WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.440 How many of you consider yourself to be a welcoming, warm, friendly person? 00:00:09.660 --> 00:00:13.640 Wow, that's a rough bunch. Most of you didn't raise your hand. 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:19.640 ! Like, nope, that's not me at all. Trust me, you don't want to be around me. 00:00:20.339 --> 00:00:21.980 At least not before a coffee, right? 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:26.820 All right, so we're going to talk this morning about the art of the welcome. 00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:32.240 Let's go to Romans chapter 14. Romans chapter 14. 00:00:32.460 --> 00:00:38.640 We are continuing on this series, When in Romans, a study into Paul's most influential, 00:00:39.620 --> 00:00:48.480 probably impactful, and definitely controversial letter to the multiple churches in Rome. 00:00:49.260 --> 00:00:53.799 How many of you are Marvel fans? Marvel comics? 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:58.739 You know, the whole Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, that whole deal. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:05.560 How many of you are waiting for me to get past this part because you can't stand all that nonsense? 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:07.319 Yeah, there you go. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:12.620 All right, for those of you, I have kids, I have boys specifically, they love it. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:17.840 I would love to blame it on them, but I'm pretty sure I'm the one who got them into it, so I'm sorry for that. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:22.960 But for those of you, we're going deep into the Marvel Cinematic Universe here. 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:27.659 What happened when Thanos snapped his fingers? Anybody? 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:34.939 Half the known population of the Earth disappeared. 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:38.420 It's a fantasy, y'all. It's not in the scriptures, all right? 00:01:38.460 --> 00:01:40.960 This is not, just roll with us for a minute. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:46.500 For all the nerds out there who are into that, you know, how long did that last for? 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:50.399 Five years, right? Five years. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:57.719 And then everybody came back through the efforts of whatever Avengers were left, and, you know, it was a whole thing. 00:01:57.839 --> 00:01:58.099 Anyway. 00:01:58.099 --> 00:02:11.979 The interesting part of that whole deal was, and you'll see little, if you get into those shows and movies, you'll see little references to this. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:21.919 Can you imagine what it's like to disappear for five years from the Earth and then just get dropped right back into the life you had, 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:25.740 except it's five years later and things are different. 00:02:25.740 --> 00:02:33.360 You, like, get up to go to work the next morning and find somebody else has taken your job because you've been gone for five years. 00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:38.520 You, have you ever thought about the family implications? 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.960 You were married with a family, and now it's been five years, and they've moved on. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:45.920 Rough, rough situation, right? 00:02:47.420 --> 00:02:49.400 Where in the world are we going with this? 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:54.540 Well, the interesting thing is, this happened to the church in Rome. 00:02:55.740 --> 00:02:56.500 You ready for this? 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.600 This literally happened to the church in Rome. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:01.520 They experienced this. 00:03:02.760 --> 00:03:05.620 This thing's not working for some reason, so would you mind? 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:06.280 You know what? 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:07.600 It doesn't have any batteries in it. 00:03:08.860 --> 00:03:09.300 Okay. 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:11.480 Okay, wait, wait, wait. 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:12.219 There we go. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:14.200 Hey, yes! 00:03:15.500 --> 00:03:16.740 Y'all fixed it somehow. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:18.120 I don't know what you did, but thank you. 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:19.159 All right. 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:22.080 Do you see what happened on the left? 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:25.219 This was called the Edict of Claudius. 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:33.180 This was in Rome, and the emperor, kind of evil emperor, Claudius, kicked all the Christians out of Rome. 00:03:33.340 --> 00:03:34.900 Well, let me rephrase that. 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:37.420 He kicked all the Jews out of Rome. 00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:45.399 This was an early form of anti-Semitism, and the emperor of Claudius thought the Jews were rabble-rousing people. 00:03:45.519 --> 00:03:51.439 He thought they were a menace to society and would, you know, potentially want to overthrow the government because of their theocracy. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:54.979 They seemed to follow a god more than man, and so he kicked them out. 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:56.359 They had to leave their homes. 00:03:56.360 --> 00:04:08.080 This also included the Jewish Christians, which held the majority position in the churches of Jesus Christ. 00:04:08.700 --> 00:04:17.920 In the early days after Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, the early church was just starting to get formed all around the known world at the time. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:32.740 And in Rome, you had these little house churches that had sprung up, and most of them were populated by Jewish Christians until all of a sudden the Jewish people had to vacate Rome. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:34.800 So what happened? 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:39.720 The churches died, right, because they couldn't survive without the Jews. 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:41.280 No. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:43.800 That's not at all what happened. 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:48.020 In some ways, they thrived. 00:04:49.280 --> 00:04:50.379 Here's what happened. 00:04:51.040 --> 00:05:03.139 For five years, the churches of Jesus' followers in Rome were 100% Gentile, 100% non-Jewish. 00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:05.560 Do you know what survived? 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:07.960 Jesus' teachings. 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:13.300 The heart of what Jesus wanted to do on this earth. 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:16.139 His kingdom on earth. 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:19.040 Those teachings survived. 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:21.319 Do you know what did not survive? 00:05:22.900 --> 00:05:24.199 Jewish traditions. 00:05:25.460 --> 00:05:26.500 Dietary laws. 00:05:26.620 --> 00:05:28.100 What you could eat, what you couldn't eat. 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:30.580 Observance of the Sabbath. 00:05:31.900 --> 00:05:38.540 There were things that the Jews thought unthinkable to not do, and the Gentiles were like, 00:05:38.900 --> 00:05:40.319 We've never had those laws. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.939 We didn't convert to Judaism. 00:05:42.939 --> 00:05:44.639 We converted to the way of Jesus. