Founders Baptist

The Priority & Passion of Prayer | 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12

Introduction: 
Last Lord’s Day we had the opportunity to look at Paul’s ministry plans at the time he wrote Romans. 
Having the benefit of knowing how those plans turned out, we learned some lessons about how the plans of the people of God should be formed. 
We saw that godly people: 
Form their plans submissively. Paul did that, and that was evident in the previous section. 
Make plans that never come to pass. In the case of Paul, there is no evidence that he ever made it to Spain. 
Make plans that come to pass in ways that they never envisioned. Paul does indeed go to Rome, but in chains. 
Make plans according to wise principles. 
We saw that Paul’s plans and ours, are not formed mystically — not trying to figure out what God wants by looking to our feelings or circumstances. Rather, our plans are formed by firmly grounding them in the revealed will of God. That is where our planning always begins. 
But even after plans have been formed in a way that accords with Scripture, we must still hold to those plans loosely, submissively, with mobility. We must recognize that submission applies, not only to the expressed will of God, but the secret will of God. 
As we noted last week: 
ESV Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. 
This morning we see that Paul’s planning is immediately followed by something, not only vital to the planning process, but equally vital to what follows the planning process. 
OUR PLANNING MUST BE JOINED TO PRAYER. 
If our planning is to be what God means for it to be, then our prayer lives must be what God means for them to be. 
HOW IS OUR PRAYER LIFE? 
Submissive planning includes prayer. 
Paul ended the previous section with the hope and expectation that he would one day arrive in Rome in the fulness of the blessing of Christ (vs.29). 
Now, he appeals to them to join him in praying for that very outcome (vs.30-32). 
He gathers up everything that he has mentioned from his plan to go to Jerusalem, to the way that he will arrive in Rome, and asks for prayer in order that it might be accomplished. 
And from this appeal for prayer, and the descriptions that follow, I want to share 7 observations about prayer in the context of knowing and doing the will of God. 
 • THE NEED FOR PRAYER (vs.30) 
This is obvious, isn’t it? 
But just because something is obvious does not guarantee that we faithfully practice it. 
If we are to plan and live in a way that pleases Christ, then we must be convinced that prayer is a must. 
We must be convinced that not only do we need to pray on our own, but we need to enlist others to pray with us and for us. 
PAUL DOES NOT JUST SHARE HIS PLANS WITH THIS CHURCH. 
PAUL DOES NOT JUST SHARE HIS PRAYERS WITH THIS CHURCH (“this is what I am praying about.”) 
PAUL FORMALLY ENLISTS THE PRAYERS OF THIS CHURCH. 
He does this in a way that binds them to pray. 
He does this in a way that makes their prayers a matter of obedience to Christ Himself. 
We talked last week about an arrogant and evil approach to making plans. When we plan in a way that is not consciously submitted to God — that is evil and presumptuous. 
But it is equally true to say, that we can make plans, conscious that our plans are subject to God’s will in the ultimate sense, AND STILL BE PRESUMPTUOUS by not appealing to God for His help. 
A prayerless navigation of life is a proud navigation of life. 
ARE YOU AWARE OF YOUR NEEDINESS? 
ARE YOU AWARE OF A NEEDINESS THAT REQUIRES THE HELP OF OTHERS? 
You DO NOT if you are not praying and if you do not ask for prayer. 
The accurate sense of neediness before God is evidenced by the acute sense of our need for prayer. 
 • THE MOTIVATION FOR PRAYER (vs.30) 
Paul appeals for prayer in a way that offers binding motivations. “I’m asking you to pray for me in a way that makes plain why you must.” 
QUESTION: Must we pray for each other? The question is not whether we should, whether it would be a good thing, a nice thing, a loving thing — is it a matter of obedience? Are we bound by what is right in the sight of God, to join in prayer for each other? 
Are we obligated to pray? Is prayer a matter for righteous living? Is prayer a manifestation of love for God and love for people? 
The Bible makes clear that it is. Paul’s stated motivations indicate that. 
He gives us three binding motivations for prayer. One motivation is expressed implicitly, two others are expressed explicitly. 
 • THE LOYALTY THAT BELONGS TO GOD’S FAMILY REQUIRES

Introduction:
Last Lord’s Day we had the opportunity to look at Paul’s ministry plans at the time he wrote Romans.
Having the benefit of knowing how those plans turned out, we learned some lessons about how the plans of the people of God should be formed.
We saw that godly people:
Form their plans submissively. Paul did that, and that was evident in the previous section.
Make plans that never come to pass. In the case of Paul, there is no evidence that he ever made it to Spain.
Make plans that come to pass in ways that they never envisioned. Paul does indeed go to Rome, but in chains.
Make plans according to wise principles.
We saw that Paul’s plans and ours, are not formed mystically — not trying to figure out what God wants by looking to our feelings or circumstances. Rather, our plans are formed by firmly grounding them in the revealed will of God. That is where our planning always begins.
But even after plans have been formed in a way that accords with Scripture, we must still hold

Our Prayers & God’s Will | Romans 15:30-33

Qualification For Deacons | 1 Timothy 3: 8-13

Introduction: 
Is it possible to know a kind of pride in God’s work through your life that is not sinful? 
Is it possible to look at what God has been pleased to do through your efforts, and count that to be a reason for rejoicing, for a kind of glorying, and yet it not be sinful? 
Our text tonight demonstrates that it is. Our text demonstrates that there is a kind of boasting in God, that gives Him thanks and praise for what He has done through your own life. Or, we could even say, THAT YOU GET TO DO WHAT YOU GET TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE. 
It a joyful recognition regarding God’s choice to use you that can exist in humility. 
AND, as we see elsewhere in Paul’s writings, taking note of God’s work through a person, might also be used as a proof of legitimate ministry — as a defense. 
ESV 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 
What we have in these verses seems to be a bridge. 
It is a bridge that joins Paul’s explanation for being very bold, and his explanation for why he has not yet been to Rome. 
BOTH ARE EXPLAINED BY HIS WORK IN THE LORD. 
Tonight, we will see three truths about godly joy in God’s work through your own life. 
 • THE REALITY OF GODLY JOY IN GOD’S WORK THROUGH YOUR LIFE (vs.17) 
The first thing that we see is that such a thing can exist. 
Paul has just described his ministry in priestly terms. He has described his ministry in terms of what he communicates to men — God’s gospel. But he has also described his ministry in terms of what he gives to God — the fruit of his labors in the form of people. 
He sees the Gentiles reached through his efforts as a worship offering. His work in the Lord is a worship offering. 
 
