Getting a Vision for Your Community

Romans 15:14-22

Well, the journey through Romans is almost over. Just a few more entries and this will be complete.

Paul's popularity as a minister seemed to concern him. He knew he was called to spread the gospel to the Gentile nations. He also knew he was to go to places untouched by the gospel. This would give reason to the long missionary journeys. He even made a practice of revisiting the places he had already established churches as a means of strengthening the gospel message and training more ministers. He did not, however, purposely go into lands in which other apostles and missionaries ventured. Why?

Part of it may have been Paul's reluctance of becoming a central figure in the church which would distracted from the central message of Christ. Another reason could have been his genuine desire to preach only where the gospel had not been preached; hence his referral to Spain and his quote from Isaiah 52:15:

so will he sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Isaiah 52:15 (NIV)

This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. Romans 15:22 (NIV)

Above all reasons would have been Paul's reliance on the Holy Spirit's guidance. Whatever the reason, we owe respect to this reasoning especially in the culture we have created in the United States. People seemed to have lost the zeal of spreading the gospel in their community and being active in a local congregation of worship.

Soapbox warning:

It saddens me that people will travel an hour to go hear a preacher speak and never take time to invest in their own community. Small churches don't grow because people spend too much time window shopping for a better church instead of using the vision God has given them to make their own church better. The grass is not always greener...Large churches are not bad! We just need to examine our motives.

Off soapbox

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Romans 15:14 (NIV)

Paul addresses the Roman church with a confidence in them. He reassures them of their ability to lead their people. He says they are full of goodness, evident in their wanting to gain more insight from another minister, namely him. He also did not want to insult their competent ability to minister, yet he was not ashamed to be bold.

by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:19 (NIV)

Paul relied not on his own power but the power of the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel. Humility? Yes and no. Yes because Paul did not claim credit for himself. No because in Paul's mind nothing the Spirit did was under his control. God's Way doesn't need defending.

• What kind of vision has God given you for your community? What is holding you back?
• How can you become more involved with your church? Have you asked your pastor or minister what needs to be done?
• How have you seen the Holy Spirit's power manifested in your life?