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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661
Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org
OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”
Nobleton Community Church
Date July 13, 2025
Text Romans 15:1-13 (especially verses 1-7)
Pastor Paul Lehmann
This sermon title is taken from a book by John Wecks: “Free to Disagree.”
We often have heard it said when it a discussion, that we must agree to disagree. However many times the disagreement creates animosity. In the church, this shouldn’t be, but too often we disagree over trivial things, and then hold grudges, or at least hard feelings.
Back in 1917, the Russian Orthodox Church gathered together for its annual denominational meeting. During the course of these meetings the bishops were involved in a heated dispute full of fussing and feuding. A few doors down the street another meeting was going on the Bulshavics had assembled together to plot the overthrow of the Czar This marked the beginning of what we now know as Communism. So what was the church arguing about while the empire was crumbling around them? Candles!—- Were they to be 18” or 22” long?
Fortunately, this happened in Russia over one hundred years ago. I’m relieved to say that similar occurrences have not happened since. I’m also proud to say that this would never happen in America today. —–Okay, I’m being sarcastic. I wish that statement was true but it is not. We still see petty discussions today. The sad truth in that the church has been filed with division and disunity since its inception. (I might add that the same fault is true in politics. We dislike things that are unimportant as to the future of our Republic, and ignore other thins that are very important as to the future of these United States of America.)
As to the church, these disagreements, have led to church splits, pastoral resignations, and great disgrace brought upon the name of Christ the popular pastor and radio preacher Chuck Swindoll, says that he has looked at many churches and he has yet to find a church that split over what he would call and essential issue. How tragic! What do churches disagree over? We disagree over whether we should have pews or chairs, whether flags should be present or absent. Whether we should sing hymns or praise choruses. Whether we should use the organ or keyboard, and guitars, and whether we should have drums or not. Other issues of disunity surround the timing of Christ’s return, the mode of baptism, the charismatic gifts, women in ministry, and church government. Yet, to all of these, I can only exclaim, How trivial!: —-Even though by making this point, I have stepped on some toes. But let’s look at our text this morning. In Romans 15:1-13, Paul testifies that true unity demands sensitivity. He then unfolded the aims that are necessary to ensure and preserve biblical unity. We are to first:
AIM TO PLEASE ONE ANOTHER – (VERSES 1-6)
Paul calls us to imitate Christ in pleasing other people rather than ourselves. In verse 1, he writes, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses (or bear with the failings) of those without strength and not just please ourselves.” It is important to understand the distinction between the “strong” and the ‘weak.” They aren’t strong or weak physically, mentally, or emotionally; or even necessarily spiritually, their strength or weakness is specifically related to their attitude toward “non-essentials.” God has said clearly that some things are always right for everyone. He has also said that some things are always wrong for everyone. But regarding many things, God hasn’t said: “The strong Christian is one who has lots of freedom of conscience respecting these matters not nailed down in the Bible. The “weak” Christian has very little freedom of conscience about these matters. This person tends to have quite a long list of don’ts.” Here, Paul includes himself with the “strong” and states that those who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak.The word translated “ought” (opheilo) doesn’t mean “should.” It means “to be a debtor under obligation”
Paul is not making a recommendation, or a suggestion, he is imposing a rule. He is saying that the strong need to limit their Christian liberty so they can reduce the problems of their brethren. He expects those with greater freedom to make sacrifices “To bear” (bastazo) is not just enduring or tolerating someone. It means to personally shoulder a burden as it it was your own. It means to do something hard and costly for the sake of another. The verb is used in the Gospels of Jesus, bearing His cross. (Luke 14:27 and John 19:17). So, how do we “bear the weaknesses” of the weak and not please ourselves? Paul tells us in verse 2, “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” Paul’s use of “each of us.” Leaves no room for any exceptions. We are to please our “neighbor” (What is this-“Mr. Rodgers; neighborhood?” No! The unexpected use of the word “neighbor” (plesion) reveals that Paul has the “love command” of Lev. 19:18 in mind, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He expects us to be sensitive to our Christian brother or sister who is close by. In other words, we are to seek to please those with whom we have frequent contact within our church or community.
TRUE UNITY DEMANDS SENSITIVITY.
