Shoot, Tx (it’s a real place look it up!). However as an apostle he focused on taking the name of Jesus where it had not been preached, which did not just entail preaching; but living, training, building a functional church with leaders, teaching on the faith, addressing cultural issues,and emphasizing the gospels sufficiency in what could be an extremely hostile environment. Add the fact he needed to also maintain previously established churches and you begin to see the scale of Paul’s ministry, and his prioritization of the gospel over comfort and self becomes even more apparent. This is the gospel Jesus modeled, that the very God who made creation would disadvantage himself to die so that we could have all. That Paul too would willingly, lovingly, disadvantaged himself repeatedly for years if only for the chance to give good news. 
Paul mentions bringing a gift from Achaea and Macedonia to the believers in Jerusalem, who were under intense persecution socially and economically. To Paul this loving contribution of the gentiles in support of the Jewish believers was a welcome and necessary show of unity that reciprocated the Jews sharing the spiritual blessings, as Gods people, with the gentiles. 
Paul confirms his much anticipated plans to finally the romans on his way to Spain. While Paul does eventually make it to Rome years later. It is as a prisoner for the gospel, in which Paul continues his focus on fully preaching the gospel anywhere and everywhere he goes.