Romans 16

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe ..." Paul told the church in Rome to welcome Phoebe, "a servant of the church." Believers united by Christ were family. Paul ended his letter by naming many who were "beloved," "fellow workers," and "the approved." Devoted to Jesus and to one another, these believers were truly "the body of Christ". In contrast, Paul warned them to beware "those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned" (v17).

Small or large, rich or poor, the church is the same - a community united by love for Christ and one another.