Kingdom People Romans 15:7-13 (p. 1049) April 3, 2011

1. Koinonia Koinonia – Grk for “fellowship” Acts 2:42ff Acts 4:32ff Koinonia is rooted in the love of God “We love because he first loved us” (I John 4:19)

2. Diversity in Koinonia Church in Rome was diverse: Jewish Christians & Gentile Christians We are also diverse! Types of diversity: Functional – different roles to play Socio-economic status Age & Stage of life Ethnic – different assumptions, ways of life, ways of communicating, food, language, gestures, manners, etc. … and more!

3. Accept One Another Rom 15: 7 - “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Ps 18:49 – “I will praise you among the Gentiles” God’s name is being praised while in the midst of Gentiles Deut 32:43 – “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people” Gentiles themselves are rejoicing; they are in the midst of the Israelites

3. Accept One Another Ps 117:1 – “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, let all the peoples extol him.” Gentiles praise him on their own Isa 11:10 (LXX) – “The Root of Jesse will spring up…in him the Gentiles will hope.” It is through the Messiah (Jesus) that the Gentiles are brought in Jews and Gentiles alike place their hope in Jesus The body of Christ is to be a “fellowship of the naturally unlike” (Gore, 1907)

3. Accept One Another We must honestly ask ourselves if we have stereotypes about those who are different from us Examples Americans Communication Styles What is it for you? We must move away from mere tolerance towards understanding, acceptance and love.