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:46.659 We believe in him. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:47.779 We're teaching. 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:52.480 We're following his teachings, not your traditions. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:55.980 So the traditions didn't survive. 00:05:55.980 --> 00:06:06.300 In the Marvel universe, five years later, the blip reverses, and all the people, half the earth's population comes back. 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:11.579 And it's chaos in a lot of ways, as you can imagine, that would be. 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:17.899 Guess what happened five years after Claudius kicked the Jews out of Rome? 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:19.500 He died. 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:23.560 A new emperor by the name of Nero came into power. 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:27.899 And how many of you think Nero was a good Caesar or a bad Caesar? 00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:29.799 Bad Caesar. 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:30.420 Nero was a good Caesar. 00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:31.420 But he didn't start that way. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:33.879 It actually started very successful. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:36.819 He kind of ushered in Rome's golden age. 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:43.660 Nero was seen as one of the most popular, most successful emperors of Rome that they had ever had. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:47.259 Until some things started to get him off track. 00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:51.080 And then he became arguably the worst that they'd ever had and went crazy. 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:59.240 But before any of that happened, he lifted the edict of Claudius, allowing Jews to come back to Rome. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:07.259 So they all flooded back, thankful to God they could return to their homes and their churches. 00:07:08.699 --> 00:07:12.139 And what did they find when they went back to church? 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:14.680 Everything was different. 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:20.000 Everything was not the same. 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:22.560 Change had happened. 00:07:23.479 --> 00:07:25.359 Change that they did not approve of. 00:07:27.479 --> 00:07:36.419 And it was into this moment that Paul was compelled to write this letter to the churches in Rome. 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:43.039 So this was the entire context for the letter to the Romans. 00:07:43.219 --> 00:07:48.519 So when we read the book of Romans and you open it up, chapter 1 and read all the way through chapter 16. 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:56.120 A lot of times in 2026, we think of Romans as, well, Paul was writing the plan of salvation. 00:07:56.519 --> 00:08:00.979 He was putting down his doctrine of salvation and all that he believed about theology. 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:04.379 He was trying to save a fractured church. 00:08:05.359 --> 00:08:08.879 He was trying to keep this church from falling apart. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:20.300 He had plans to do ministry in Rome and he needed a strong home base to be able to go and reach the people in Rome. 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:22.680 He needed this church to survive. 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:25.360 So that's what he was trying to do. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:28.460 So let's look at Romans chapter 14. 00:08:29.660 --> 00:08:37.180 For years, the Gentiles had not followed the Jewish way. 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:39.740 And then the Jews came flooding back in. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:48.259 They walked into a church that they had essentially founded. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.039 A church that they had essentially started themselves. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:53.740 And they felt now that it was pagan. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:55.399 That it was lawless. 00:08:57.460 --> 00:09:00.419 And Paul identifies two sides of this struggle. 00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:04.620 He identifies the weak and the strong. 00:09:05.699 --> 00:09:13.719 Now we might think that by the weak, he was referring to the Gentiles who had abandoned the Jewish traditions. 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:18.639 And by the strong, he would be referring to the Jews who had kept these Old Testament commandments. 00:09:20.319 --> 00:09:24.079 But Paul reveals to us in his letter that it's exactly the opposite. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:31.460 The way Paul identifies these two parties who are basically going to war with each other. 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:39.820 Is that those who did not need all the Jewish traditions and adherence to the laws. 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:43.360 He calls them stronger in faith. 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:46.020 He refers to them as the strong. 00:09:46.420 --> 00:09:50.040 So when you're reading through Romans, when you see Paul refer to the weak and the strong. 00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:52.580 The strong, he's referring to the Gentiles. 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:57.320 But the weak, he's referring to the Jews who were coming back in. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:01.580 Just in that usage of those words. 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:04.080 Just in how he's referring to them. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:07.280 Feels like Paul chose sides, didn't he? 00:10:08.280 --> 00:10:11.000 Now it's interesting because Paul was a Jew. 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:15.400 He was one of those Jewish Christians. 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:24.139 But his faith was not dependent in such a way as the Roman Jewish Christians seemed to be. 00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:30.279 That they had to have the old laws along with their new faith in Christ. 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:37.259 So this is the setup for what we're going to be studying in this series on Rome. 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:39.819 And this is where Paul writes his letter. 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:43.799 And on the right you've got a depiction of his messenger Phoebe. 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:47.740 The deacon from the church in Chantraea to come to them. 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:48.899 She carried the letter. 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:55.019 And then she preached this letter time and time again to all the different house churches in Rome. 00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:57.980 And she would have to expound the letter. 00:10:58.079 --> 00:10:59.840 She would have to answer questions about it. 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:02.220 They would be stopping her along the way and saying, 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:02.759 What? 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:04.000 Why would he say that? 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:05.220 What does Paul mean by this? 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:09.980 And she would have to know well enough from Paul what his intentions were 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:14.240 to expound upon the letter that he had sent her with. 00:11:15.199 --> 00:11:16.480 Thousands of miles away. