The Road to Romans 2016!
He ain’t heavy, he is my
brother!
Romans 14:13–23 (NLT)
13So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to
live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and
fall.
14I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord
Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes
it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.
15And if another believer is distressed by what you eat,
you are not acting in love if you
eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.
16Then you will not be criticized for doing something
you believe is good.
17For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat
or drink, but of living a life of
goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will
please God, and others will approve of you, too.
19So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try
to build each other up.
20Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat.
Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it
makes another person stumble.
21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do
anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.
22You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you
are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t
feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.
23But if you have doubts about whether or not you should
eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not
following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you
are sinning.
WOW!
Paul goes from simple not judging
others to willfully causing some one to stumble, to merely prove a point! To
prove we are right, to show the world how strong we are, and it is nothing but
self-pride! And as we get in to this, my hope is that you will look deep in to
your heart and ask your self some tough questions about how you interact with
the lost and broken of this world.
We, are unique in the fact
that reach more unchurched, de-churched, marginalized, broken, lost and hurting
people than most traditional church’s do. So how we conduct ourselves to these
young, impressionable followers is so critical! We need to be very aware of who
they are, what their story is, and how we can mentor and lead them by example.
what do I care
about anyone else? this my walk!
13So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to
live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and
fall.
·
Stumble, fall, trip
·
Its never fun
·
Its embarrassing
·
Its damages our confidence
·
And its even worse when someone cause it
o
We loss trust in them
o
We loss hope in others
o
We regress
o
We sometimes just walk away
·
And as its used here it could be life long damaging!
o
This walk is hard enough
o
The devil puts up enough road blocks
o
Jesus does not need you causing anyone to fail
Think about it!
14I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord
Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.
·
Is cussing in and of itself a sin, no!
·
Is drinking in and of its self a sin, No!
·
Is going to the casino a sin, no!
·
But can it cause someone to stumble, to fall,
YES!
·
Some folks can’t do what you do
o
It might cause them to stumble
o
It might cause them to form an opinion of you
o
It might
cause them to form a wrong opinion of Jesus
·
there are a lot of factors that make up this complicated
life in a fallen world
o
Catholics drink, Baptist don’t!
o
The way your raised, the area of the country you
grow up
o
Everything around us help shape our ideas of
right and wrong
o
So if they believe it to be a sin and you don’t
o
Paul’s says just don’t do it!
o
Don’t win the battle to lose the war
Be all things to all people!
15And if another believer is distressed by what you eat,
you are not acting in love if you
eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.
·
We need to be all things to all people
·
Don’t allow your ideas to cause someone to doubt
Jesus
·
We are ambassadors!
1 Corinthians
9:21–23 (NLT)
21When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the
Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I
do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
22When I am with those who are weak, I share their
weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common
ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.
23I do everything to spread the Good News and share in
its blessings.
·
Our role
·
Our position
·
Must always be
to spread the good news of Jesus Christ!
·
No matter what,
if you have to go right to the edge of sin, you do it!
·
If you have to be
more conservative that you believe you do it!
·
If you have to
give on a point to shine the light of Jesus, you do it!
Our role in this life!
16Then you will not be criticized for doing something
you believe is good.
17For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we
eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit.
18If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will
please God, and others will approve of you, too.
·
To never be
criticized for doing something we believe
o If its not sin leave it alone
§ Starbucks coffee cups
o To live a life of Goodness
o And peace
o Not to cause others to stumble
·
Follow these
simple guide lines daily
o And God will be pleased
o And other will approve!
Folks as Christians we have enough to stand for,
that is actually in Gods word, why worry about things that aren’t?
Lets not forget about inside the 4 walls!
19So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and
try to build each other up.
20Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are
acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person
stumble.
21It is better not to eat meat or drink
wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.
·
Lets not forget
about inside the church walls
·
Lets not bicker
over the small stuff
·
Lets not let
our focus get distracted
·
Don’t walk in a
church wanting to change it, to fit who you are
·
Find one that
fits inside your moral compass
·
And don’t cause
others to stumble by your actions
o We have to be very, very careful not to cause those
amoung us to stumble in there walk
·
The bar
o Might be alright for you, but not for others
·
The casino
o Might be alright for you, but not everyone
·
And the list
goes on!!!!
If it feels wrong, probably is!
23But if you have doubts about whether or not you should
eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not
following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you
are sinning.
·
God told Samson to not cut his hair
·
God told Hosea to marry a prostitute
·
God sent Daniel in to the lion’s den
·
It doesn’t mean everyone has to do the same
things God has you do
God uses us all in
different ways, for different things!
·
God sends some to the jungle
·
God sends some to the bars
·
God sends some to the churched
·
God sends some to the Casino
·
God has a plan, and Gods plan for you is tailored
for you, no one else
·
So don’t impose your values and morals out side
of sin on others!
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