Perhaps you’ve heard it said that: “Your freedom ends where my nose begins.” In a sense, that is what Paul is saying, only it’s not noses he’s interested in—it’s spiritual growth. Paul indicates in verse 2 that our goal is to please other believers for the purpose of their “edification” (oikodome). This is a term that means “to build others up spiritually.” So, we must follow the preferences of other believers with respect to our liberties. If a brother’s conscience in your church is bothered by gambling, don’t ask him to participate in a fantasy football league (like Fan Duel). That requires a buy-in. Or take him to the Hard Rock Café in Tampa, where he would be tempted to gamble. If your friends’ conscience is bothered by drinking alcohol, don’t drink (especially if he is a recovering alcoholic). Maybe you are uncomfortable with the command to please people. Paul says that we are to please others, yet elsewhere he warns us of pleasing people. How do we resolve this tension Paul is not saying that we should be “people pleasers” and do whatever anyone wants us to do simply because it will please them. We must differentiate between pleasing god and pleasing people. boiled down in its simplest form, we should not please others rather than God, but we should please others rather than ourselves. After all, pleasing ourselves is what causes people to fracture on every scale From the marriage or family arguing about what TV program to watch or what to do on a vacation, right up to nations fighting to preserve their own interests. Pleasing ourselves destroys peace and harmony. One pastor says about verse 3; “Paul uses a doctrinal sledgehammer to crack a behavioral nut.” He quotes Psalm 69:9 to support this claim that we must please others beliefs above ourselves. He writes, “For even Christ did not please Himself but as it is written: ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.” In this Psalm, King David is pictured as taking the abuse of the people because he stood up for God. Paul applies that to Christ in an apt analogy; our insults to God, our sins, were placed on Christ on the cross. The “Me” in the quotation is Christ, the “You” is God. Paul’s point is: Christ didn’t think of His rights when He went to the cross. Christ thought only of our needs when He died for us. He endured every manner of taunting and suffering. Now, if the Son of God didn’t please Himself when He went to the cross for us, how much more so ought we to seek to please our brothers and sisters in Christ? If Jesus could endure the insults of others, we should certainly be willing to put up with the minor irritations from Christians with different viewpoints. If you are a believer, you are likely a stronger brother or sister in some area. Take a moment and run through the various roles and relationships in your life( for example, spouse, parent, sibling, relative, friend, neighbor, employer, church member). As you consider these relationships, stop and ask yourself this question: With whom and in what area am I willing to forgo my personal preferences for the sake of someone else?
True unity demands sensitivity.
Verse 4 is seen by many as a parenthesis or a digression by Paul, but if we are careful as we look at it we can see that what Paul is doing is explaining why the Psalm he just quoted should speak to us . Paul puts it like this: “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scripture we might have hope.” In this important verse, Paul shares four valuable Bible benefits.
1.) The Bible provides instruction. Although these benefits are applicable to both the Old and New Testaments, Paul is specifically referring here to the Old Testament. It’s been well said that the greatest commentary for understanding the New Testament is a thorough grasp of the Old Testament. This means that if we want to really understand God’s Word, we must not neglect the Old Testament. It will feed us and give us wisdom for life.
2.) The Bible provides perseverance. Reading the stories of godly men and women who have persevered through various trials and tests motivates us to seek to do the same. Perseverance is a “holy hanging in there.” We all need this attribute when we are seeking to please other believers.
3.) The Bible provides encouragement. The great Old Testament characters were sinful beings just like us, and yet in spite of themselves, god used them powerfully. This encourages us to seek to accomplish great feats for God.
4.) The Bible provides hope. In the Old Testament, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness to His people and His program. His character reminds us that we have an unshakable future. “Hope” (elpis) is especially needed by Christians when facing suffering in the midst of Christian relationships.
The book of Job can be especially difficult reading. But it can help us understand the topic of suffering better and it reminds us that everything god has given us could be taken away in a moment’s time. If you don’t normally read the Old Testament, I urge you to consider the above benefits and to start reading it today.
The “hope” of 15:4 causes Paul to break into prayer and praise in verses 5 and 6. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus ahd, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the god and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” These veses declare that unity is all about Charist. In verse 5 Paul informs us that “perseverance or endurance and encouragement” not only come through the Scriptures, but they are ultimately gifts from God.
Perseverance and encouragement are necessary to keep giving up what we enjoy and are free to partake of. Paul wishes that all his readers, both the strong and the weak, would appropriate these gifts and apply them in their interpersonal relationships. The result would be unity in the church—we would be “of the same mind.” Bear in mind that:
This does not mean we have to be of the same opinion.