 
 
 
John MacArthur – “As Paul ministered figuratively as a priest the gospel of God to the Gentiles, he did so in order that his offering of believing Gentiles to God, as it were, might become acceptable to Him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In faithful fulfillment of his unique apostolic calling, Paul’s supreme offering to God was a multitude of Gentiles, who by virtue of the Holy Spirit’s power had been sanctified and thus made acceptable for fellowship with the Father. Like Paul, every believer who is instrumental in winning a soul to Jesus Christ presents that convert, whether Jew or Gentile, as a priestly offering to the Lord.” 
What Paul now makes plain is that such an offering is something he takes great pleasure in. This is something that he exults in, rejoices in, — in the right kind of way is boasting in it. 
Καύχησις - ① act of taking pride in someth., boasting (Jer 12:13) Ro 3:27; 2 Cor 9:4 v.l.; 11:10, 17; Js 4:16; IEph 18:1. In a list of vices Hm 8:3. στέφανος καυχήσεως crown of pride, i.e. to be proud of (Ezk 16:12; Pr 16:31) 1 Th 2:19. κ. ὑπέρ τινος pride that one has in someone 2 Cor 7:4; 8:24. ἡ καύχησις ἡμῶν ἡ ἐπὶ Τίτου our boasting in the presence of Titus 7:14. ἐν κ. ἀπολέσθαι be lost because of bragging ITr 4:1. ἔχω τὴν κ. ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν I may boast in Christ of my relation to God Ro 15:17; νὴ τὴν ὑμετέραν κ. as surely as I may boast of you 1 Cor 15:31. 
I think the best way to express what he is saying would be something like this. “Look at what God has done!” “I stand in wonder at what God has been able to do through my efforts.” “I stand in wonder that I have the privilege to do such things.” 
It is not the false humility that acts as if you have not worked. 
It is not the false humility that acts as if God has made no use of the instrument. 
It is not the pride, however, that would take the credit to oneself. 
It is glorying in God for what He has amazingly done through a clay jar like you. 
ESV 2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 
So, there IS an appropriate kind of boasting, rejoicing, exulting, over what God has done through your efforts. This is woodenly rendered, as the NASB has it, “boasting in things pertaining to God.”

Introduction:
Is it possible to know a kind of pride in God’s work through your life that is not sinful? 
Is it possible to look at what God has been pleased to do through your efforts, and count that to be a reason for rejoicing, for a kind of glorying, and yet it not be sinful?
Our text tonight demonstrates that it is. Our text demonstrates that there is a kind of boasting in God, that gives Him thanks and praise for what He has done through your own life. Or, we could even say, THAT YOU GET TO DO WHAT YOU GET TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE.
It a joyful recognition regarding God’s choice to use you that can exist in humility.
AND, as we see elsewhere in Paul’s writings, taking note of God’s work through a person, might also be used as a proof of legitimate ministry — as a defense.
ESV 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my a

Godly Boasting In God’s Work | Romans 15:17-21

Introduction: 
One of the important aspects of ministry, often overlooked, is that people not only need to receive the ministry of the Word; they also need to understand the mandate and therefore the motives that inform that ministry. 
If a man is a faithful shepherd, he is not just disseminating the Word of God; he is fulfilling a calling. 
He is striving to be faithful to an appointment given to him by God, and therefore an assignment for which he is responsible. 
THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A HIGH VIEW OF PREACHING AND OF SHEPHERDING THE CHURCH. 
There is a gravity, a seriousness, that belongs to the ministry of the Word of God. Those who have been appointed by the Holy Spirit, and gifted for that ministry, are God-commissioned heralds. 
ESV Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 
That knowledge of calling and responsibility results in a necessary boldness. 
Faithful ministry requires loving courage. 
Faithful ministry requires a kind of boldness that risks being disliked, and sometimes misunderstood, to love people in ways that God requires. 
At the same time, it is a boldness that needs to be explained to the people who meet with it. 
A healthy church not only needs the faithful ministry of the Word of God; it needs a right perspective of that ministry. 
The church at Rome was not the result of Paul’s missionary efforts. 
The church at Rome, at the time they received this letter, was not the result of Paul’s shepherding efforts. 
What Paul knew of the Roman church; he knew by reason of reports given to him by those who knew it well and knew it personally. 
What the church at Rome knew of God and His word, they did not owe to Paul’s personal ministry, but to the ministry of others. 
 
ESV Romans 1:7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you-- 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 
And yet, this man who did not know this church personally, HAD NEVER BEEN THERE, wrote a long and serious (and now we know, inspired) message that not only INSTRUCTS them — it CORRECTS them. 
With a knowledge of a few areas of concern, a few of their weaknesses, Paul has written some VERY BOLD things (vs.15). 
What he does in our verses (vs.14-16) represents an explanation of that boldness. 
He explains why he has written to them WHAT he has, and in THE WAY that he has. 
This morning we consider that explanation. 
Two explanations regarding the godly boldness that belongs to faithful ministry. 
I. GODLY BOLDNESS IS NOT A DENIAL OF GOD’S GOOD WORK (vs.14) 
These three verses answer and unvoiced question. 
“Paul, having read some of the things you have written to us, we might wonder how you view us?” 
Paul addresses such a question, as he wraps up the main body of doctrinal instruction, because he thinks it important that they KNOW how he views them. 
He wants them to know that despite the corrections that he has offered, his view of them is positive. 
Note: You and I will not grow well if we consider all correction to be an attack on the whole of our life. 
To say it another way, you will not grow well if you do not understand that people doing well still need correction. People doing well still need instruction. People doing well still need to be reminded.

Introduction:
One of the important aspects of ministry, often overlooked, is that people not only need to receive the ministry of the Word; they also need to understand the mandate and therefore the motives that inform that ministry.
If a man is a faithful shepherd, he is not just disseminating the Word of God; he is fulfilling a calling. 
He is striving to be faithful to an appointment given to him by God, and therefore an assignment for which he is responsible.
THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A HIGH VIEW OF PREACHING AND OF SHEPHERDING THE CHURCH.
There is a gravity, a seriousness, that belongs to the ministry of the Word of God. Those who have been appointed by the Holy Spirit, and gifted for that ministry, are God-commissioned heralds.
ESV Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
That knowledge of calling and responsibility result