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:24.200 So Paul writes to the Romans to prove that if everyone is saved by grace. 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:27.240 And that's kind of a theme from chapters 1 through 11. 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:30.340 Saved by the same grace that God shows to all of us. 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:34.159 Then they must be able to share the same table. 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:36.560 And this is the theme of what we're covering today. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:38.139 Chapters 14 and 15. 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:40.620 They must learn the art of the welcome. 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:46.519 They must be able to welcome everyone at the Lord's table together. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.659 This is one of the reasons that we're reading Romans backwards. 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:52.940 On Mother's Day we kicked it off with Romans 16. 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:54.620 And we looked at some of the kingdom matriarchs. 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:58.639 The women that were used mightily in Paul's life. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:01.480 And instrumental in the early church where we got our start. 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:06.820 And we gave recognition to them and how God used them greatly. 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:09.759 And now we're moving into chapters 14 and 15. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:16.100 And we see the people that Paul was trying to save from a church split. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:18.759 So. 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:23.860 I also want to draw your attention to 1 Corinthians 8. 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:25.060 You don't have to turn there right now. 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.120 Because we're going to read in Romans 14 in just a moment. 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:32.960 But in 1 Corinthians 8 we see that this was not the only time that Paul had dealt with this. 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:36.019 He had already dealt with this with the church in Corinth. 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:39.179 And in his first letter to the Corinthians. 00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:45.379 Paul had already dealt with the issue of how do we coexist? 00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:57.079 How do we merge this ancient Jewish faith with the Messiah who has now come and has invited in non-Jews to have a part in it? 00:12:57.080 --> 00:13:00.060 Do they have to abide by all the same old laws? 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:02.720 Or is all of that fulfilled in Jesus? 00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:06.100 And they don't have to abide by those same old laws. 00:13:07.020 --> 00:13:11.060 Think in your minds as we work through this today in just a few short minutes we have. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.960 Think in your minds. 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:16.500 How does this apply to First Baptist Church of Henrietta, Texas? 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:20.539 How does this apply to how I see faith? 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:26.440 How does this apply to the people in the room that I know well or maybe the people that I don't know well? 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:28.679 Look around the room. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.360 Don't be awkward or weird about it. 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:30.799 Okay. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.899 But look around the room. 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:33.700 Don't stare. 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:36.159 Just kind of sneak a peek. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:40.980 Those people maybe that don't sit in your section. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:44.580 Those people that don't know you that well or you don't know them that well. 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:51.860 Keep that in the back of your mind as we read through this teaching from Paul that was so essential for this church. 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.560 And it's essential for ours today. 00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:58.040 Romans 14 chapter 14 and verse 1. 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:02.900 Accept the one whose faith is weak without quarreling over disputable matters. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.180 Who's the weak? 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.740 Was it the Jews or the Gentiles? 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:07.300 Jews. 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.980 So he's talking to the Gentiles now. 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:11.820 He's saying accept the Jewish faith. 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:14.180 Accept the one whose faith is weak. 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:16.120 Without quarreling. 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:18.960 Kids, don't quarrel with each other. 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:19.740 Don't fight. 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:21.100 Don't get in needless arguments. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.200 Over disputable matters. 00:14:24.420 --> 00:14:25.139 This is the theme. 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.060 These two words. 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:28.139 Disputable matters. 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:28.819 Disputable matters. 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:35.500 It's what they were dealing with in Corinth when he was in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. 00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:38.740 And he was writing about these same disputable matters. 00:14:39.260 --> 00:14:46.480 Can I just pause and say that Christians have always found a way to fight each other over disputable matters. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.580 What do we mean by disputable matters? 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:53.740 Matters that are not of first level importance to the faith of Jesus Christ. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:56.920 Matters in which there's room to disagree. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:15:03.779 And we can all still love and follow Jesus according to how we best believe we're following the Holy Spirit of God. 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:08.439 We don't have to have carbon copy faith. 00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:12.240 But it all has to be in the same person. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:16.639 And we have to believe that he was born of the Virgin Mary. 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:19.220 That he did walk and live a sinless life. 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:23.139 That he performed miracles and taught people about the kingdom of God. 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:27.419 And then he willingly laid his life down as the sacrifice for our sins. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:33.680 To bring forgiveness to all who would repent and put their faith in him as God. 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:37.240 And then God in power raised him up from the dead. 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:42.060 And he is alive today and inhabits our praises. 