I don’t agree with any one person on every single point of theology or practice. Neither do you.
Phil. 2:2-4 “Make my joy complete” (in other words, “make my day.” By being like-minded, having the same love, being in the same spirit, and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT OF CHRIST JESUS
The command is not for uniformity but for UNITY.
To be “of the same mind” means that our attitudes and actions exude harmony and
unity means that we share a common perspective and purpose.
We don’t let the minor issues overtake the major issues. The last phrase of verse 5 says that we are to do this according to Christ Jesus.” This phrase refers us back to Christ’s example in verse 3 and reminds us that unity is only possible through Christ. A simple question to ask yourself is this: On a particular non-essential issue, is it better to get my way and please myself, or is it better to give in and please a brother or sister? True unity demands sensitivity.
There is a purpose clause (“so that”) in verse 6 that ties the concept of pleasing God and people together. Paul states that the purpose of unity is to unite, vocal praise to God. When this occurs in the church, it is evidence of unity among the strong and the weak. With “one accord” and with “one voice,” we are to glorify Christ! This is why we were created. If you’re sold out to Christ and His Christ and His church, you are going to be chomping at the bit to sing praise to God. Sadly, division in the church over non-essential issues diverts precious time and energy from its basic mission, the proclamation of the gospel and the glorifying of God. This is a shame! God wants us to come together, to unify as one body, and to lift up praise to God. We should be able to do that, shouldn’t we? The church at Rome was challenged to do this while it was made up of Jews and Gentiles—people with racial, cultural, and religious differences as well as a history of hatred for one another. Our church here may be a diverse body, but you probably aren’t too terribly different from one another. We’re certainly not diverse like the Roman church was. God wants us to forsake our preferences and to worship Him. You may not like our worship style. That’s okay, just don’t let it affect your worship to god or your fellowship with people God isn’t going to ask you someday: “Did you attend a church where your musical preferences were met? He’s going to ask you, “ere you able to support the direction of the church and her leadership in spike of not having your preferences met? God has called us to unity, even in diversity. He’s called us to please one another, and therefore to please God. Imagine with me a church that thrives on maintaining unity. Imagine saints who are willing to sacrifice some of their preferences to reach out to a new generation of young people. Imagine young people building relationships and actively caring for those saints who willingly yielded their preferences. What could God do with such a church? It would be a multi-generational church that would really please the Lord.
In order to preserve biblical unity, Paul has said we are to aim to please one another. Now he will state that we are to secondly:
AIM TO ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER (VERSES 7-13)
We must accept one another because Christ has accepted us along with every other believer. In 15:7, Paul writes, “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” The word “Therefore” (dio) looks back to the discussion Paul began in 14:1. The verb “accept” also repeats Paul’s opening exhortation in verse 1 of chapter 14 (NIV), the word translated “accept” (prosiambano) is more accurately translated in our pew Bibles (RSV), “welcome” or some translations have it “receive.” This word means that we are to receive into full fellowship our brothers and sisters in Christ. It means to value an individual so much that he or she experiences warmth and belonging; it means to open your heart and your home to another person. Remember—-we said before:
TRUE UNITY DEMANDS SENSITIVITY
People desire acceptance at every level of life,—-in the family, in marriage, in the classroom, in the workplace. God wired us to seek acceptance, but he wants us to find acceptance in himself. When we place our faith in Christ, God accepts us. However, Paul is also stating that it is inconsistent for a Christian to reject someone whom God has accepted. WE ARE TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER AS JESUS CHRIST HAS RECEIVED US. In Romans 5:8, we read: “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
We don’t have to somehow clean up our lives first—–He is the One who does that.
We are fellow members of “the family of God.” This results in glory for God. To put It simply, God‘s goal (doxa) means to be well spoken of. When we are unified, the God whom we represent receives the glory. He is well spoken of. On the other hand, when we are divisive, rejecting and lacking in unity, our actions reflect badly upon our heavenly Father. Let not this be the case with us. Rather, let us discover life’s ultimate pursuit—-THE GLORY OF GOD.
How do we glorify God and discover our ultimate pursuit?
which is the glory of God——WE TRUST AND OBEY
BENEDICTION (Verse 13) “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.