Matt Morton

Grace Bible Church

“Disagreement and Unity”

Romans 14:1-15:13

How do we respond to one another when we disagree about non-essential issues of the Christian faith? Paul encourages us to hold fast to our convictions while at the same time seeking unity with others.

Romans Outline (so far)

I. Introduction/Theme (1:1-17)

II. All of Humanity Condemned Because of Sin (1:18-3:20)

A. God’s Wrath Revealed (1:18-32)

B. The Moral Man Condemned (2:1-16).

C. The Religious Jew Condemned (2:17-3:8).

D. Everybody is Guilty (3:9-20).

III. Justification: God Gives Us His Righteousness (3:21-5:21)

A. The Work of Jesus In Salvation (3:21-26).

B. Saved Through Faith Alone (3:27-4:25).

C. The Blessings of Justification (5:1-11).

D. Identified With Christ (5:12-21).

IV. Sanctification: Practical Righteousness (6:1-8:39).

A. Dead to Sin, Alive to God (6:1-14).

B. Free From Sin, Servants of God (6:15-23).

C. The Problem of the Flesh (7:1-25).

D. The Power of the Spirit (8:1-13).

E. The Blessings of Adoption (8:14-27).

F. The Security of Salvation (8:28-39).

V. God’s Faithfulness to Israel (9:1-11:36).

VI. Practical Responses to the Gospel (12-15).

I. Accept Those with Different Convictions (14:1-12).

Ÿ Is drinking ever appropriate (Eph 5:18)?

Ÿ What movies/television shows are acceptable (Phil 4:8)?

Ÿ What clothes are considered modest (1 Tim 2:9)?

Ÿ How much should I give to the church (2 Cor 9:7)?

Ÿ Is it okay to kiss my girlfriend/boyfriend (1 Cor 4:3-7)?

II. Do Not Cause Others to Stumble (14:13-23).

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

—1 Corinthians 8:9-13

III. Seek Unity for God’s Glory (15:1-13).

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

—Acts 2:43-47

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

—John 13:35

Ÿ Are you unnecessarily divisive?

Ÿ Are you causing others to stumble?

Ÿ How can you promote Christian unity?