THE SACRIFICIAL LIFE INVOLVES SACRIFICING FREEDOM FOR FELLOWSHIP

Romans 6:19-22 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Would you sacrifice some of your freedoms in Christ, for your Christian brother’s sake, to promote fellowship?

I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity? - v13-20

A. By not allowing your freedom in Christ to hurt others. Romans 14: Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

1. What’s freedom in Christ? I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

1. What’s freedom in Christ? a. It is not compromising a matter of principle. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

1. What’s freedom in Christ? a. It is not compromising a matter of principle. b. It does mean opinion matters are non essential issues of life. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

2. Examples: a. How to dress. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

2. Examples: a. How to dress. b. What to eat. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

2. Examples: a. How to dress. b. What to eat. c. What kind of entertainment you use. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

3. Bible Example: The Food Eating Question. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

3. Bible Example: The Food Eating Question. a. No food is spiritually unclean - Acts 10:9-16 I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

3. Bible Example: The Food Eating Question. b. Some couldn’t break away from the Jewish Kosier laws Romans 14:14 - As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

3. Bible Example: The Food Eating Question. Romans 5:1 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Romans 14:14 - As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

4. What happens when you offend a brother? Romans 14:15 - If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

4. What happens when you offend a brother? Romans 14:20 - Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

Romans 14: Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

A. By not allowing your freedom in Christ to hurt others. B. By conducting yourself in a way so no one could speak against your lifestyle. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

1. What is the kingdom of God? Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit... I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

1. What is the kingdom of God? Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit... a. Living in righteousness means giving to God & people what they deserve. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

1. What is the kingdom of God? Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit... b. Living in peace means what makes for a person’s highest good. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

1. What is the kingdom of God? Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit... c. Living in joy means sharing the happiness with others. Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

2. What is the result of this type of living? Romans 14: because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity?

I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity? - v13-20 II. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative? - v21-23

A. Because he can’t participate without committing sin. Romans 14:23 - But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. I. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative?

A. Because he can’t participate without committing sin. 1. Example: The Instrument in Worship Issue. I. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative?

A. Because he can’t participate without committing sin. 1. Example: The Instrument in Worship Issue. Romans 14:23 - But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. I. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative?

A. Because he can’t participate without committing sin. B. Because you can abstain without committing sin. Romans 14: Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. I. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative?

I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity? - v13-20 II. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative? - v21-23 III. So - How Can You Take the Initiative? - 5:1-6

A. By deciding who you want to please. Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative?

A. By deciding who you want to please. Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative?

2. Example: The Social Drinking Issue. I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative?

2. Example: The Social Drinking Issue. I Timothy 3:8 - Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative?

2. Example: The Social Drinking Issue. I Timothy 3:8 - Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. I Timothy 5:23 - Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative?

3. The Lord didn’t please Himself! Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative?

A. By deciding who you want to please. B. When you live to please your brother you encourage his faith. Romans 15:2 - Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative?

Will you sacrifice some of your freedoms to win another person or encourage a brother’s faith?