Boldness In Ministry | Romans 15:14-16

Qualities of Love - Is Discerning | 1 Corinthians 13:6

Introduction: 
What seems unmistakable to me, when we come to verses 8-13 of Romans 15, is that the matters of conscience that threatened the unity of the Roman church, was a divide that largely existed between Jews and Gentiles. 
The welcoming of one another that must exist (vs.7), was an acceptance between Jewish and Gentile Christians. 
It would not have been true in every case, but in most cases, those who were strong in faith were Gentiles, and those who were still tied to OT dietary standards, and OT special days, were Jews who had come to faith in Jesus as Messiah. 
What Paul now means to show, is that what he is praying for, and what their obedient decisions would fulfill, is the very purpose for which the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world. 
Jesus was born, and lived, and died, and was raised from the dead, to save a people for God. 
He came to form one new man made up of both Jews and Gentiles. A redeemed people who will come from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation. 
*To pray that believers will glorify God together with one voice. 
*To command that believers welcome one another as they have been welcomed by Christ. 
Is to know, and to care, about the purpose for which Christ’s precious blood was shed. 
HE DID NOT DIE FOR US TO BE DIVIDED FROM OTHERS WHO WERE PURCHASED BY THAT SAME BLOOD. 
HE DIED TO MAKE US ONE. 
To say it another way, when we live in unity, and glorify God together in worship, we are giving expression to the Father’s answer to His own Son’s prayer. 
ESV John 17:11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 
ESV John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 
 Christ’s prayers never go unanswered. 
We are not TRYING to be one. We ARE one in Jesus Christ. 
The question is whether we are living together in a way that expresses that unity? 
The truth given to us here is quite simple. It is not complicated. 
But embracing this truth and living it out is of utmost importance and should prove to be a profound motivation for unity in the Lord’s church. 
How can we not care about what our Lord came to accomplish? 
 • THE UNITY ON DISPLAY IN CHRIST’S MISSION (vs.8-9a) 
I say this is simple, and here is why. 
In verse 8, Paul writes about what Christ’s mission meant for the Jews. 
 • CHRIST’S MISSION REGARDING THE JEWS 
Jesus was a Jewish man. He came to fulfill the promises made to the Jewish fathers. 
The promises were made to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. 
There were also promises made with respect to Moses and David. 
TAKING DAVID AS OUR EXAMPLE: 
Jesus of Nazareth is the very one who fulfills the promise of a descendent of David who will sit on his father’s throne forever. 
ESV 2 Samuel 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'" 
ESV Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. 
ESV Luke 1:30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 
Jesus is the fulfillment of those promises and many others. And His coming was a SERVICE to the circumcision (the Jews). 
It speaks of all that He was willing to do to fulfill God’s salvation promises given to the fathers of that people. 
THIS CONFIRMED GOD’S TRUTHFULNESS 
THIS CONFIRMED GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Introduction:
What seems unmistakable to me, when we come to verses 8-13 of Romans 15, is that the matters of conscience that threatened the unity of the Roman church, was a divide that largely existed between Jews and Gentiles.
The welcoming of one another that must exist (vs.7), was an acceptance between Jewish and Gentile Christians.
It would not have been true in every case, but in most cases, those who were strong in faith were Gentiles, and those who were still tied to OT dietary standards, and OT special days, were Jews who had come to faith in Jesus as Messiah.
What Paul now means to show, is that what he is praying for, and what their obedient decisions would fulfill, is the very purpose for which the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world.
Jesus was born, and lived, and died, and was raised from the dead, to save a people for God. 
He came to form one new man made up of both Jews and Gentiles. A redeemed people who will come from every tribe, and language, and people, and nati

The Dividing Wall Torn Down | Romans 15:8-13

The Biblical View Of Homosexual Behavior | 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Such Were Some Of You | 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Introduction: 
We are to pursue what edifies others. 
Verse 19 makes that clear. 
This is our resolution. We resolve to pursue that which makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 
We aim at that which produces a GODLY unity. 
And GODLY UNITY exists in a commitment to mutual edification. 
IF THAT REALLY IS OUR AIM, THEN WE WILL REFUSE WHAT OPPOSES THAT AIM. 
We do not want to be stumbling block. 
We do not want to be an occasion for a brother or sister to fall into a sin trap. 
And so it is, that after Paul exhorts us to mutual edification, he warns us about what threatens it. 
And what he tells us threatens it is an irresponsible use of our liberty in Christ. 
Even where the believer is genuinely free TO EAT as he pleases, or DRINK as he pleases (within the bounds of what God has prescribed), or NOT OBSERVE days that once were mandated under the OT law, his freedom must always be exercised in love. 
We saw this in verse 15. 
ESV Romans 14:15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 
And so, this morning, we are warned about three ways that an irresponsible use of liberty is dangerous. 
Before we look at those three potential dangers, I want to point out a few things, in the way of introduction, as we look at these four verses together. 
*I AM STRUCK BY THE REPETITIVENESS OF PAUL’S TEACHING 
It should never be lost on us that the New Testament writers do not hesitate to repeat the same truths, again, and again, and again. 
Verse 20 repeats the truth of verse 15. These four verses, taken together, repeat truths we have already heard. 
And while we recognize that there is usually SOME progress in a writer’s thinking process as we move through similar sounding statements. You sometimes just have to say, “he’s saying the same thing again.” 
There is a minor new nuance of thought in the idea of liberty’s potential dangers, but it is true to say that even this is not an entirely new idea in this section. 
WHY DO THESE WRITERS KEEP REPEATING THEMSELVES? 
WHY DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT KEEP REPEATING HIMSELF? 
A few things to remember: 
-Our proneness to forget (my wife often reminds me of what she knows I often forget) 
-The importance of the information (my wife often reminds me of what she knows I cannot afford to forget) 
-The interconnectivity and interdependence of Christian doctrine (Certain truths are often brought up again, but with a different connection in mind, or as a foundation for something additional) 
A conclusion to draw: But regardless of why we find this repetition, one thing is certain. 
We must stop despising it. 
It is a rebuke of our impatience. 
One of the beautiful things about verse-by-verse exposition is that we often forced to be patiently taught what we would move away from too quickly (if not engaged in consecutive study) and suffer for. 
 *I AM STRUCK BY THE CONSISTENT FOCUS ON THOSE WHO ARE STRONGER IN FAITH 
This is very counterintuitive to us. Our instincts would expect that the focus would be on those who are weaker in faith. 
THEY ARE NOT NEGLECTED IN THIS INSTRUCTION. 
THEY ARE NOT LEFT UNADDRESSED. 
But this 14th chapter has largely focused on those who are stronger in faith, and therefore have greater responsibility in the family of God. 
-This reminds us that we really must care for each other (We really ARE our brother’s keeper) 
-This reminds us that the church really is the family of God (Fathers, children, young men) 
ESV 1 John 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 
-This reminds us that God really does expect more of us the more we grow 
-This reminds us of the privilege to express the selfless love which we have received from Christ. 
*I AM STRUCK BY THE INSISTENCE OF THESE VERSES THAT THE IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF LIBERTY IS A SERIOUS MATTER 
I fear that we often view how we exercise our liberty as having SOME practical effect but not SERIOUS practical effect. 
It is an issue, but is it really a SERIOUS issue? 
These verses respond with a resounding YES! This is a serious issue. 
*I AM STRUCK BY THE INSISTENCE OF THESE VERSES THAT ALL OF THIS REALLY IS ABOUT MY OWN WALK WITH GOD

Introduction: We are to pursue what edifies others. Verse 19 makes that clear. This is our resolution. We resolve to pursue that ...

