Living in Harmony Through Christ

— Text: Romans 15:1-13 is our text for this morning.

— You can access this through one of the bibles that are in front of you

— In your own bible or bible app

— Before we get to the passage this morning… let’s look at our catechism question for the day.

The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds Question 8: What Is the Law of God Stated in the Ten Commandments?

What is the law of God stated in the Ten Commandments?

The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds Question 8: What Is the Law of God Stated in the Ten Commandments?

Answer - You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below—you shall not bow down to them or worship them.

The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds Question 8: What Is the Law of God Stated in the Ten Commandments?

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. You shall not covet.

Exodus 20:3 ESV

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

Lets’ Pray

— God, thank you for another day.

— Another opportunity to work for you… in winning the world for Christ.

— God, give us a peace about our path and our future

— Help those people we know about and the many that we don’t. Lord, give them the passion that we need to succeed.

— God we know that your desire is that we live in harmony with each other.

— As we look at your word this week; help us to understand and apply it to our lives.

— In your name we pray.

— Imagine This…

— you just have walked out of Ikea.

— You and your spouse or friend are very excited about the new piece of furniture

— NOW… comes the tough part.

— You open the box

— Hmmm… there are 540 pieces to this piece of furniture.

— The instructions are in Swedish, German, French and Spanish.

— So full all practical purposes we have no instructions and no organization… It’s a disaster!!

— Living as a sacrifice in harmony with others through Christ is somewhat like following instructions to put an Ikea chair together.

[There are many pieces, there are many parts of the body of Christ, but they all fit together to make something beautiful.]

— When we work together, supporting and uplifting each other, we build something beautiful—a life filled with purpose and unity.

— So, let’s not toss the instruction manual aside, don’t ignore your Bible; instead, let's follow it diligently for great results!

Introduction

— This is our last week in the Book of Romans… It has been a journey!

— I’ve learned a lot in this span of a few months about the Book of Romans, about myself and the world we live in.. — We live in a world that constantly pushes division

—politically, socially, even in the church.

But Paul calls us to something greater… A life of unity, encouragement, and hope in Christ.

— The passage challenges us to bear with one another, build each other up, and glorify God together.

— Think about an orchestra—many different instruments, each with a unique sound, but when played in harmony, they create something beautiful.

— That’s what the church is supposed to be! Today, we will look at three aspects of living in harmony through Christ:

Bear with One Another (Romans 15:1-3)

Building Each Other Up (Romans 15:4-7)

Glorifying God in Hope (Romans 15:8-13)

#1 Bearing with One Another in Love

Romans 15:1–3 NLT

1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”

— Paul reminds us that those who are strong in faith should bear with the failings of the weak—not just to please themselves but to serve others.

— This is a direct challenge to our natural inclination to put ourselves first.

A Biblical Example: Christ as Our Model of Humanity

In Philippians 2, Paul describes how Jesus, humbled Himself to serve and save us.

— He gave up ALL that it was to be God, the Son and became the son of a carpenter.

Philippians 2:3–8 NLT

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

— Jesus set aside His divine privileges to take on the role of a servant. Why?

To come to earth as a man

To live as a man

To suffer and die as a man

Why? To show the world—both in the first century and today—that He is our only hope.

Application: #1 Do we get frustrated with others? Or do we come alongside them with patience and grace?

#2 Are we quick to forgive our friends/families when they fail, or do we hold grudges?

#3 Instead of pleasing ourselves, do we lay down our preferences for the sake of others?

Paul makes it clear: The Christian life is about sacrificial love, to everyone!

—Let’s move to our second point for this morning

#2 Building One Another Up in Truth

Romans 15:4–7 NLT

4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

—Paul emphasizes the power of Scripture

—it was written for our instruction, encouragement, and endurance.

— This takes a lot of work

— Let’s focus on that first Verse

The Power of The Word (Romans 15:4)

Romans 15:4 NLT

4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT as we wait patiently for God’s PROMISES to be fulfilled.

— Paul reminds us that everything written in the past was given for our instruction, encouragement, and endurance.

— The WORD was given as our handbook for life, not has a convenient doorstop or weighted book.

— In that verse… Paul, teaches that we will receive Hope & Encouragement as we wait for His return.

— As we wait keep this scripture close

Psalm 119:105 NLT

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

— Jesus Himself used Scripture to encourage and build up others.

— To feed their hunger for righteousness. “We wait, sometimes not patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

— Here’s and example of you

Encouragement in Community

— Think of Barnabas, the "Son of Encouragement" from (Acts 4)

— He built up Paul when others doubted him and were skeptical of him (Acts 9) and

— encouraged John Mark when Paul had given up on him (Acts 15)

We need more people like Barnabas in the church—people who speak truth in love, encourage others, and help them grow in Christ.

Application Questions

Are we building people up with God’s truth, or are we tearing them down with criticism?

How often do we encourage fellow believers to continuing growing in their faith?

What are some practical ways we can help others stay grounded in God’s Word?

Paul commands us to accept one another as Christ accepted us. How did Christ accept us? With grace, patience, and love.

III. Glorifying God in Hope (Romans 15:8-13)

— Paul ends this section with a beautiful picture of God’s plan:

Jesus came to fulfill God’s promises to the Jews (Genesis 12:3, Isaiah 11:10).

But He also came so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy (Romans 15:9-12).Jesus, the Fulfillment of God's Promises (Romans 15:8-9)

— Here is an illustration for you…

Illustration: A Family Table

— Imagine a big family gathering.

— There’s always that one person who feels out of place

== But when they are fully welcomed at the table, they experience the warmth and love of belonging.

— That’s what God does for us—He invites us all to His table!

Application: We must embrace people of different backgrounds?

Are we sharing the hope of Christ with those outside our usual circles?

Do we live in the joy and peace that comes from believing in Christ ?

Living in Harmony Through Christ

Like an orchestra playing in harmony, the church is at its best when we: ✔ Bear with One Another in Love – Carry each other’s burdens with patience. ✔ Build One Another Up in Truth – Encourage and strengthen one another. ✔ Glorify God in Hope – Embrace and share the joy of the Gospel.

Let’s commit to living in harmony—not just for ourselves, but for the glory of God!

Closing Prayer: — Heavenly Father, help us to bear with one another in love, build each other up in truth, and glorify You in hope.

— Fill us with joy and peace so that we may overflow with the hope of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NLT

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

— As we prepare the elements take just a few minutes and seek out God, confess your sin. Be in Fellowship with God… Accept his forgiveness and be ready to move on!

— Here is our final blessing…

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

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How can we practically bear with one another in love within our church community?

2. Reflecting on Romans 15:1-3, how can we recognize the strengths and weaknesses of ourselves and others in the faith?

3. In what ways can we encourage others to remain patient and hopeful while waiting for God’s promises?

4. Do we tend to prioritize our own preferences over the needs of others in our community?

5. What steps can we take this week to build someone up with God’s truth?

6. How do you relate to the idea of the church as an orchestra, and what part do you think you play?

7. Have you ever felt like the ‘one person who feels out of place’ in a community? How can we help others who feel that way?

8. How can our group encourage one another in our faith journey and build each other up?

9. What are some real-life examples of how you can share the hope of Christ with others?