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:45.180 Loves us like dear children. 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:49.480 And calls us all to follow him in the way of Christ. 00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:55.139 If we believe that, then we have a shared faith. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:58.820 We can disagree about other things. 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:06.639 We can disagree over whether chairs or pews look better or serve a better purpose in the auditorium, the sanctuary. 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:10.000 We can disagree over whether you should have screens up there. 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:12.519 Whether everybody should be reading out of song books, you know. 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:16.220 And those are kind of more trivial matters. 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:18.360 But there are some bigger matters that people. 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:21.879 We can disagree on what exactly Revelation is talking about. 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:23.740 Or how we interpret the book of Revelation. 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:28.299 We can disagree on who should or shouldn't be a Sunday school teacher or not. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:31.120 We can disagree on a lot of other things. 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:34.879 But Paul calls those disputable matters. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:42.240 They should not be driving us apart from our fellowship in Christ. 00:16:43.199 --> 00:16:45.879 So, let's get back to the text. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.159 Romans chapter 14. 00:16:47.159 --> 00:17:09.980 Did you catch that? 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:11.579 That leads us to point number one. 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:15.599 We cannot reject whom God has received. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.779 You see, both parties were guilty there. 00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:20.299 One was showing contempt for the others. 00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:25.180 How dare you come in here and tell me what I can and cannot eat? 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:27.360 Jesus never told us that. 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:30.500 Why are you trying to put these laws and restrictions on us? 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:36.140 And Paul is saying, don't put those laws and restrictions on them. 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:40.180 And then he's saying to the other side, quit getting angry at these people about it. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:47.380 Have some understanding and compassion for this ancient faith that has been passed down from generation to generation. 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:49.720 And they're still holding on to it. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:55.180 Accept them as the weaker brother or sister in Christ. 00:17:55.180 --> 00:18:00.500 Yeah, they still need to do this in their minds. 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:05.720 Your faith is a little bit stronger because you recognize you don't have to do this. 00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:07.220 God is enough. 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:09.360 Faith in Jesus is enough. 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:14.799 But, he says, don't treat them with contempt. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:21.419 And then on the other side, don't judge these ones who aren't following the rules that have never applied to them. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.980 And you still believe apply to you. 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:28.639 He says, who are you to judge someone else's servant? 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:32.740 To their own master, servants either stand or they fall. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:35.159 Leave that up to the master. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.599 Leave that up to God. 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:39.559 They're servants of him, just like you are. 00:18:40.399 --> 00:18:42.579 Let God be the master, not you. 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:48.220 So, Paul's point here is that the art of the welcome is not based on personality. 00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:51.039 It's recognition of God's ownership. 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:53.179 You may not agree on everything. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:55.119 You may not vibe with that person. 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:57.619 I don't exactly even know what that means. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:00.339 But I feel like young people like to talk about vibes. 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:04.299 You may not get good vibes from them or not. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:09.240 You may not see eye to eye on some issues that are important to you. 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:14.799 But the art of the welcome says, in Christ's name, I receive you. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:18.019 I accept you because God has received you. 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.900 God has accepted you. 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:23.579 So, I will not reject whom God has received. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:27.660 Because what this is, is rebellion against God's judgment. 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:33.540 So, we're in Romans chapter 14 and all the way down to verse 13. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.560 And we're not going to read all this. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:37.340 We don't have time for all that today. 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:41.380 We could do a month-long series just on this chapter if we wanted to. 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:44.480 But to keep it short today, let's look down at verse 5. 00:19:44.580 --> 00:19:47.259 One person considers one day more sacred than another. 00:19:47.560 --> 00:19:49.200 Another considers every day alike. 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:52.080 Each one should be fully convinced in their own mind. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:56.919 So, whoever regards one day as special, they're doing that for the Lord. 00:19:57.819 --> 00:20:00.759 Whoever eats meat does that for the Lord. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:03.939 Whoever does not abstains does that to the Lord. 00:20:05.179 --> 00:20:06.379 So, then, verse 10. 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:09.159 So, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:11.599 Why do you treat them with contempt? 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:14.319 We will all stand before God's judgment seat. 00:20:14.419 --> 00:20:18.480 So, let's stop passing judgment, verse 13, on one another. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:22.220 The point in disputable matters is this. 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:25.900 Don't rebel against God as judge. 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:36.079 When you place yourself in the seat of judgment of another brother or Christ, brother or sister in Christ, 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:39.720 not according to what their faith in Christ is, 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:46.759 but you're judging how well or not they're living up to your disputable matters, 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:53.839 what you're doing is placing yourself in the seat of judgment where God alone can sit. 