The Danger of The Irresponsible Use of Liberty | Romans 14:20-23

Introduction: 
The church of our time is facing an urgent discernment crisis. 
Strong winds of spiritual distortion are blowing, and instability throughout the evangelical landscape is regularly on display. 
The faith as it has been passed down to us, not only via the Scriptures, but via the teachers of Scripture, is under heavy attack. 
The mindset of the moment that says everything evolves and improves, has now taken hold in the realm of theology. The world stands ready to instruct the church. 
What does the world believe in? 
The world is not necessarily against faith. It celebrates a kind of faith. 
It celebrates a kind of faith that is not convinced that the CONTENT of your faith really matters — must be correct. 
In fact, many are not convinced that it CAN be correct. MOST are not convinced that anyone can be certain about TRUTH. 
TRUTH (as postmodernism understands it) IS NOT SOMETHING OBJECTIVE, IT’S DETERMINED PERSON BY PERSON. 
There is not THE truth, there is YOUR truth. 
So, WHAT you believe is not as important as it is that you BELIEVE what you believe. 
“Whatever you believe — good for you!” 
And when that mindset reaches its logical end, that kind of faith in personal feelings can extend even to the denial of objective reality (transgenderism). 
Whatever you believe, if you believe it passionately enough, it should be respected, and you should be celebrated. 
And, as I said, the church feels the pressure of this. 
I would love to be able to say this mindset, that truth is found in the realm of our feelings or that it is individually determined, has only affected that which does not call itself Christianity. 
But that would not be true. 
Some of the worst mysticism, some of the worst examples of FAITH IN FAITH, some of the worst examples of a SELF-STYLED faith, will come from the mouths or the pens of people who call themselves Christians. 
In his book entitled “Reckless Faith” John MacArthur wrote, “Reckless faith seeks spiritual truth apart from scripture – and that is the very point at which it becomes reckless… Spiritual truth is meant to be rationally contemplated, examined logically, studied, analyzed, and employed as the only reliable basis for making wise judgments. That process is precisely what Scripture calls discernment.” 
If ever there was a time when the church needed discernment, it is now. 
What we have in our verses today is an appeal for just that. 
And what we learn is that discernment belongs to a genuine faith. 
A Christian is someone who has the willingness to be discerning and the ABILITY to be discerning. 
 • THE CALL FOR DISCERNMENT (vs.1) 
The first thing we note is that what is being called for is a responsibility entrusted to GOD’S PEOPLE. 
John, as he does throughout this epistle, refers to God’s people as beloved. 
They are beloved of God. 
They are loved by the aged apostle. 
They are the people of God, the children of God. 
YOU CANNOT BE A CHILD OF GOD AND NOT BE CONFRONTED WITH THE NEED FOR DISCERNMENT. 
FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS WILL BE CONCERNED THAT YOU BE PROTECTED FROM ERROR. 
FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS WILL EMBRACE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PRACTICE DISCERNMENT. 
You have both types of concern on display in our verses. A concern from a shepherd for the church, and the kind of concern that the church is to have for truth. 
JOHN IS CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE CHURCH TO GIVE THIS WARNING. 
THE CHURCH IS TO BE CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE TRUTH THAT IT HEEDS IT. 
There are three things on display in this one call for discernment. 
 • WHAT WE MUST NOT DO 
This is an imperative. We are not to believe every spirit. As A.T. Robertson pointed out, this is a call for something to stop. “STOP BELIEVING EVERY SPIRIT.” 
We must not be a spiritually gullible people. We must not be those who fall prey to spiritual fads and gimmicks and the errors that characterize the moment. 
And if that has been our pattern, then we must take heed to these commands and change that pattern.

Introduction:
The church of our time is facing an urgent discernment crisis. 
Strong winds of spiritual distortion are blowing, and instability throughout the evangelical landscape is regularly on display.
The faith as it has been passed down to us, not only via the Scriptures, but via the teachers of Scripture, is under heavy attack.
The mindset of the moment that says everything evolves and improves, has now taken hold in the realm of theology. The world stands ready to instruct the church.
What does the world believe in?
The world is not necessarily against faith. It celebrates a kind of faith.
It celebrates a kind of faith that is not convinced that the CONTENT of your faith really matters — must be correct.
In fact, many are not convinced that it CAN be correct. MOST are not convinced that anyone can be certain about TRUTH.
TRUTH (as postmodernism understands it) IS NOT SOMETHING OBJECTIVE, IT’S DETERMINED PERSON BY PERSON.
There is not THE truth, there is YOUR truth.
So, WHAT you

