Welcome One Another
Romans
OPENING THOUGHT
A.W. Tozer wrote, “Has it ever occurred to you that 100 pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So 100 worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
For fellowship to exist, a community of people must agree on what holds them together. For Christians, this is Jesus Christ. But a common faith does not exclude diversity in the church. To the contrary, within the church there is a variety of cultures, backgrounds, interests, tastes, styles, customs, opinions, and habits. Unity is possible only if Christians agree that what they have in common is more important than their differences.
Rome was a diverse city, and the church that met there was no different. Ethnically, there were Jews and Gentiles. Customs differed—some esteemed one day as more important than others, some refused to eat meat sacrificed to idols. How could this diverse group stick together?
EXPLORING GOD’S WORD
Romans 14:1-12
What two issues were testing the fellowship of the Christians in Rome? Were these matters of faith or opinion?
What position was held by the “weak”?
What responsibilities did Paul give to the weaker brethren? Should anyone demand that all the other members conform to their point of view when it comes to opinions?
Is it our place to judge? To whom must we give account?
Romans 14:13-23
How do we sometimes put stumbling blocks before our brothers and sisters?
What's the risk in pressing our opinion on others according to vv. 15 and 20? Is our freedom worth destroying our life together?
Which should be our overall concern when dealing with matters of opinion according to vv. 17 and 19?
Paul seems to place a special burden on the strong, those Christians who are more informed and liberated than their brothers. Why should those who are strong be sensitive to the scruples of those with weaker sensibilities? (see v. 23).
Romans 15:1-6
Are we supposed to be thinking about how we might please ourselves in the church?
Did Christ please himself? (see Phil. 2:5-8).
What should be our goal toward our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Romans 15:7-13
Why should we be willing to welcome one another?
Must we settle every matter of opinion? Are there some matters on which we may agree to disagree for the sake of unity?
