22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. (Romans 15:22-29 ESV)
For years Paul has been trying to get to Rome, as part of his effort to get to Spain. Paul’s work in the east has reached a tipping point and he’s ready to head west to Spain. But he wants to stop in Rome on the way. He wants to stop there for two reasons. First, to enjoy the company of the Christians in Rome. Second, to give them a chance to help him on his journey to Spain.
But one of the reasons he’s writing them now is that he’s taking up an Outreach Contribution for the poor in Jerusalem. As he states in v. 25, he is “going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.” In v. 26, he specifically mentions the poor in Jerusalem. We know, according to Acts 11, that a great famine has hit Palestine. Apparently, the effects of that famine are lingering and impacting the poor. Paul is collecting money from Christians in Rome and elsewhere to fund relief efforts in Jerusalem that are helping the poor.
This is exactly what we are doing on May 7. We are collecting money to fund ministry to the poor.
But it’s not just money. Not just cash. Not just checks. Not just electronic transfers. Notice the language Paul uses here. He uses three words that show us that collecting money for the poor is a whole lot more than collecting money for the poor:
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First, when Paul describes what he’s doing in bringing the money to Jerusalem in verse 22, he uses a word that means “serving” or “ministering to.” It’s the word we get our English word “deacon” from. The giving of this money is a way of serving the poor.
Second, in verse 25 Paul describes the giving of this money as a “fellowship” for the poor. Taking a contribution to provide relief for the poor is not something that is cold and uncaring. It’s an act of fellowship, of solidarity. It’s relational in nature.
Third, Paul describes this material blessing in a spiritual way in verse 27. He uses the word from which we get our word “liturgy.” It’s the word we use when we talk about having a worship “service.” The gift of money for relieving the needs of the poor is an act of worship.
Highland’s Outreach Contribution next Sunday, May 7, is all of this. It’s not just giving money. It’s an act of service and ministry to the poor. It’s an act of fellowship with the poor. It’s an act of worship.
This morning we’re talking with Ron Wade about one of the ministries to the poor that is funded in part by Highland’s Outreach Contribution. Ron is an elder at Highland, helps lead the Chinese Ministry at Highland, and is the Executive Director at HopeWorks.
- Ron, one of the things HopeWorks does is help people complete their high school education. Last year, the state of Tennessee asked HopeWorks to provide this service is a significant way. Why is this so important, especially for the poor, and how has this been going?
- Ron, you’re about to open the doors at your new location. Could you tell us about the new location, the new neighborhood, and some of the opportunities you anticipate it brings to serve the poor?
- Ron, you’re also involved in working with those who are incarcerated. Could you tell us about that work and why it matters?
Next Sunday, May 7, all of us have an opportunity to help fund the ministry of HopeWorks. HopeWorks is one of 26 ministries funded directly through our Outreach Contribution. We fund these ministries through two Outreach Contributions each year. To finish out the fiscal year, we need to raise $190,000 next Sunday. This will help fully fund the $435,000 commitment we’ve made to ministries like HopeWorks for this fiscal year. Our goal of $190,000 is about 5 times what we give on an average Sunday. We hope you’ll use this week to pray about how you can give this week. Because in giving, you’re not just sharing money. You are serving. You are fellowshipping. You are worshiping.
And you are changing lives. We’re going to close with a video testimony of Mildred Richards. She is a graduate of HopeWorks who had a dramatic recovery from being raped on the streets of Memphis and contracting HIV to speaking to both presidents Bush & Obama on AIDS/HIV funding.
