February 23, 2025 – Romans 16

Lesson Date: February 23, 2025

Focal Scripture Passage: Romans 16:1-27

AIM: To lead students to identify Paul’s important words of encouragement, warning, and blessing, and to look for opportunities to encourage, warn, or bless someone this week.

 

Before class: Read the notes on Romans 16:1-27 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask: “How many words do you think we speak in a day?”  Allow time for some responses, and then tell the students that recent Internet searches indicate that the typical person speaks 7,000 to 20,000 words per day, with an average being about 16,000.  Tell them that women evidently speak more words than men, but all of us speak literally thousands of words each day.

Ask: “Are all the words we speak important?” (no, many of them are very mundane and trivial).  Tell the class that no one really cares about the thousands of words most of us speak, but when someone very important like the President of the United States speaks, he is surrounded by reporters with microphones to catch every word.

Ask: “What are some other situations when someone’s words would be considered important?”  Allow time for some responses, which might include final instructions before leaving on a trip, warnings about things that are dangerous, or the last words with a dying loved one.

Tell the class the title of today’s lesson is Important Words.  Tell them at the end of his letter to the believers in Rome, Paul shared some very important words, including words of encouragement, warning, and blessing.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Tell everyone that this is our final lesson from the New Testament book of Romans.
   • Be sure everyone has a copy of the new Sunday School Member Quarterly for the Spring quarter, and tell them next week we begin a study of the Old Testament book of 1 Kings.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (My Ministry to Others; we discovered five ways we can minister to others).
   • Ask: “Have you had an opportunity to minister to anyone this week?”
2. Words of Encouragement.
   • Read Romans 16:1-5.
   • Ask: “Who did Paul name and commend in verse 1?” (Phoebe).
   • Explain that Phoebe was a woman who was a servant of the church at Cenchrea, and verse 2 indicates she was one of those who would carry Paul’s letter to Rome.
   • Ask: “According to verse 2, what did Paul encourage them to do for Phoebe?” (receive her and help in her work, because she had helped many people, including Paul).
   • Tell the class that even though Paul had never been to Rome, he knew many believers who lived there; in verses 3-16 he sent greetings and encouraging words to them.
   • Ask: “Who did he greet in verse 3?” (Priscilla and Aquila).
   • Ask: “What did he say about them?” (they were his helpers).
   • Explain the following:
     • Aquila and Priscilla were a Jewish husband and wife who became Christians.
     • Paul met them and lodged with them in Corinth during his Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:3).
     • They traveled with Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:18), where they evidently remained for some time (Acts 18:26; 1 Cor. 16:19).
     • By the time Paul wrote this letter, they had moved back to Rome.
   • Ask: “What did Paul say about them in verses 4-5?” (they had risked their lives for Paul and they now had a church meeting in their house in Rome).
   • Tell the students that in verses 6-16 Paul named more than twenty individuals and groups.
   • Ask everyone to listen for the encouraging words he spoke about those people as you read Romans 16:6-16.
   • Ask: “What words of encouragement, praise, and greeting do you see in those verses?” They should name some of the following:
     • 6 – Mary worked hard to help Paul and his companions.
     • 7 – These two individuals were Paul’s fellow prisoners, they were noteworthy among the apostles, and they had been Christians longer than Paul.
     • 8 – Paul loved this person in the Lord.
     • 9 – Urbane was Paul’s helper (fellow worker) in Christ.
     • 10 – Paul said Apelles was “approved in Christ.”
     • 11 – Herodian was Paul’s countryman or kinsman, and the others were “in the Lord.”
     • 12 – These people were faithful laborers who served the Lord.
     • 13 – Rufus was “chosen in the Lord.”
     • 14-15 – These people were brethren and saints; in other words, they were Christians.
   • Ask: “How encouraging do you think it was that Paul called the names of these people and said good things about them?” (very encouraging).
   • Ask: “Do you think the encouraging words Paul directed toward these people would encourage other believers to live faithfully and serve the Lord?” (yes).
