The Family of God in Action

Romans · Romans 16 · October 18, 2026

Ever feel like nobody really notices you? God knows your name.

Romans 16 is the chapter most of us skim. After fifteen chapters of the deepest theology in the Bible, Paul ends his letter with what looks like a list of names: Phoebe, Priscilla and Aquila, Andronicus and Junia, Rufus and his mother, and more than two dozen others.

In the final message of our Romans series, we slowed down and read every name, because that list says something powerful about the church. Paul greets Jews and Greeks, slaves and the wealthy, men and women, married couples and house-church leaders. They came from all over the world, much like GV Christian is made up of people from California, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Nevada and beyond. What held them together was two short phrases repeated throughout the chapter: “in the Lord” and “in Christ.” As Galatians 3:28 says, “you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

None of us will make the list of names in Scripture. But there’s another list being written right now, the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21; Philippians 4:3). If you’ve trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, your name is on it.

Four lessons from Romans 16

1. God knows my name. Jesus said, “He calls his own sheep by name” (John 10:3). You are not a face in the crowd to Him. “If anyone loves God, this one is known by Him” (1 Corinthians 8:3).

2. There are no unimportant people to God. Jesus chose fishermen and tax collectors. Scripture honors a boy who gave his lunch, a widow who gave two small coins, and the unnamed people who rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls in 52 days. “God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (1 Corinthians 12:18). Whether you lead a Life Group, serve behind the scenes, or are just trying to get through the week, your place in the family of God matters.

3. God sees the people who serve. Romans 16 lists couples, siblings, a mother and son, and house-church leaders, most of them people we’d never have heard of otherwise. The church isn’t made up of famous preachers. It’s made up of people who serve without a title, for the love of God. Don’t let the enemy tell you your service doesn’t count.

4. The family of God takes care of one another. Romans is full of “one anothers”: be devoted to one another (12:10), honor one another (12:10), live in harmony (12:16), don’t judge one another (14:13), accept one another (15:7), teach one another (15:14).

A warning, and a promise

Paul ends with a warning: “Note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). The best protection against false teaching is to listen to the Word, learn the Word, and live the Word (James 1:22). And then the promise: “The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20).

Paul closes with a doxology of praise to the One “who is able to establish you” (Romans 16:25). Because of Jesus, you are not alone, and He is able to keep you from stumbling (Jude 24).

Life Group questions

Getting to Know You

  1. Have you ever been somewhere where everyone seemed to know each other except you? What helped you feel like you belonged?

Diggin’ Deeper

  1. In Romans 16, Paul mentions many people by name. Why do you think Paul took the time to recognize these people, and what does that teach us about how God values people?
  2. Read John 10:3,14; Nahum 1:7; 1 Corinthians 8:3. God knows our name, and we are not alone. How would you live differently knowing that the God of the universe knows you?

Keepin’ It Real

  1. How can you bring others to the family of God this week? Pray for God to reveal someone in your life who may be overlooked.
  2. Read the Doxology Together:
    Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
    Praise him, all creatures here below;
    Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
    Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Scripture references

Romans 16 · Romans 15:33 · Galatians 3:28 · Revelation 21 · Philippians 4:3 · John 10:3, 14 · Nahum 1:7 · 1 Corinthians 8:3 · 1 Corinthians 12:12–27 · Romans 12:10, 16 · Romans 14:13 · Romans 15:7, 14 · Matthew 7:15 · James 1:22 · Jude 24 · 1 John 4:4 · 2 Timothy 3:16 · Isaiah 28:10

More from Romans

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