Discernment & The Doctrine of Christ | 1 John 4:1-3

The Resurrection Body | 1 Corinthians 15:35-49

Introduction: 
In the 16th verse we met with a unique imperative. We are to be sure that we do not exercise our freedoms in a way that can be blasphemed. 
What does he mean by blasphemed? 
He means that our good comes to be spoken of as evil. 
He envisions a situation where what we regard as good gets a reputation for being evil because of the reckless way that we have exercised our liberty. Our exercise of what we regard as good has grieved or destroyed a brother or sister in Christ. 
What this requires of those who are strong, is that we love our brothers more than we love our liberties. We do not value food more than a brother. 
When we come to verses 17-19, we are reminded of the mindset that keeps us from that kind of shortsighted living. 
We are reminded of what is most important in God’s salvation gifts to us. 
We are reminded of what is most important as we serve Christ. 
We are reminded of what produces the clearest and the best testimony in the eyes of people. 
To sum it up, we are taught that our freedoms are always to be enjoyed with God’s kingdom in mind. 
Tonight, we consider three ways that being mindful of God’s kingdom will save us from wrongly exercising our liberties in Christ. 
 • AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S KINGDOM SAVES US FROM MAJORING ON MINOR ISSUES (vs.17) 
What is the kingdom of God really about? What does “kingdom life” really consist of? 
And the answer is NOT eating and drinking. 
It is true that the Christian is no longer under the dietary laws of the Old Testament. 
It is true that nothing is unclean in and of itself, if is received with thanksgiving (qualified by the context). 
It is true that it is not what goes into the body that defiles but what comes out of the man himself. 
You and I are free. 
But if you ask me what it means to be a Christian, what it means that I now have been brought into the immediate experiences and realities of God’s kingdom, my answer is not going to be that I can eat pork or drink wine. 
Christ did not die for my eating and drinking. 
 No, what has happened in my life is much more profound than that. 
 • THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A MATTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT 
There has been some debate, with respect to the three things Paul mentions here, as to whether what he has in mind is primarily ethical — having to do with our relationships in the human realm, or spiritual — having to do with our relationship to God. 
It is a distinction that ends up in the same place. 
I lean toward the idea that this has to do with what salvation has produced in our relationship with God, but that will result in the transformation of how we relate to people. 
 • A RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD RESULTS IN RIGHTEOUS DEALINGS WITH PEOPLE 
 • THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE WITH GOD RESULTS IN GOD’S PEOPLE BEING PEACEMAKERS IN THE REALM OF MEN 
 • THE JOY THAT IS OURS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT RESULTS IN A JOYFUL LIFE AMONG PEOPLE 
So, in some sense, it is a distinction without a difference. 
But either way that you take it, the point that the apostle is making is that these realities are the result of being saved. These realities represent LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 
That which will one day characterize the golden age that Christ will usher in when He returns, is what the people of God are able to experience NOW, imperfectly, yet being perfected, IN THIS AGE. 
 • THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT A MATTER OF EATING AND DRINKING 
Christ’s death, its true significance, is not represented in what I eat for dinner tonight, as much as it is represented in the fact that I give thanks to God tonight, and that I care about you. 
When I keep in mind what has MOST CHANGED since Jesus saved me, what is MOST IMPORTANT since Jesus saved me, I WILL NOT PRIORITIZE MEANINGLESS THINGS OVER THE MOST MEANINGFUL THINGS. 
I will not prioritize what is here today and gone tomorrow, over my brother or sister for whom Christ died and with whom I will spend eternity. 
A kingdom mindset saves me from majoring on minor issues. 
 • AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S KINGDOM SAVES US FROM MISREPRESENTING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (vs.18) 
What happens when I do not remember what we just talked about, is that I live a life that does not please God AND a live in a way that does not leave a good testimony before people. 
Do not be deceived. 
Exercising your liberties without regard for your brothers DOES NOT find acceptance with God. 
And the same can be said about the testimony you are leaving with people. 
 • THE WAY IN WHICH CHRIST IS TO BE SERVED 
What does the “thus serves Christ” (ESV) or “in this way serves Christ” (NASB) refer to? It refers to all of verse 17. 
I am to serve Christ mindful of what matters most. 
I am to serve Christ mindful of what Jesus died to set me free for. 
I am to serve Christ mindful of what really belongs to a kingdom perspective. 
Mindful of righteous. 
Mindful of peace. 
Mindful of a supernatural joy. 
This is how Jesus is to be served.

Introduction:
In the 16th verse we met with a unique imperative. We are to be sure that we do not exercise our freedoms in a way that can be blasphemed.
What does he mean by blasphemed? 
He means that our good comes to be spoken of as evil.
He envisions a situation where what we regard as good gets a reputation for being evil because of the reckless way that we have exercised our liberty. Our exercise of what we regard as good has grieved or destroyed a brother or sister in Christ.
What this requires of those who are strong, is that we love our brothers more than we love our liberties. We do not value food more than a brother.
When we come to verses 17-19, we are reminded of the mindset that keeps us from that kind of shortsighted living.
We are reminded of what is most important in God’s salvation gifts to us. 
We are reminded of what is most important as we serve Christ. 
We are reminded of what produces the clearest and the best testimony in the eyes of people.
To sum it up, we are 

Kingdom Minded Freedom | Romans 14:17-19

Introduction: 
There is a kind of judgment that Romans 14 has put off limits. 
This 13th verse begins by reminding us of that standard. 
We are not to sit in judgment of others regarding matters of conscience and individual liberty. 
As verse 13 begins, “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer.” 
The matters that have been discussed, the matters where we might be tempted to judge, have been the matters of food and special days. 
It had to do with matters that once had divine authority in the lives of these people, but now no longer do. Why? Because the shadow and been replaced by the substance. Christ has come and the tutor is no longer needed. But in the consciences of these people, those purity laws still held authority. 
This statement of verse 13 applies to all in the church. 
Whether your faith is strong or weak, whether you are the one eating or not eating, observing special days, or treating all days alike. WE ARE TO STOP JUDGING ONE ANOTHER. 
WE MUST REMEMBER OUR REASONS FOR AGREEMENT. 
If we can agree that Jesus is Lord, that we are striving to honor Him, that we are living in a way that can give Him thanks, and that we are acknowledging His Lordship in our choices, we have all the reason we need to walk together in unity. 
God has given us truths to preach to ourselves that will save us from a sinful kind of judgment. We saw those truths in verses 10-12. 
I am not qualified to judge the hearts of men. (vs.10a) 
The one who is perfectly qualified will judge the hearts of men (including my own). (10b-11) 
I need concentrate on my own day of accounting. (vs.12) 
But the same love that DOES NOT judge a brother regarding matters of conscience, DOES judge itself. 
That is what we are called to in this next section. 
Verse 13 shifts our attention to that NEW KIND OF JUDGMENT. A judgment that is the result of love. 
This morning we think about love’s good judgment. And as we do, we see three ways of thinking that are becoming of brothers in Christ. 
 • A DECISION BECOMING OF BROTHERS (vs.13) 
You will notice the emphasis on our brotherhood in these verses. 
“in the way of a brother” (vs.13) 
“for if your brother is grieved” (vs15) 
“the one for whom Christ died” (vs.16) 
This is one of the guiding principles that helps us maintain a way of thinking that accords with the truth — I am to remember that my brothers and sisters are my brothers and sisters. 
And it is in that context that we are exhorted to a good kind of judgment. 
The imperative “decide” (ESV) “determine” (NASB) is a form of the same word translated “judge” in the first part of verse 14. (κρίνω) 
You could translate it, “Do not judge one another anymore, but judge this.” 
Paul makes use of the same verb but with a different meaning. 
This is a good judgment – decision – determination. 
This is a kind of judgment that pleases God. 
This is a kind of judgment that LOVES your brother or sister. 
Decide — determine — not to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 
Use your powers of judgment for something productive. 
Use your powers of judgment (your critical thinking ability) to think about helping your fellow believer. 
John MacArthur – “Paul’s play on words demands that we should never be judgmental of fellow believers but instead should use our best judgment to help them. In relation to the second meaning, we should determine … not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. He gives the same warning in his first letter to Corinth, saying, “Take care lest this liberty of yours [the strong] somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Cor. 8:9). This carries the idea of stumbling into sin. For example, although the New Testament does not forbid the drinking of alcoholic beverages, there are many good reasons for Christians to abstain. One of the most important is the detrimental effect it can have on a former alcoholic. Our drinking, even in moderation, could easily place a stumbling block in that brother’s way and cause him to fall back into his former addiction. The same principle applies to any activity or practice that is not inherently sinful. Problem areas vary from society to society and from person to person, but the principle never changes. The loving, caring, strong Christian will determine in his mind and heart to be sensitive to any weakness in a fellow believer and avoid doing anything, including what is innocent in itself and otherwise permissible, that might cause him to morally or spiritually stumble.” 
The idea is a simple one, but a SELFLESS ONE. 
How can my stay out of my brother’s way, and yet help advance his way, in his walk with Christ? 
How can I live so as not to be an impetus for someone else’s sinning? 
This is a way of thinking that Paul will emphasize throughout this entire section. You see this in chapter 15 verses 1-3.