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:56.019 You can't do that. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:00.019 You can't do that and call yourself a follower of Jesus. 00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:01.279 Because you're not. 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.000 You're following something else. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:12.039 You've made your brand of religion as a God above what Jesus has taught. 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:17.880 I recently heard a prominent leader in Baptist life, which broke my heart, 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:21.480 get on a recorded podcast and say, 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:26.680 I don't think that women ought to be talking about theology on podcasts. 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:30.560 And I'm thinking, what? 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.360 Sorry, what? 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:39.960 I would love to find a chapter and a verse in the scripture where that principle is given. 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:45.340 I would love to point to a teaching of Jesus where he modeled that. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:52.900 I would love to say that Paul didn't send Phoebe to teach his letter to the churches in Rome. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.900 And that's one example out of many. 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:56.320 We talked about that a few weeks ago. 00:21:56.320 --> 00:22:05.360 But I cannot understand why people would take such giant leaps from the teaching of Jesus. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:11.880 But then I start thinking about the Pharisees and the thousands of laws that they tacked onto 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:15.200 the many laws that God had already given. 00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:17.100 And they took it much further. 00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:21.980 Because they took the spirit of it and then wrote their own laws on top of that. 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:29.059 Missing the point of what the law was supposed to do, which was reveal our own inadequacy to us 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:33.799 and drive us to Christ alone as the hope of our salvation, not the law. 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.519 Never the law. 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:37.319 But instead, they just expanded the law. 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:44.099 And made all kinds of additional man-made laws and required people to live by those laws 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:49.079 as though they were equal with the ones that had been given from the mouth of God to Moses, etc. 00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:53.179 And this is what we see even happening today. 00:22:54.279 --> 00:23:05.059 When religion, not Jesus, but religion, will take what God instituted and put their own twist on it. 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:15.059 And then hold people to that standard rather than what Jesus was, said, did, and still is today. 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:19.220 So, these are disputable matters. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:24.019 I want to say to my brother, listen, if you don't think a woman should be on a podcast, 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.899 then don't bring a woman on your podcast. 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:31.460 But brother, what are we doing? 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:37.560 Taking men or women created in the image of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, 00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:39.340 and saying, nope, you can't do that. 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.980 Nope, you can't do that. 00:23:43.800 --> 00:23:45.300 Ben Franklin said it this way. 00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:49.820 Might be a little small to read, so I'll try to read it off for you. 00:23:49.819 --> 00:24:00.000 And those disputing, contradicting, and confuting, or getting into verbal arguments or verbal wars with each other, 00:24:01.179 --> 00:24:05.720 those people who do those things, disputing with each other, contradicting each other all the time, 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:10.740 getting into verbal arguments, those people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. 00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:14.159 Benjamin Franklin, one of the fathers of our nation, he had a lot of wisdom. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:17.960 I don't know that it was always coming from a place of faith, but he had a lot of wisdom. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:20.660 And so, he got this about human nature. 00:24:21.040 --> 00:24:25.860 He said, these people will get victory sometimes, but they never get good will, 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:28.960 which would be of more use to them. 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:32.060 And I just want to remind you of that. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:34.420 Good will is not everything. 00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:38.920 There are times when speaking the truth will make you unpopular. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:42.160 There are times when good will is not the answer. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:49.019 But do you know, among the people of God, God prioritized good will above almost everything else. 00:24:50.040 --> 00:24:56.900 He was continually, Jesus was continually trying to bring his people together and stop their strivings. 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:03.840 Paul was continually trying to fight for unity in the church rather than disunity. 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:08.759 That is one of the consistent themes from the Old Testament to the New Testament. 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:12.720 There must be good will toward one another. 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:22.920 So, the art of the welcome looks like listening without immediately jumping to argue, immediately jumping to correct. 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:29.759 Don't place yourself as judge in someone else's life and their walk with God. 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:34.259 Secondly, spirituality is shown by sacrifice. 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:38.079 Spirituality is shown by sacrifice. 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:44.420 That back in chapter 14 of Romans, make up your mind, verse 13, 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:49.700 make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:51.980 Skip down to verse 17. 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:55.599 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:26:00.400 It is a matter of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:03.339 These are the things that are most important. 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:05.039 Protect these things. 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:06.539 Guard these things. 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:15.680 So, the responsibility of the stronger Christians who were not bound by their allegiance to something that God had fulfilled, 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:20.960 not necessarily done away with, but fulfilled and loosened the restrictions to, 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:24.480 which was the law that the Roman Jews were bound by. 