Great Attitudes Series: “Cordiality”

Who Needs Our Help?

      God commands that we reach out, accept and affirm one another. This means that we consciously resist the strong current of the stream we are in….you know, the one that allows these excuses:

·         “I’m just too busy”

·         “It’s not worth the risk”

·         “I really don’t need anyone”

·         “If I reach out, I might look foolish”

We really have deluded ourselves into thinking that we are not really our brother’s keeper. After all, we have time pressures and work demands, not to mention, anxieties prompted by economic uncertainty. After all, who really needs our help anyway? I will tell you who…just about every person that we meet!

Proverbs 16:21

“The wise heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.”

Consider the following insights based upon words:

·         “Wise” – This term occur 115 xs and indicates “good judgment.”

·         “Heart” – the center of judgment making

·         “Sweetness” – good natured

·         “Persuasiveness” – believability, the ability to convince

Interesting Fact

When you Google “cordiality” you will discover there are 1,500,000 hits on this topic.

Cordiality In Action

·         Romans 16:3-23 – Paul’s closing words and greetings

·         He lists at least thirty-four people in closing this letter to the Roman saints.

o   There were twenty-four in Rome (17 men, 7 women)

·         What makes this list of names in Rome so significant, is that he had not been there yet.

o   Names were important to Paul. Most of these people he had met on his mission journeys and they now had settled in Rome.

o   What kind of energy does it take to keep up with so many people? It surely must be exhausting at times.

o   What an example from Paul that names does matter and that He was affectionate toward these people.

o   The word “GREET” occurs nineteen times.

·         Note the closing words in vv.21-23 – MORE NAMES!

o   In the previous Census it was determined there were at least 5.7 million people who were anonymous to the census takers.

o   Each year in America there are thousands of bodies that are found with no names attached to them. Only one-in-twenty ever have an ID on them.

o   Over 37% of people that attend any given church do so because their friends take an interest in them personally and invite them to church – somebody knows my name.

(Circle all Names – BOX the word “Greet”)

Romans 16:3-23 (English Standard Version)

 ³Greet^(A) Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. ⁵Greet also^(B) the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was^(C) the first convert^[a] to Christ in Asia. ⁶Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. ⁷Greet Andronicus and Junia,^[b] my kinsmen and my^(D) fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles,^[c] and they were in Christ before me. ⁸Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. ¹⁰Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those^(E) who belong to the family of Aristobulus. ¹¹Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. ¹²Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. ¹³Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. ¹⁴Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers^[d] who are with them. ¹⁵Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. ^16(F) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Final Instructions and Greetings

 ¹⁷I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles^(G) contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught;^(H) avoid them. ¹⁸For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but^(I) their own appetites,^[e] and^(J) by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ¹⁹For^(K) your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you^(L) to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. ^20(M) The God of peace^(N) will soon crush Satan under your feet.^(O) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 ^21(P) Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

 ²²I Tertius,^(Q) who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

 ^23(R) Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.^[f]