Introduction:
There is a kind of judgment that Romans 14 has put off limits. 
This 13th verse begins by reminding us of that standard.
We are not to sit in judgment of others regarding matters of conscience and individual liberty.
As verse 13 begins, “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer.”
The matters that have been discussed, the matters where we might be tempted to judge, have been the matters of food and special days.
It had to do with matters that once had divine authority in the lives of these people, but now no longer do. Why? Because the shadow and been replaced by the substance. Christ has come and the tutor is no longer needed. But in the consciences of these people, those purity laws still held authority.
This statement of verse 13 applies to all in the church. 
Whether your faith is strong or weak, whether you are the one eating or not eating, observing special days, or treating all days alike. WE ARE TO STOP JUDGING ONE ANOTHER.
WE MUST REMEMBER OUR 

Love’s Good Judgment | Romans 14:13-16

Watching & Waiting | Luke 12:35-48

Introduction: 
What is the preeminent aim in our care for one another as Christians? 
What is it that we most want for each other if we genuinely love each other? 
Considering what we have learned so far in this section, we can state it negatively. We can be certain of what our aim IS NOT. 
It is not our aim, it is not our ambition, to conform everyone to OUR IMAGE. 
And that needs to be remembered in every realm where we have influence. 
Loving your spouse is not trying to make them just like you. 
Loving your children is not robbing them of their individual personalities so that they become just like you. 
True love, God’s love, has a much holier aim. 
THE GOAL OF TRUE LOVE IS THAT THE PEOPLE WE LOVE WOULD BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST. 
The aim of ministry is the formation of Christ’s character in His people. 
ESV Galatians 4:19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 
Ministry to the church is on behalf of the one to whom we will all be presented one day. 
ESV 2 Corinthians 11:2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 
All our shepherding is for the purpose of the believer’s maturity in Christ. 
ESV Colossians 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
That maturity in Christ is defined as the image of Christ. This is the end toward which all believers are headed. 
ESV Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 
WHAT DOES A LOVING HUSBAND OR WIFE WANT FOR THEIR SPOUSE? — CHRISTLIKENESS 
WHAT DOES A LOVING PARENT WANT FOR THEIR CHILDREN? — CHRISTLIKENESS 
WHAT DOES A FAITHFUL PASTOR WANT FOR THE CHURCH? — CHRISTLIKENESS 
WHAT SHOULD ANY BELIEVER WANT FOR ANY OTHER BELIEVER? — CHRISTLIKENESS 
This is why we can love each other and walk together, even when our consciences do not agree on matters of judgment, so long as our brother or sister can say that they do what they do to honor God, with thanks in his or her heart to God. 
Again, to be clear, we are not talking about matters clearly defined as sin in Scripture. Those are not for liberty; those are matters for obedience. 
We are talking about matters where believers are free to do as they desire so long as they are convinced in their own mind. 
Convinced of what? Convinced that what they do is for God’s honor, as that which can be sanctified unto God with thanks. 
IN OTHER WORDS, WE FIND OUR UNITY IN OUR JOINT SUBMISSION TO CHRIST’S LORDSHIP. 
We have the privilege to contribute to each other’s lives. 
We have God assigned responsibilities in the human realm, and we need to be faithful to those responsibilities. 
Christ’s Lordship does not eliminate those responsibilities but infuses them with a proper sense of how they are meant to function. 
BUT IN THE ULTIMATE SENSE, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE GOD GIVEN RESPONSIBILITIES TO EACH OTHER, WE MUST RESPECT THE FACT THAT EVERY BELIEVER IS BLOOD BOUGHT, BELONGS TO CHRIST, SERVES AS HIS SLAVE — THEY DO NOT BELONG TO US. 
ESV Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 
BUT EVEN WHERE THAT IS ACKNOWLEDGED, WE MEET WITH ANOTHER STRUGGLE. 
You will remember that we said that the life of love is a challenging life. It is challenged not only by sin, but by our differences. 
And one of the temptations we face (a temptation to sin), IN OUR DIFFERENCES, is the temptation to JUDGE EACH OTHER over matters of conscience. 
There is a kind of judgment that is appropriate in the church. 
Righteous judgment. 
Judgment according to the Word of God. 
It is a judgment that is familial in nature, redemptive in nature, rescuing in nature, protective of the purity of the church, and jealous for the purity of each believer. 
BUT THAT KIND OF JUDGMENT ALWAYS REFLECTS THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD. 
They are not judgments based on opinions. It is the church pronouncing GOD’S judgments by simply remembering and repeating what God has revealed in Scripture. 
ESV 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler-- not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."

Introduction:
What is the preeminent aim in our care for one another as Christians?
What is it that we most want for each other if we genuinely love each other?
Considering what we have learned so far in this section, we can state it negatively. We can be certain of what our aim IS NOT.
It is not our aim, it is not our ambition, to conform everyone to OUR IMAGE.
And that needs to be remembered in every realm where we have influence.
Loving your spouse is not trying to make them just like you.
Loving your children is not robbing them of their individual personalities so that they become just like you.
True love, God’s love, has a much holier aim.
THE GOAL OF TRUE LOVE IS THAT THE PEOPLE WE LOVE WOULD BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.
The aim of ministry is the formation of Christ’s character in His people.
ESV Galatians 4:19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
Ministry to the church is on behalf of the one to whom we wil

Letting Judgment Guide Our Love | Romans 14:10-12

Introduction: 
Our call to walk in love is challenged, not only by sin issues, but by our differences. 
We have differences explained by spiritual maturity. 
We have differences explained by natural human variety. 
Regardless of our differences, if we are not dealing with matters of sin, then we sin by not welcoming one another. 
We don’t welcome each other to argue everyone’s conscience into submission to our own. 
We welcome each other for the reasons God sets forth here. 
God has welcomed them. 
God is their master and mine. 
God is faithful to finish what He starts. 
We learned all this last week. 
When we come to verse 5, we come to another issue that threatened to divide the church in Paul’s day. 
Believers differed, not just on matters of diet. Believers also differed on the question of special days. 
Remember that the problem envisioned in our text is that of a Jewish Christian who still feels pains of conscience related to the observance of diet and days as set forth by the law of God given through Moses. 
It appears that what we have here is vastly different from what you find in Galatians, for example. 
There is no indication that these people were debating over the gospel. 
What you have are people who have trusted God’s grace in Christ but still want to observe certain aspects of the Old Testament code due to their identity as Jews. 
How do you handle such differences? 
In 1 Corinthians 8 we learn that this is NOT just a Jewish issue. Differences of conscience can arise among those saved out of pagan backgrounds. Indeed, anywhere we are making decisions without biblical imperatives in view, it becomes a matter of judgment and of conscience. 
As Paul continues the instruction, he shifts from food as his example, to the observance of days. 
NOW THE CHURCH, FROM ITS VERY BEGINNING, OBSERVED THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK AS THE DAY FOR ITS GATHERINGS. IT DID SO BECAUSE CHRIST WAS RAISED ON A SUNDAY. 
Despite what some would want to argue, the church was not meeting on Saturday. 
Paul often employed an evangelism strategy that would have involved Saturdays. He would begin his evangelization of a city in the synagogues. 
ESV Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 
But on the other side of conversion, as churches were formed and gathered, Christians met on the first day of the week — on Sunday. 
Luke records an incident that occurred in Troas.

