Series: Action [#145]
THE CURE- BUILD OTHERS UP
Romans 14:13-15:13
Introduction:
The Drake family has had many challenges recently. We finally have a surgery date for Karen and are praying that all of the cancer will be removed. I have had my new pacemaker for almost a month. Dad had cancer removed from his hand on Wednesday; and on Wednesday Night, our 2 year old grand-daughter cut part of her pinkie finger off with a sliding glass door. This does not count some of the things like us losing ½ of our roof at our home and burying Marty Bateman. Life can be really difficult sometimes; but God uses others to encourage us and hold us up.
2 weeks ago, we looked at how we should treat one another as Christians. This week is a continuation of that Sermon. Not only should we treat one another right, we should build one another up.
Romans 14:19
As a Church, we are to focus on 2 things- Things that bring peace and things that edify the Church.
Romans 15:1-2
So how do we build each other up?
Romans 14:13-14, 17, 20-21
I build others up by…
1. Remembering that my actions affect others.
We have talked about not battling over disputable matters. Disputable matters are those things that are not “lined out” for us in Scripture. We need to understand that how we deal with these things affects others. We need to be careful that we don’t cause others to stumble. That means that we have to put others’ ideas concerning disputable matters ahead of our own. We need to be about “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”.
Romans 14:15
I build others up by…
2. Remembering that Christ died for us all.
When you cause others to stumble because you won’t give on an issue, you are acting like you are better than they are. You are behaving as if Jesus only died for you. Don’t destroy someone that is so important to Jesus that He would die for them.
Romans 14:16-18
I build others up by…
3. Remembering what’s most important.
What is important is that we please God. We have to remember this important fact. If we get hung up on stuff that doesn’t matter, we forget our goal- Pleasing God.
Romans 14:20-21
I build others up by…
4. Giving up my rights.
When people in Church get mad at one another and word gets back to me, one of the things I always hear is, “I was just doing what was right for me. What, do you want me to let them walk all over me? It is my right to ________________ (fill in the blank). You need to give up your rights in order to see others please God. Don’t cause them to fall.
Romans 14:22-23
I build others up by…
5. Not trying to change them into me.
Often, we think that our ideas and views are the only way to go and in order to be a part of our group, you have to be like us. Your ways are not the only right ways. We don’t need 2 of you- 1 is plenty.
Romans 15:3-6
I build others up by…
6. Following Jesus Christ daily.
In order to follow Christ in your daily walk, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. When you deny yourself, others will take advantage; but it doesn’t matter as long as you are following Christ.
Romans 15:7-13
I build others up by…
7. Accepting them.
Please don’t take this to mean that you need to accept sinful behavior. What I’m talking about is that we are all different and we are going to see the disputable matters different. Christ accepts us for who we are, and we should do the same- We do not need to play God.
Conclusion:
I pray that we will strive to build each other up and not tear each other down.
