Dennis' Sermon Prep Workflow | Romans 15:1–2

Radical COMMUNITY

Paul makes the argument that the ones who are strong, dynatoi, those with ability. The word dynatoi does not connote something more than in the sense of "we're better than them" but rather in the sense of ones who have the capacity to do something. What is the something, the capacity to eat food sacrificed to idols without injuring their conscience specifically - those who are convinced that "nothing is defiled in itself".

Paul's argument is one of those who have strength in an area spiritually doing something. What is that something?

Well they have an "ought to", the word for Ought has the idea of owing someone something.

In Greek texts it has the idea of owing vengeance upon someone for a wrong done. But in this case the"The negative concept of payment becomes the positive one of moral indebtedness and obligation. The idea of obligation as a particular affair arising out of special circumstances gives way to that of lasting commitment," Friedrich Hauck.

Thus it's a debt owed because of something to someone. Paul's argument is that because of all that Christ has done for us, all the gifts of forgiveness and patience, and salvation, that we owe it to one another to "carry the weakness of those weak and without strength."

The picture Paul paints is not of one morally superior, but rather of one with Spiritual strength helping one without. As opposed to the dynatoi of the strong, the weak are adynaton - a- meaning without, dynatoi - strength.

This is why community is so important in our spiritual walk: We will never grow up into spiritual maturity if we isolate us from each other.

Here he is concerned that the strong take seriously their obligation to use their God-given strength in the service of the God who gave it and therefore in that of their weaker fellows (cf. Gal. 6:2).

“In every age it has been easy for the strong to find reasons why they should take little notice of the weak. Indeed, it is a constant in the infinite variety of human cultures that the strong tend to use their strength as a means of easing their burdens and making the weak bear them as well as their own.

Even in the Christian church they all too easily see it as unfair that their conduct should be modified on account of considerations that seem of no importance to them, even though those considerations form insurmountable problems for their weak brothers. They do not realize that their strength is given them in order that it may be used to help others.”

Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988), 496.

Thus because of the gracious gift of strength, they are to bear with the failings of the weak. Not just tolerate, nor criticize, but bear that burden.

It's as much a spiritual discipline to be used as a discipler, as it is to be a disciple. Being a disciple is passive, but Paul calls us to actively work for the growth and betterment of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

Radical Community means that we are bold in loving, correcting, and encouraging one another for the good of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Radical TRANSPARENCY

But for true community to occur, we need transparency. The problem is often we use our power in a way that puffs ourselves up.

One of the greatest struggles in the church today is the struggle with keeping up appearances. The church is often rejected for this simple reason: The church is full of hypocrites.

I’ve heard this, you’ve heard this. But Paul says we are to bear with one another’s weaknesses, but how can we do this if we hide our weaknesses behind a facade of spiritual and moral superiority.

Paul’s second part to this first verse is a negative: We aren't to live in such a way as to please ourselves.

We are called to live for each other, to strengthen each other.

There’s a sin that we in the American church fall into if we’re not careful and it’s just as deadly as separation from community because it’s a type of separation:

Paul speaking to the church at Sardis

But look at what he said to them:

Revelation 3:1–2 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

The Church at Sardis was “known for being alive” but they weren’t. Their need wasn’t met because even though they were among others they were playing a game.

We need radical Transparency if we’re going to be the church God has called us to be.

Radical Transparency means we’re real with one another. That we admit our sins, we speak honestly about where we are strong and weak.

Now there’s a danger: The danger is being comfortable in our sin. Radical transparency isn’t permission to continue in sin, but rather it’s a call to be honest about where we struggle with believers in the body and that where we’re strong we give help, and where we’re weak we ask for it.

This doesn’t mean we have to stand before the church and admit all our sin, but we find a trusted group of saints who we are completely bear with. Not so they can tell us, “It’s all right” but so they can encourage us and we can encourage them.

Radical ACCOUNTABILITY

When I was in high school we had a great Math teacher call Mr. Hollingsworth, or as the kids affectionately called him, "Hollywood". Mr. Hollingsworth was an amazing teacher and a whole generation got the luxury of studing under him. He really prepared us for college and life...that is unless you got behind. Mr. Hollingsworth's philosophy was he was going to teach his material and you better keep up, because He wasn't going back. For that reason, some students struggled until someone sat down with them and helped them catch up, sometimes that would be Mr. Hollingsworth, sometimes it would be a tutor or another student. But sometimes it mean you just failed the class.

And while this no-holds-bar type of teaching created great mathematicians, its not how we as Christians are to work together. We are called, in the body to see ourselves as a family working together to build each other up.

We're to bear each other's burdens across the finish line of faith.

One of the greatest causes of unhealth in a church is when the disparity between the mature and the immature causes division. The mature point their fingers at the sinfulness, or lack of maturity of the weak, and the weak talk about how "holier-than-thou" the mature are. Both are sinful, dividing the body.

Selfishness and Pride are the greatest barriers to a growing and healthy church. Both lifting up each other, and accepting the help of someone else are acts of humble submission and trust in the provision of, and discipline of the Lord.

v. 2 - Each of us - that includes both the weak and the strong

are to work to make aresketo - to reconcile or to please his neighbor for two purposes

1. For His Good - This is more than just what pleases him, and when we speak of pleasing we must be careful we don't confuse it with a fleshly pleasure. This is not what makes one temporally happy, but rather that which reconciles one to God. Thus his good is that which reconciles one to god.

Psalm 32:1–5 ESV

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Speaks of the happiness, the joy that comes from knowing God and being reconciled to God. Thus our good is not just that which will bring us temporal happiness but eternal happiness in the presence of God.

Do you have that in our church? Let me encourage you, find a community in this church to help you walk the life of faith. Find people you can be transparent with, ones you can be encouraged by and who you can encourage.

A great place to start is a Grow Group. For our men we have Samson on Tuesday nights.

Build relationships, go out to dinner with others.

Be a community!