Romans 16:3-5 This passage introduces us to Aquila and Priscilla. Who were this couple? Why are they important to the Apostle Paul? What possibly prompted the expulsion of the Jews from Rome? What did Aquila and Paul have in common? Why, apparently, did Paul want to take this couple with him and leave them in Ephesus? What is the connection between Aquila and Priscilla and the man Apollos? What is significant about his being from Alexandria? Why is Apollos important in the unfolding history of the church in Corinth? What was the relationship between Paul and Apollos? What ways did Aquila and Priscilla find to play a part in what God was doing around them? How are Phoebe and Aquila and Priscilla examples for us today? (61 min)

Keywords Paul, Aquila, Corinth, Ephesus, Apollos

Romans 16:2 In this lesson we are continuing to learn about the woman Phoebe. Paul wanted the Roman christians to welcome her into their fellowship. What was to be their attitude in receiving here? What is the remarkable privilege that we as Christians have as we do the various things we do in life? What kind of a reception was Phoebe to receive? Why? How does this pertain to our relationship with other believers? In what way did Paul expect the Romans to assist Phoebe? What is particularly distinct about the way that Phoebe had been a service to others, including Paul? What does this tell us about her? How do we know that chapter sixteen of Romans belongs to the epistle to the Romans, and not to some other letter? Who were Aquila and Priscilla? (51 min)

Keywords Serve, Helper, Saints

Romans 16:1-2 Having concluded the main body of his letter, Paul next sets out to commend and greet a number of individuals. Why is this section of Romans important for us to study? What can we discover about the woman Phoebe from her name and from her home town of Cenchrea? What can we expect the seaport of Cenchrea was like? Why should we not easily pass over Paul's referral to Phoebe as "our sister?" Where did Phoebe appear to stand in the social strata of Cenchrea? Why were letters of commendation important in the early church? Why was Phoebe traveling to Rome? What important task is it believed that Phoebe probably carried out for Paul? Why is it significant that such a task was entrusted to her? (60 min)

Keywords Corinth, Cenchrea, Phoebe, Deaconess

Romans 15:27-33 In this lesson we pick up in the middle of Paul's discussion about the offering from the Gentile churches to the poor Jewish believers in Jerusalem. Why is this offering so frequently discussed by Christians? To what does Paul's decision to personally take the offering to Jerusalem alert us? How do we know that this offering is about a whole lot more than simply charity to the poor? How could Paul assure himself that when he arrived in Rome it would be in the "fullness of the blessing of Christ?" How do we know that the contributors to this offering were doing so freely, without compulsion? In what way were the Gentile churches obligated to contribute? How does this offering relate to the subject Paul discussed earlier about the strong and the weak in the church? What does this all mean for the oneness of the Body of Christ? (55 min)

Keywords Giving, Offering, Strong, Weak, Rome, Spain

Romans 15:22-26 The Apostle Paul has long had a desire to go to Rome to visit the Christians there. He believes now that the time has finally come when he will be able to do so. What are the things that have hindered him from going to Rome before now? What is the corollary of every decision or choice we make in life? How is Paul's experience similar to King David's desire to build a temple, or to some desires in our own lives? What does our faithfulness to the exercise of our spiritual gifts and ministry necessarily imply about doing some other things for God? How did Paul's proposed visit to Rome now fit into God's plan for Paul's ministry? Why did Paul wish to go to Spain? What new difficulties did ministry in Spain present that Paul had not encountered before? How could the Romans help Paul in this? What is significant about the word "help" in this passage, and how does it relate to our own involvement in the missionary outreach of the church? What still stood in the way of Paul's going immediately to Rome and Spain? (60 min)

Keywords Gifts, Rome, Spain, Ministry