Packinghouse’s Sunday morning worship service from December 7, 2050.
Romans 14:1-7 | Pastor Ed
Romans 14 calls us to stop arguing over “doubtful things” and start receiving one another. Paul reminds the church that some feel free to eat anything, and others abstain; some set aside special days, and others treat every day alike. These are morally neutral matters—what counts is that each one lives unto the Lord with a clear conscience and thanksgiving. The strong and the weak are both “in the faith,” and God Himself is able to make each one stand. In Christ’s new covenant, there is real freedom, but it’s a freedom shaped by love, not by winning debates or policing each other’s preferences.
So the church must be more like a hospital than a courtroom: a place that welcomes the weary, tends the wounded, and refuses to weaponize convictions. We don’t despise or judge over food, days, or customs; we honor the Lord, give thanks, and seek unity—not uniformity—for none of us lives to himself. This week’s call is simple and searching: cherish gospel liberty, guard your brother’s conscience, and let love lead. Live for the Lord, care for His people, and keep the main thing the main thing—Jesus, who receives us and teaches us how to receive one another. - Ed Rea - Sunday, December 7, 2025