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:32.960 So, the responsibility of the stronger Christians then is, he says in chapter 15, the next chapter, 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:35.019 if you'll flip over one page, verses 1 and 2, 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:37.620 we who are strong ought to do this. 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:43.480 We ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not just live to please ourselves. 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.940 I don't have to abide by your rules. 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.860 Yeah, you're right. 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.480 You don't. 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:50.759 So, you do it out of love. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:58.680 You do it out of sacrifice for the good of your weaker brother or sister. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:04.440 He says we ought to bear with the feelings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:09.400 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good to build them up. 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:15.240 Paul moves from theory to the person of Jesus. 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:17.839 And this is why Romans was written. 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.259 Look down in verse 3. 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:19.579 You ready? 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.720 Here it is. 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.799 You want to know why was the book of Romans written? 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.759 This is why. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:26.920 For even Christ did not please himself. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.400 Remember? 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:36.559 We who are strong ought to bear with the feelings of the weak, not just to please ourselves, 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:39.339 because Jesus' goal was not pleasing himself. 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.720 Now look at verse 5. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:54.759 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:59.519 So that with one mind and one voice. 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.400 Can we say that together? 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:03.799 With one mind and one voice. 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.660 One more time, church. 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:07.839 With one mind and one voice. 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:13.159 This was the thesis statement of his letter. 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:28.379 This is what he was trying to accomplish. 00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:33.320 Y'all got to quit fighting each other over this silly stuff. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:38.079 It doesn't matter what you eat or don't eat. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:50.379 It doesn't matter whether you're living up to all these legal issues and when the law of Moses was given and all these hundreds and even thousands of laws and requirements. 00:28:50.380 --> 00:29:20.360 It doesn't matter if you're living up to all these legal issues and things like that. 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:24.000 It doesn't matter if you're living up to all these legal issues and things like that. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.760 The Jews can't handle it, man. 00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:28.420 Just gets them all bent out of shape. 00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:40.480 So for sake of them and our Christian unity, I won't do this where it's going to lead them astray and it's going to cause problems. 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:50.040 Because if that Jewish person, thinking, convinced in their mind that God does not want them to eat pork, 00:29:50.380 --> 00:29:59.500 if the smell of the BLT is too much to overcome and they sneak a strip of bacon, they're sinning. 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:02.200 Because they're not doing it by faith. 00:30:02.280 --> 00:30:04.140 They think they're doing it against God. 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:16.980 And remember, God is far, we've said this so many times, God is far more concerned about the why, about the heart, rather than the what you're doing. 00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:24.400 Whatever is not a faith is sin. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:29.820 Because your heart is away from God. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.500 It's not sinful to eat pork. 00:30:33.280 --> 00:30:40.320 Those Jewish people were absolutely free under the spirit of God to eat bacon or pork chops or whatever else. 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:44.960 God freed them. 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.359 They could do it. 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:55.460 But until the Holy Spirit revealed that to them, until they could accept that, then it would be wrong of them to go against their faith and say, 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:57.500 Well, God doesn't want me to do this, but I'm going to do it anyway. 00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.439 That's it. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:08.920 And it's the same kind of sin for the person who knows that they're free and they're not bound by those laws to say, 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:09.460 You know what? 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:11.620 I'll do it right in their face. 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:14.840 I'll burp my bacon breath at them. 00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:16.000 That's gross. 00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.860 Why did I say that? 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.100 Anyway. 00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:21.660 But that's kind of the attitude, you know, that Paul's fighting against. 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:24.519 Like, can y'all be nice about this? 00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:28.980 Can you not flex your freedom on those who think that you're not supposed to have it? 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:31.339 Can you not just shove it in their face? 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:39.920 Can you not go post on social media about how you don't have to keep all the laws and show yourself out there in society breaking the Jewish laws? 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.779 Can y'all stop this, please? 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:45.000 This is not who Jesus is. 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:47.160 This is not who he wants his church to be. 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:51.619 And so I'm communicating that back to you, church. 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:56.460 Can we have some thought for each other? 00:31:57.460 --> 00:32:00.920 Can we have some patience and show some grace to each other? 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:05.960 Whether you're more on the right or you're more on the left, whatever that's supposed to be. 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:08.200 And I'm pretty sure I just pointed to your right. 00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:09.940 That's all right. 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.420 You know what we're saying. 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:21.200 Real strength is the ability to lay down your rights to protect the person sitting next to you. 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:25.920 Real strength is your ability to sacrifice. 