Pierce Point Community Church

URGENT MATTERS As we walk through verses 17 through 20, they'll serve as a kind of outline for the bigger issues of unity and division. So let's jump into verse 17: "17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them." The term "urge" in Greek is "parakaleo," and it means to demand earnestly or pressingly. Clearly, this issue of division is rather important. Paul only uses this term four times in the book of Romans, and each represents a sort of watershed moment (at least doctrinally): Romans 12:1 when Paul says "I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice." Romans 12:8 when he says that the one who has the gift of exhortation should use it (the word means to urge, clearly the church needs this). Romans 15:30, when Paul asks the saints to strive together with him in prayer for his ongoing mission, the term he uses is "to urge." And again here in Romans 1