Introduction:
Our call to walk in love is challenged, not only by sin issues, but by our differences.
We have differences explained by spiritual maturity.
We have differences explained by natural human variety.
Regardless of our differences, if we are not dealing with matters of sin, then we sin by not welcoming one another.
We don’t welcome each other to argue everyone’s conscience into submission to our own.
We welcome each other for the reasons God sets forth here.
God has welcomed them.
God is their master and mine.
God is faithful to finish what He starts.
We learned all this last week.
When we come to verse 5, we come to another issue that threatened to divide the church in Paul’s day. 
Believers differed, not just on matters of diet. Believers also differed on the question of special days.
Remember that the problem envisioned in our text is that of a Jewish Christian who still feels pains of conscience related to the observance of diet and days as set forth by the law of God giv

Unity In Christ’s Lordship | Romans 14:5-9

Introduction: 
We are commanded to welcome the one who is weak in faith. 
We welcome them not to conform their conscience to ours. 
We welcome them, not requiring that all our differences melt away. 
We live with each other in a way that we love each other WHILE THE DIFFERENCES exist. 
It might seem counterintuitive to us, but this really does characterize a mature congregation. Immaturity often requires UNIFORMITY. There is a difference, as our text is making plain, between unity and uniformity. 
And yet, there is something else that characterizes mature congregations. There is a love despite differences, without pretending that the differences don’t matter. The differences can be consequential. The differences can be important. Yet, we are called to honor God, and to magnify God, while the differences remain. 
It is IMPORTANT that the Christian understands the difference between the Old and New covenants. It is important that the Christian understands what is considered clean on the other side of the cross. These TRUTHS — REVEALED BY GOD — matter. 
But while people mature, and when we can say that their sensitivities do not reflect rebellion, or insincerity, we love each other through those seasons of growth. 
The ability to do that is found in spiritually mature congregations. 
What we have in verses 2-4 is an explanation of the mindset that must operate as we obey the command, and the exception, of verse 1. 
The mindset for magnifying God in our differences. 
 • THE DIFFERENCES DESCRIBED (vs.2) 
What kind of person is weak in faith? What kind of person needs to be welcomed? 
Paul makes it plain verse 2. 
One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 
Now, we dealt with this already this morning, so I am not going to spend too much time on it, but reading this entire section makes clear what the issues are. 
The issues have to do with eating things that are considered clean or unclean (common) according to the Old Testament dietary laws. 
As you know, there were certain types of animals that a Jew could make a meal of, and there were other types of animals that were off-limits. 
There is a long list in Leviticus 11:1-47 that defines the boundaries, and many other references to dietary restrictions for God’s people in the OT, but here is a representative one from Deuteronomy 14. 
ESV Deuteronomy 14:1 "You are the sons of the LORD your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. 2 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 3 "You shall not eat any abomination. 4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. 6 Every animal that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 7 Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you. 8 And the pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. 9 "Of all that are in the waters you may eat these: whatever has fins and scales you may eat. 10 And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you. 11 "You may eat all clean birds. 12 But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, 13 the kite, the falcon of any kind; 14 every raven of any kind; 15 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind; 16 the little owl and the short-eared owl, the barn owl 17 and the tawny owl, the carrion vulture and the cormorant, 18 the stork, the heron of any kind; the hoopoe and the bat. 19 And all winged insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten. 20 All clean winged things you may eat. 21 "You shall not eat anything that has died naturally. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. "You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk. 
Any Jewish person who had reverence for God paid strict attention to those laws. 
Not only did they pay strict attention to the dietary laws, but they also were extremely careful in their interactions with Gentiles so as not to defile themselves.

Introduction:
We are commanded to welcome the one who is weak in faith. 
We welcome them not to conform their conscience to ours. 
We welcome them, not requiring that all our differences melt away. 
We live with each other in a way that we love each other WHILE THE DIFFERENCES exist.
It might seem counterintuitive to us, but this really does characterize a mature congregation. Immaturity often requires UNIFORMITY. There is a difference, as our text is making plain, between unity and uniformity.
And yet, there is something else that characterizes mature congregations. There is a love despite differences, without pretending that the differences don’t matter. The differences can be consequential. The differences can be important. Yet, we are called to honor God, and to magnify God, while the differences remain.
It is IMPORTANT that the Christian understands the difference between the Old and New covenants. It is important that the Christian understands what is considered clean on the othe

The Mindset for Magnifying God in Our Differences | Romans 14:2-4

Introduction: 
The Christian life is a life of love. Love for God, love for His people, and love for the lost. 
That IS NOT A LIFE WITHOUT CHALLENGES. 
LOVE IS CHALLENGED BY SIN 
Living a life of love is often challenging because of sin. 
It is challenging because of the sin that still dwells in us. 
It is challenging because of the sin that we meet with in others. 
But, for the Christians that is not a surprising challenge. 
We are often prepared for THAT challenge. 
We know that SIN is a great enemy to our obedience as a Christian. We know that Satan, and his kingdom of darkness and sin is a great force of resistance when it comes to our desire to glorify God in all things. 
But what we sometimes forget is that this life of love will also be challenged by things that are NOT necessarily sinful. 
LOVE IS CHALLENGED BY HUMAN WEAKNESSES 
Our desire to live a life of love is often challenged by the weaknesses of humanity that are not necessarily sinful. 
THIS SECTION REMINDS US OF THAT. 
WE COME TO A NEW ISSUE IN THESE VERSES BUT THE LIFE WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE IS THE SAME. 
ESV Romans 14:15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 
OUR LOVE IS TESTED BY OUR DIFFERENCES. And those differences exist for more than one reason. 
OUR LOVE IS TESTED BY THE DIFFERENCES THAT EXISTS BECAUSE OF CHRISTIAN IMMATURITY 
We are not yet glorified. 
We do not yet know what one day we will know. 
We are not a finished product. 
We are not yet conformed to the image of Christ. 
Our minds still lack perspective. 
Our responses often fall short of where they would if we were more mature. 
Our JUDGMENTS often reveal our immaturity. 
And we live our lives, in the church, surrounded by people who are all like us — we are all in process. 
We go home to people who are also in process. 
But it is not just the variety of spiritual maturity that tests us in the church. 
OUR LOVE IS TESTED BY DIFFERENCES THAT EXIST BECAUSE OF NATURAL HUMAN VARIETY 
We are often tested by the natural differences we meet with in each other. 
Different life stages 
Different personalities. 
Different backgrounds and upbringing. 
Different lives prior to salvation. 
Different spiritual heritages even after salvation. 
Different natural affinities. 
All this variety — variety in the realm of Christian maturity, and variety in the realm of natural humanity — leads to the NEED for love to be chosen and leads to SITUATIONS where love is tested — whether we would wish it so or not. 
After teaching us about the life of love in Romans 12 and 13 — and doing so in a way that calls us to think about dealing with sin and its hostility — NOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD CALLS US TO CONSIDER HOW LOVE RESPONDS IN THE FACE OF OUR WEAKNESSES. 
Weaknesses that, in this passage, exist because of spiritual immaturity. 
This morning we think about loving those with whom we differ.