00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:30.160 So 1 Corinthians 8, 12, Paul wrote it this way. 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.400 I told you he'd already dealt with this. 00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:39.860 He said, when you sin against other believers in this way and you harm their weak consciences, you're actually sinning against Jesus. 00:32:39.859 --> 00:32:48.159 So you might think you're throwing it in somebody else's face because you're annoyed at how they judge you. 00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:57.139 In reality, you're throwing it in the face of the one who died for that person and died for you and loves both of you unconditionally. 00:32:57.140 --> 00:33:02.600 So don't sin against Christ by sinning against your brother. 00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:06.320 Real strength is not winning an argument about your rights. 00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:10.700 It's the ability to lay down your rights for the sake of someone else. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:13.720 And then look at this, Romans 15. 00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:18.360 We read it a moment ago, but just a reminder. 00:33:19.300 --> 00:33:22.980 May the God who gives you endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude. 00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:30.059 Philippians puts it this way, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.980 Humbled himself. 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.480 Made himself of no reputation. 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:36.420 Went all the way to the cross. 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:40.740 And sacrificed everything for those who did not deserve it. 00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:43.279 So you might see somebody else in this room. 00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:47.500 Or you might say, man, nobody's driving me nuts right now. 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.940 I got no problem with anybody. 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:53.620 Somebody, let's check back in another month or two and see if anybody's driving you nuts then. 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:56.420 Sometimes we step on each other's toes. 00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:58.960 Sometimes we irk each other. 00:33:59.080 --> 00:34:00.840 Sometimes we rub each other the wrong way. 00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:02.900 Sometimes we push each other's buttons. 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:14.059 And Jesus is saying, whether or not they deserve it, have the same attitude toward them that Christ had toward you and still has today. 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.800 Rick Warren said it this way. 00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:19.039 Sacrifice, hang on, we're going to get there. 00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:19.539 There we go. 00:34:20.060 --> 00:34:24.000 Sacrifice is the essence of love, which is the essence of God. 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:30.120 I'm sure there's probably been things that I say that Rick Warren wouldn't agree with. 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:34.200 I'm sure there are things that Rick Warren has said that I necessarily wouldn't agree with. 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:36.240 But I want to share this quote with you today. 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:39.000 Sacrifice is the essence of love. 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:41.440 And love is the essence of God. 00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:44.460 Love is who God is. 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:47.260 God is love. 00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:49.199 Y'all knew that one. 00:34:49.220 --> 00:34:50.280 I didn't stump you on that, right? 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:51.860 God is love. 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.940 We read that in the scriptures. 00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:57.440 Love equals sacrifice. 00:34:59.740 --> 00:35:01.440 Unsacrificial love is not love. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.940 So I want to close with this. 00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:13.300 Go to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.240 We'll be done. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.579 Ephesians 2. 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:21.159 As you turn, would you say these statements with me? 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.800 God is love. 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.019 Ready? 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:25.320 God is love. 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:27.079 And then let's do this one. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.280 Ready? 00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:29.860 Love is sacrifice. 00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:30.920 Let's try it one more time. 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:33.000 God is love. 00:35:33.120 --> 00:35:34.360 And love is. 00:35:34.820 --> 00:35:35.880 Yes, it is. 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:37.539 Now Ephesians chapter 2. 00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:38.519 Verse 14. 00:35:38.620 --> 00:35:39.500 Look down at verse 14. 00:35:40.160 --> 00:35:43.880 For he himself, Jesus, is our peace. 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:47.640 He has made the two groups one. 00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.660 What groups was he talking about? 00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:51.680 The Jews and the Gentiles. 00:35:52.240 --> 00:35:54.680 The same groups that were fighting in Rome. 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:55.860 Ready? 00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:58.559 He's made the two groups one. 00:35:58.980 --> 00:36:00.820 He has destroyed the barrier. 00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:03.280 The dividing wall of hostility. 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:06.500 Jesus destroyed it in himself. 00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:10.000 There's no need for a wall anymore. 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:12.960 There's no need for hostility anymore. 00:36:13.620 --> 00:36:19.559 His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two. 00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:26.639 Give up your identity as a law-abiding Jew and become a Christ follower. 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:34.779 Give up your identity as a free, unencumbered Gentile and become a Christ follower. 00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:42.320 Give yourself a new identity, a new humanity out of the two. 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:48.460 The most human that we can possibly be is when we are following Jesus. 00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:52.940 So Paul's telling the Romans to welcome each other. 00:36:53.580 --> 00:36:58.380 Because in Christ, the wall that divided them is torn down. 00:36:59.140 --> 00:37:00.900 So move a step toward each other. 00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:06.660 And then as God's grace allows and equips you to, move another step toward each other. 00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:11.599 And soon you'll just be together enjoying your worship of Jesus. 00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:14.259 And not worried about who's eating what. 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:16.579 Or who's keeping which holy day. 00:37:17.219 --> 00:37:18.219 Or etc, etc. 00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:23.659 And look, we can take those controversies that don't apply to us so much in small town Texas. 