How does 1 Corinthians 16:15 connect with Romans 12:13 about serving others? The Heart of the Passage 1 Corinthians 16:15: “You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints.” Defining “Serving the Saints” • “Devoted” (Greek: tassō) pictures an intentional, ongoing arrangement—an ordered life of ministry, not a sporadic act. • “Service” (diakonia) encompasses practical assistance, financial help, hospitality, and any action that strengthens fellow believers. • Stephanas and his household model a family culture bent toward others’ good, setting a precedent for congregations. Linking 1 Corinthians 16:15 and Romans 12:13 Romans 12:13: “Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.” • Same audience—“the saints.” Paul expects the local church to focus first on fellow believers, then outward (Galatians 6:10). • Same call—ongoing generosity. Paul uses present imperatives (“share,” “practice”), mirroring the “devoted” lifestyle of Stephanas. • Same outcome—tangible love that puts doctrine on display (John 13:34-35). Rome receives the very pattern lived out in Corinth. Further Scriptural Threads • Acts 2:44-45—early believers sell possessions to meet needs. • 1 Peter 4:9-10—“Be hospitable to one another without complaining… serve one another with the gift each has received.” • Hebrews 6:10—God remembers every act of service done for His name. • Matthew 25:40—serving believers equals serving Christ Himself. Practical Takeaways for Today • Build rhythms of service: schedule a weekly slot to visit, cook for, or pray with church members in need. • Turn homes into ministry hubs: open the table, spare room, or driveway as Stephanas did. • Steward finances purposely: set aside a portion of every paycheck for benevolence, echoing Romans 12:13’s sharing. • Engage the whole household: involve children, roommates, or spouses so service becomes family identity. • Look for unnoticed saints: widows, single parents, new believers—meeting their needs incarnates gospel love. Living It Out Today The household of Stephanas shows that serving isn’t an event but a lifestyle. Romans 12:13 echoes the same heartbeat. When believers devote themselves to caring for one another, the church functions as God designed—an embodied testimony that His Word is true, His love is real, and His people are alive in good works prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10). |
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