   • Summarize: The Apostle Paul encouraged the believers in Rome by recognizing many of them for their faithful service and devotion to the Lord Jesus. We should do the same.
3. Words of Warning.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 16:17-20.
   • Ask: “What did Paul warn them about in verse 17?” (those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine they had been taught).
   • Ask: “What did he tell them to do about those people?” (mark, identify, and watch them, and then avoid them).
   • Ask: “Is that warning still appropriate for the modern church?” (yes).
   • Ask: “According to verse 18, what did those troublemakers serve?” (their belly; in other words, their selfish flesh; this is still true of troublemakers today).
   • Ask: “How did they deceive people?” (with convincing and eloquent words; this is still true of false teachers today).
   • Ask: “According to the end of verse 19, what did Paul want them to be ‘wise’ (knowledgeable) about?” (that which is good).
   • Ask: “What did he want them to be ‘simple’ (ignorant) of?” (evil things).
   • Ask: “What encouraging promise did he make in verse 20?” (God would use them to bruise or crush Satan).
   • Tell the class that just as words of encouragement are helpful and beneficial, sometimes we must speak words of warning to fellow believers.
   • Summarize: The Apostle Paul warned the believers in Rome to identify and avoid those in the church who used flowery speech and deceptive methods to cause offenses and divisions. We should do the same.
4. Words of Blessing.
   • Read Romans 16:21-23.
   • Explain that these verses contain greetings to the believers in Rome from Christians who were with Paul in Corinth, including the following:
     • Timothy was Paul’s apprentice and ministry partner.
     • The other men listed in verse 21 were Paul’s “kinsmen” or fellow Jews.
     • Tertius was Paul’s “secretary,” who wrote the book of Romans as Paul dictated it.
     • Gaius was Paul’s host during his stay in Corinth.
     • Erastus was a city government official.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 16:24.
   • Ask: “What words of blessing did Paul send?” (he prayed that the grace of the Lord Jesus would be with all his readers).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 16:25-27.
   • Tell the students that these verses comprise one sentence, expressing praise to God.
   • Ask: “According to verse 25, what power does God possess?” (power to establish them through the Gospel).
   • Ask: “What else does verse 25 say?” (that the revelation of Jesus Christ had been a mystery, kept secret since the world began).
   • Ask: “According to verse 26, what did God do about that secret?” (revealed it through the scriptures).
   • Ask: “Why did he do that?” (so people of all nations, like us, can be saved).
   • Ask: “What words of blessing do you see in verse 27?” (Paul expressed glory to God through Jesus Christ).
   • Summarize: The Apostle Paul blessed the believers in Rome by sending greetings from other Christians and by glorifying God who had blessed them with grace, power, and the Gospel revealed in the scriptures.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind everyone that the title of today’s lesson is Important Words.  Ask: “What three types of important words did the Holy Spirit inspire Paul to write?” (words of encouragement, words of warning, and words of blessing).

Tell the class that all of us can become discouraged at times, but words of encouragement from a brother or sister in Christ can help us.

Ask: “Do you know anyone who needs some encouragement?  If so, will you speak or write some encouraging words to that person this week?”

Tell the students that there are many spiritual dangers in our world, including those who seek to sow discord and strife within the church.

Ask: “Do you know anyone who needs to be warned about some spiritual danger?  If, so, will you make a point to speak some words of warning to that person this week?”

Tell the class that from time to time we need to be blessed by being reminded of Christ’s power and glory.

Ask: “Do you know anyone you could bless by pointing them to Jesus Christ and His power and glory?  If so, will you try to bless that person this week?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to ask God to enable them to encourage, warn, and bless other believers this week.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

 

CONCLUSION: Urge the students to follow through on any commitments they made this morning, and to look for opportunities to encourage, warn, and bless their brothers and sisters in Christ.  Tell them that next week we will begin a study of 1 Kings, and ask them to begin the Daily Bible Reading Guide in their new quarterly tomorrow.