Introduction: The Christian life is a life of love. Love for God, love for His people, and love for the lost. That IS NOT A LIFE ...

Loving Those with Whom We Differ | Romans 14:1-12

Introduction: 
At some point in each of our lives we will meet with something that we vastly underestimated. 
We will meet with something that is very important, very weighty, greatly consequential, that we foolishly treated like it was far less important than it actually was. 
Making good grades might seem like a relatively unimportant thing in high school, until you cannot get into the college you wanted to attend. 
What you post on the internet might seem like a small thing, until that job you really want chooses to include your social media accounts in your background examination. 
Ignoring some warning signs in the dating process, and, perhaps, some warning voices, might not seem that big a deal, until you are married, and the things that were warned about prove to be true. 
All of those examples could be joined by thousands of others, but you understand. 
This is what we often do. We find ourselves surprised when reality shows up, not because we were not told about it, not because we did not acknowledge it intellectually, not because we could not have told others about the importance of that reality, but BECAUSE WE DID NOT PROPERLY ASSESS THAT REALITY. 
We lived like it was not really on the way, like it would never really show up, but then it did. 
All those wake-up calls don’t begin to compare to the kind of reality that we are exhorted about in THESE VERSES. 
Here we are reminded about the greatest, weightiest, meeting with reality that we will ever experience. 
 • THE CALL TO OBEDIENCE (vs.11a) 
The first thing that we see in our text is a call to act. It is a call for obedience. 
The Greek text reads: “and this, knowing the time.” 
“And this” καὶ τοῦτο 
How are those two words functioning? 
NASB – “Do this” (reaching back to the previous instruction and requiring an implied verb made clear from by the context) represents a call to action. 
ESV – “Besides this” (reaching back to previous instruction and moving to a new section) introducing something additional. 
 
Thomas Schreiner – “The words καὶ τοῦτο (kai touto, and this) actually constitute the first admonition. Other instances of καὶ τοῦτο (and this) are parallel to the construction here (cf. 1 Cor. 6:6, 8; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:28). In these cases τοῦτο (this) refers back to what precedes and sums up the previous thought or verses… The first part of the verse can then be paraphrased, “Put into practice3 (The implied verb is likely ποιεῖτε (poieite; so Lövestam 1963: 27).) all of the exhortations in Rom. 12:1–13:10” in light of the imminence of the end. Romans 13:11–14, then, comprehends all the preceding exhortations and summons the readers to urgency because the end is on the horizon.” 
The participle (εἰδότες) might be taken as the ESV has, as an indicative, (“you know the time”), but most think it right to see it as the NASB has it, “knowing the time.” 
Schreiner – “The participle εἰδότες (knowing) is causal.” 
So, the thought is this, what Paul has just been teaching (whether it is as limited as the instruction on love, or as comprehensive as beginning with Romans 12:1) MUST BE PUT INTO PRACTICE, and what should cause them to PUT THESE THINGS INTO PRACTICE is their knowledge of the time. 
Now, I just want to pause here to make this point. 
Christians are called to act on what they are taught. 
We are not taught the truth of Scripture to simply educate us. 
We are taught the truth of Scripture to ANIMATE us. 
We are taught the truth of Scripture to MOVE US TO ACTION. 
The teaching of God’s Word is for the purpose of the DOING of God’s will. 
We are meant to OBEY what we learn. 
Our lives must be transformed by what we know. 
And what Paul does in this section makes clear that ONE ASPECT OF WHAT WE KNOW that is essential to a faithful life, IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR TIME. 
The knowledge of the AGE in which we are living, and the knowledge of THE AGE THAT IS COMING. 
 • THE CONTEXT FOR OBEDIENCE (vs.11b-12a) 
This is the second thing that we see in our text. We see the context for our obedience. 
The context is a knowledge concerning the timeline of where we stand with respect to eternity. 
It is a knowledge that motivates, that should cause us to strive for, faithful living. 
We practice what we have been taught KNOWING the time. 
The word for time is καιρός as opposed to χρόνος. 
It is the word for time that has reference to a season — a period of time. 
But what is significant here is not so much the word that Paul uses, though the word he uses fits with what he is discussing. What is significant is the way that the time is described. 
Paul is clearly referring to the last days. 
IT IS A TIME TO BE AWAKE NOT TO SLEEP (vs.11) 
IT IS A TIME WHEN FINAL SALVATION IS NEARER THAN EVER (vs.11) 
IT IS A TIME WHEN THE NIGHT IS ALMOST GONE AND THE DAY IS AT HAND (vs.12) 
IT IS A TIME WHEN THE WORKS OF DARKNESS MUST BE JETTISONED AND THE ARMOR OF LIGHT MUST BE PUT ON (vs.12) 
What he is saying is that the Christian is standing right at the door of forever.

Introduction:
At some point in each of our lives we will meet with something that we vastly underestimated. 
We will meet with something that is very important, very weighty, greatly consequential, that we foolishly treated like it was far less important than it actually was.
Making good grades might seem like a relatively unimportant thing in high school, until you cannot get into the college you wanted to attend.
What you post on the internet might seem like a small thing, until that job you really want chooses to include your social media accounts in your background examination.
Ignoring some warning signs in the dating process, and, perhaps, some warning voices, might not seem that big a deal, until you are married, and the things that were warned about prove to be true.
All of those examples could be joined by thousands of others, but you understand. 
This is what we often do. We find ourselves surprised when reality shows up, not because we were not told about it, not because we 

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