I. The New Testament Church Practices
   A. Obeyed the doctrine given by the Apostles - Acts 2:42
   B. The Church deeply loved and fellowshipped one another - Acts 2: 42-47
& Rom 16
   C. Each city had one church of Christ often in several home congregations and
they were warmly affectionate to one another  - Rom 16: 16

II. Romans Is A wonderful Book To A Real Church With Real Problems That We Can Relate To
   A. Chapters 1-11 is Doctrine ( grace , baptism , God's love )
   B. Chapter 12 is practical information on how we are to be
" living " sacrifices
   C. Chapter 13 tells us to obey the Law of The Land
   D. Chapter 14 & 15 tells us how to deal with one another
   E. Chapter 16 tells of the wonderful people associated with the church
and what they meant to Paul / other Christians

III. The Church At Rome Had
   A. Unity in diversity
      i) men , women , widows , singles , slaves , royalty , elderly
      ii) God wove a patchwork of different people into a quilt of love and
obedience
   B. Servants worked in obscurity
      i) Phoebe was a helper to many Christians including Paul
      ii) she was a servant of the Church in Cenchreae but was in Rome
on business
      iii) her good deeds were done without recognition except from God
and Paul
   C. Members that were faithful wherever they were
      i) Priscilla and Aquila , as Jews , originally were expelled from Rome
in AD 49
      ii) they went to Corinth and practiced their trade as tent makers where
they were converted by Paul
      iii) they went with Paul when he went to Ephesus and hosted a church
in their home ; they also helped convert Apollos
      iv) now we see them back in Rome with a church in their home
      v) Paul said they had " risked " their lives to save him and other
Gentile Christians
   D. Simple love for one another  
      i) 19 different descriptions of 34 people with one thing in common
- love of the Lord and each other
      ii) Rufus lived there ; his Mom befriended the Apostle Paul
      iii) his Dad may have carried the cross of Christ - Mark 15:21

IV. Summary
   A. Chapter 16 is not practical - its personal to Paul
   B. I pray that Melrose , who is equally diverse ,  practices such a warmth ,
fellowship , and following of Bible authority
   C. It should pain us when we can not come to our worship services
   D. With such a fellowship and common love , it is easier to be more accepting
and forgiving because we love the church and its master - everybody can not
be exactly like us
   E. We have the name on the sign outside but we need heart inside