(Romans 14:1-12) When we focus on loving one anther, not winning, the Church will flourish, We are called to welcome, not to Win (Romans 14:1 - 4) Background of Romans 14 Jewish Believers = Weak Christians Gentile Believers = Strong Christians Welcome the weaker brother (Welcome - has the sense of "receiving into one’s heart or circle; embracing into fellowship”) Do not quarrel - “The Church does not exist to as a judiciary body to make pronouncements on issues that in the long run will prove to be of no real consequence.” Robert H. Mounce The gentile believer had no problem with eating certain meats The Jewish believer did not want to eat anything “unclean” or offered to idols The one who eats cannot despise the one who does not, nor can the one who does not eat pass judgement on the one who does. God has welcomed them both We cannot pass judgement because we are not the master of our brother God will judge us all The Lord enables us to stand before Him We Serve One Master (Romans 14:5- 9) Different days that are possible Roman Society - Slaves were accountable only to his own master Greek - Lord (kurios) The one who observes a day or uses a different day, eats or doesn’t eat honors the Lord and gives thanks to the Lord. We do not live for ourselves We All Stand Before One Judge (Romans 14:10 - 12) Why do you pass judgment on your brother? We all stand at the judgment seat (bema) of the Lord EVERY knee and tongue Everyone will give an account. Living for the Lord together: Paul’s message for us: Welcome one another - because God welcomed you Serve one Master - because Christ died and rose to be Lord of all Remember one Judge - Because every knee will bow before Him In a World, or a church, divided by preferences, Paul calls us to unity and rooted not in uniformity, but in Christ’ Lordship