What teams have you been a part of? How would you describe the team’s chemistry?

One of a team’s determining factors of success is its chemistry. How do team members get along? Do they sacrifice for one another? Do they defend one another and seek one another’s good? Are team members more concerned with the good of one another or their own accolades and performance? When team members answer these questions selflessly, the team often succeeds.

The church is similar. When we consider the needs of others above our own, the church flourishes and God is glorified. In this session, J.D. will show us what it takes to achieve health within the local church.

Read Romans 14:1–15:13.
Show Session 11: Romans 14:1–15:13 (14 minutes).

If you were to read all of Paul’s letters, one of the central themes you’d notice is his desire for unity within the church. In this passage, the church’s pursuit of unity is front-of-mind for Paul.

One thing we often overlook is that the chapter breaks in our Bibles are a modern addition meant to help us navigate our way through the pages of Scripture. But the original letters written by Paul didn’t have chapter or verse numbers. Paul’s words that begin chapter 14 are a continuation of his thoughts that end chapter 13. So, when he says, “Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters,” it is directly connected to Romans 13:14. What connection do you see between Romans 13:14 and Romans 14:1?

Verse 1 couldn’t be more challenging for our society. First, he says, “Accept anyone who is weak in faith,” or who is a less mature Christian. The word he uses for “accept” is a word that means “to receive kindly or hospitably” or “to admit to one’s friendship.” How do you behave toward those who might be “weak in faith”? What could you do to be more welcoming to them?

Paul’s second admonition in this verse is to not “argue about disputed matters.” Today, we argue about all kinds of things like politics, theology, worship styles, and much more. What do our disputes reflect to those who are outside the church? What can we do to get better at obeying Paul’s command in this verse?

In verses 2–4, Paul gives an example of one of the disputed matters that the church in Rome was arguing about. Using the three levels of belief that J.D. mentioned in this session—

1. matters essential for salvation,
2. matters important to the faith but not essential for salvation,
3. matters of indifference

How would you categorize each of these matters in terms of importance?

Do any of these disputes warrant breaking fellowship with fellow Christians? Why, or why not?

Paul says in verse 6 that those who fall on both sides of a dispute can and often do each honor the Lord with their choices. He goes on in verses 10–12 to ask, “Why do you judge your brother or sister?” Then, “Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister?”

How would you answer the questions Paul poses in these verses?

In what ways does this passage change your perspective? How should you treat people who disagree with you on non-essential issues?

Instead of judging others, Paul reminds us that both we and those we judge will stand before God and give an account of our lives. In light of this reminder, how can we focus more on judging our own behavior rather than the behavior of others?

Instead of judging others, Paul instructs us to seek their good. He says in verse 13, “decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.” In other words, don’t be a hindrance to the faith and obedience of others. In what ways can we put stumbling blocks in front of other Christians? How can you become more aware of specific ways in which you can build up the faith of other Christians when you’re with them?

Though he’s convinced that “nothing is unclean in itself,” Paul recognizes that many things can be, as he said, “stumbling blocks or pitfalls” for people for various reasons. Do you have any stumbling blocks or pitfalls? If so, what are they?

How would you advise others to help you avoid positions of vulnerability? In what ways could you apply that advice to your interactions with others?

In verse 17, Paul says that “the kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” He goes on to say, “So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another” (v. 19). How would you describe what it means to promote peace? In what ways do you strive to be someone who promotes peace?

What would it take for you to be known as someone who builds others up?

Speaking of eating and drinking, Paul says that “everything is clean,” implying that Christians are at liberty to eat or drink freely. But Paul goes on to say that the exercise of our liberty is not worth causing a brother or sister to stumble. For the sake of our brothers and sisters, it is better to restrict our Christian liberty rather than behave in a way that we feel is ok. In what ways do you find it difficult to lay down your liberties for the sake of others? Why is it still worth doing? When have you benefited from someone pursuing peace by laying down their Christian freedom for you?

Romans 14 closes with Paul saying that “everything that is not from faith”—everything not done with our faith in Christ in mind—“is sin.” What are some things you do that are “not from faith”? What could you do to root everything in your life in your faith in Christ?

In verses 1–3, Paul makes an argument that all “who are strong” have an obligation to those who are “without strength.” Would you consider yourself strong or weak in your faith? Why? Whose strong faith do you benefit from?

As Paul writes in verses 4–5, we need help with the task of pursuing peace with others and seeking their good above our own. Our help comes from God through his Scriptures which inspire hope, endurance, and encouragement. In what ways does God’s Word give us hope? How does it encourage us? How does his Word help us to endure?

God is leading us to harmony with one another so that we “may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.” How does the harmony of God’s people bring him glory?

In what practical and tangible ways can we pursue harmony with one another?

Circling back to where he began in chapter 14, Paul repeats, “accept one another, just as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.” How deep does Christ’s acceptance of us go? How deep, then, should our acceptance of others go?

Paul concludes this section of his letter with a prayer. He models the love and care that he’s just called the Romans to imitate by praying for the church in Rome. What priority do you place on praying for your friends and fellow church members? What can you do to make prayer a more central part of your service to others?

In this session, we covered a lot of ground. Paul has divvied out a hefty list of instructions from supporting the weak to laying down our own liberties to serving others as Christ has served us. How would you summarize this passage in one sentence? What are your major takeaways from this session? Having read the passage and watched this session, what one thing will you do differently in your life beginning today?

Love one another. Serve one another. Pursue unity.

These are some of the drumbeats of Paul’s message to the church, both in this passage and in many of his other letters. In doing so, we mimic Christ and glorify God by the power of his Spirit. Make it your commitment, then, to carry out the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God by seeking the good of your brothers and sisters above your own preferences and freedoms.