Carol Swenson
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Sermon Outlines on Romans
God Is First, and You Count
Romans 14:1-19
Introduction
In the closing chapters of Romans Paul tells us, loud and clear, that if we are going to really live we are going to practice brotherhood. If I don’t do that, God is going to be an unhappy God, and I am going to be an unhappy person.
• I shall examine, seriously, the matters that affect my conscience, and I am to be true to myself.
• If I am a “strong” Christian, I have figured out what things are important. But I will not tread on another person’s conscience. And I will carry more weight, because I can.
• If I am a “weak” Christian, more fragile in my conscience, more concerned about making mistakes, I will not insist that another share my opinion. And I will grow, get stronger, be less frightened, and be less easily injured.
The controlling motive in all Christian conduct is love—a love for God, a love for obeying Him, and a love for His people. “So!” Paul says, “realize some things:”
I. These People Are Not Your Servants. They Are Christ’s (14:4-5).
A. Both of us are guests at His table. Who would be rude enough to criticize another guest at a meal for which you were not the host?
In the paraphrased New Testament, The Message, this section reads “Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.”
B. At Sunday worship, we are gathered to express our honor to God. The others to whom we relate are His servants, not ours. That says something about the way we dress; but it also says something about the way we evaluate the way someone else might be dressed. I am not the master to whom another must give account.
II. These Things Are Not Your Things. They Are Gifts (14:6-9).
A. Gratitude is my most important posture.
B. It is a gratitude that is not just felt. It is lived.
C. It is a gratitude that is to be celebrated, with vigor.
The Message reads, “If you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for the prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for the broccoli.” For some of us that will be easier to do than it is for George Bush.
III. Criticism Is Not Part of Your Job Description. Faithful Personal Living Is (14:10-13).
A. Judgment is in God’s job description. You and I will both stand before Him, and He will have the last word. Why would I pretend to do God’s job?
B. We have plenty to do taking care of our own lives before God. My intellectual development, my devotional life, giving proper care to the people who are (at least in part) my responsibility, disciplining my thoughts and choices and time uses—these things are more than I will ever get done properly.
IV. Encouragement Is a Dandy Use for Your Energies (14:17-19).
A. We have a finite amount of energy. How will we spend it?
B. It’s a pretty good bet that the most successful people you know are encouragers.
Conclusion
Let’s put what Paul says in some of our words. “You are really different from each other. Some are stronger, some are weaker. Some are long-timers and some are short-termers. Some are insightful and some are fearful. You wear different things, you eat different things, and you spend time in different ways. You bring to God different kinds of sacrifices. Just remember! Each of you is alive if you have entrusted your life to Christ, even if that trust comes out looking different in each of you. You are not in charge of each other, but your brotherhood really counts. So, make every effort to do what leads to peace and to a mutual building up. Up! I said up!
God is first. And you count!
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