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“Build Up, Don’t Trip Up” (Romans 14:13-23)
One of my favorite things to do in all the world is to sit around a campfire and just watch the flames. For me, there’s something so enjoyable and relaxing about that activity. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve had three or four campfires at my house.
There’s this thing about a campfire, though . . . when you add three young boys to the mix, it’s not quite as relaxing as it is by yourself. With my boys, I usually don’t sit down by the fire much. Between keeping the fire burning, making sure the boys are not burning, getting s’mores supply ready, and keeping them from poking others’ eyes out, the relaxation seems to be hard to come by.
Now, why would I do a fire with my boys if it takes so much more work and there is so much less relaxation? Because I love my boys. I set aside some of my enjoyment and preferences in order to accommodate their preferences and enjoyment. I also hold out the hope that one day they will grow older and not be so high maintenance.
In today’s passage, Paul is teaching the church in Rome to be concerned with building up our brothers and sisters in Christ and laying aside some of our enjoyment and preferences in order to not cause others to stumble in their walk with God.
Today’s sermon is entitled “Build Up, Don’t Trip Up.”
Before we continue, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask him to speak to us through His Word.
(prayer)
You may remember that last week’s passage spoke about fellow believers not arguing about certain less important beliefs such as diet and days. Rather than dispute these matters, we should love one another and welcome those who are still developing in their faith.
Today, Paul is going to discuss a very similar issue but from a different angle.
Last week, Paul encouraged us not to argue with those who are still coming to understand the heart of the gospel.
This week, Paul is encouraging us to be careful how we live so as not to spiritually harm those who are still developing in their faith.
Let’s look at the passage, and then we will discover three actions we must take regarding this topic.
Look at Romans 14:13-23:
13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. 15 For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.
19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats. 21 It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. 22 Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Ok, let us now look at these three actions. First, . . .
I. We should not trip up others.
Paul is very clear about this reality.
Look at verse 13. Paul says, “Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.”
If you have young kids in the house, you know all abo
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By First Baptist Church Bartow
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One of my favorite things to do in all the world is to sit around a campfire and just watch the flames. For me, there’s something so enjoyable and relaxing about that activity. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve had three or four campfires at my house.
There’s this thing about a campfire, though . . . when you add three young boys to the mix, it’s not quite as relaxing as it is by yourself. With my boys, I usually don’t sit down by the fire much. Between keeping the fire burning, making sure the boys are not burning, getting s’mores supply ready, and keeping them from poking others’ eyes out, the relaxation seems to be hard to come by.
Now, why would I do a fire with my boys if it takes so much more work and there is so much less relaxation? Because I love my boys. I set aside some of my enjoyment and preferences in order to accommodate their preferences and enjoyment. I also hold out the hope that one day they will grow older and not be so high maintenance.
In today’s passage, Paul is teaching the church in Rome to be concerned with building up our brothers and sisters in Christ and laying aside some of our enjoyment and preferences in order to not cause others to stumble in their walk with God.
Today’s sermon is entitled “Build Up, Don’t Trip Up.”
Before we continue, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask him to speak to us through His Word.
(prayer)
You may remember that last week’s passage spoke about fellow believers not arguing about certain less important beliefs such as diet and days. Rather than dispute these matters, we should love one another and welcome those who are still developing in their faith.
Today, Paul is going to discuss a very similar issue but from a different angle.
Last week, Paul encouraged us not to argue with those who are still coming to understand the heart of the gospel.
This week, Paul is encouraging us to be careful how we live so as not to spiritually harm those who are still developing in their faith.
Let’s look at the passage, and then we will discover three actions we must take regarding this topic.
Look at Romans 14:13-23:
13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. 15 For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.
19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats. 21 It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. 22 Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Ok, let us now look at these three actions. First, . . .
I. We should not trip up others.
Paul is very clear about this reality.
Look at verse 13. Paul says, “Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.”
If you have young kids in the house, you know all abo