00:37:23.879 --> 00:37:27.819 But we can insert our own controversies that we get bent out of shape about with each other. 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:30.179 Well, I don't think they ought to be doing that. 00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:32.119 And I can't believe they're posting it on Facebook. 00:37:32.119 --> 00:37:35.319 Maybe it's unwise of them. 00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:38.119 And maybe God's spirit needs to work on them too. 00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:40.380 But he's got to work on you too. 00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:44.099 Your contempt for those who judge you. 00:37:44.839 --> 00:37:49.139 And your proclivity to judge those who are not meeting your standard. 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:53.759 That message applies today. 00:37:54.779 --> 00:37:56.599 We've got to take it to heart. 00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:58.679 This is why Romans was written. 00:37:58.679 --> 00:38:03.219 And in this church, I think it particularly applies to us in this season. 00:38:04.379 --> 00:38:08.359 The Lord kind of gave me a theme for our church at the beginning of the year. 00:38:08.799 --> 00:38:11.819 Which was, this is the year of direction, not perfection. 00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:12.759 Y'all remember that? 00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:14.519 Can we say that together? 00:38:15.239 --> 00:38:17.059 Direction, not perfection. 00:38:17.379 --> 00:38:17.579 Yeah. 00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:19.960 That's the Christian life. 00:38:20.059 --> 00:38:21.119 That's the walk with Jesus. 00:38:21.239 --> 00:38:22.319 It's never going to be perfect. 00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:24.480 But we're moving in a common direction. 00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:28.199 And that's what the Romans had to see. 00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:32.559 Whether it was Jew or Gentile, they were moving in a common direction toward Christ. 00:38:32.739 --> 00:38:35.259 So join hands and do it together. 00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:37.779 We're all walking toward Jesus. 00:38:37.879 --> 00:38:40.699 Here's the question I want to leave you with today. 00:38:41.399 --> 00:38:43.619 What does love require of me? 00:38:44.619 --> 00:38:48.139 Got this from another preacher I heard probably 15 years ago. 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:51.019 And his sermon had nothing to do with this. 00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:53.359 But it popped back into my head as I was writing this sermon. 00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:55.579 I thought, that is the question to ask us today. 00:38:56.039 --> 00:38:57.719 What does love require of me? 00:38:58.439 --> 00:39:05.259 Love required the Gentiles to stop getting so angry at the Jews when they came back in and found their church all different. 00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:13.619 Love required the Jews to show more grace and understanding when they came back and the church looked different from when they were gone. 00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:19.159 What does love require of you today? 00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:20.679 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:39:22.279 --> 00:39:24.839 God is love and love is sacrifice. 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:28.900 So the answer to that question is love will require you to sacrifice something. 00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:31.320 What is the sacrifice? 00:39:33.720 --> 00:39:36.300 Maybe love shone on the cross of Calvary. 00:39:36.300 --> 00:39:48.820 Before we ever saw the power of God rising from the dead, we saw his love portrayed on the cross willingly dying and suffering to forgive you of your sins. 00:39:48.820 --> 00:39:56.420 Maybe love is requiring you to surrender to that and say, yes, I believe in Jesus. 00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:58.000 I choose Jesus today. 00:39:58.539 --> 00:40:03.620 Is there somebody in the room today that would say, today is the day I would like to place my faith in Jesus Christ. 00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:04.920 Would you slip your hand up? 00:40:04.920 --> 00:40:06.480 I'd love to talk to you. 00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:08.059 Thank you. 00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:12.519 For all those in the room who already identify as a follower of Jesus. 00:40:13.400 --> 00:40:16.480 Is there something that God's working on you in your heart about right now? 00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:19.000 Says this is a sacrifice I can make. 00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:25.500 I can give up this to not be a problem for my brother or sister in Christ. 00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:38.840 I can ask God to change this way that I am to cause fewer conflicts in his church or in this community. 00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:43.960 I recognize that I carry the name of Jesus with me everywhere I go. 00:40:44.380 --> 00:40:46.320 God, make me a more patient person. 00:40:46.659 --> 00:40:47.980 Make me a more gracious person. 00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:49.659 Make me a kinder person. 00:40:50.099 --> 00:40:51.800 Make me a kinder employee. 00:40:52.400 --> 00:41:04.079 Dad, husband, wife, mom, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandparent, boss. 00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:09.440 Whatever you are, whatever hats you wear, what does love require of you? 00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:11.659 What sacrifice in that role? 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:16.079 God, show us exactly from your scriptures. 00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:18.659 God, amen. 00:41:18.659 --> 00:41:21.980 And enlighten us, illuminate them by your spirit. 00:41:22.760 --> 00:41:28.920 Teach us gently, patiently, like you always do, what sacrifice you require of us. 00:41:29.940 --> 00:41:32.179 For the sake of each other and for your glory. 00:41:33.199 --> 00:41:34.219 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:34.639 Amen. 00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:38.079 Listen, my family and I are going to slip out. 00:41:38.259 --> 00:41:39.859 We're heading on vacation for a little bit. 00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:41.619 So we're going to be gone for a little bit. 00:41:41.739 --> 00:41:44.460 But we will be back with you soon. 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:48.219 So I'm grateful to all of you for being here and worship today. 00:41:48.359 --> 00:41:56.819 If any of you would like to come and place your membership in the church, if you'd like to talk about putting your faith in Christ, I'll be back in the back for a little bit. 00:41:56.859 --> 00:41:58.400 I'd love to have that conversation with you. 00:41:58.400 --> 00:42:03.079 So just find me back there and say I'd like to talk about church membership or any other question you may have. 00:42:03.240 --> 00:42:07.000 If you just want to know what time a Wednesday night activity is, it's at what time, church? 00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:08.160 Six. 00:42:08.260 --> 00:42:08.680 That's right. 00:42:08.820 --> 00:42:09.500 Just ask anybody. 00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:09.960 They'll tell you. 00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:10.700 All right. 00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:13.380 Speaking of that, back again Wednesday at six. 00:42:13.380 --> 00:42:15.119 And then again on Sunday. 00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:15.660 And we.