Sermon Tone Analysis

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Theme: We are not all at the same level of spiritual maturity, and we do not all walk the exact same path with Jesus; therefore, let us not get disagreeable over opinions.

Theme: We are not all at the same level of spiritual maturity, and we do not all walk the exact same path with Jesus; therefore, let us not get disagreeable over opinions.

Date: 05/28/17 File name: Romans_2016_41.wpd

ID Number:

Date: 05/28/17 File name: Romans_2016_41.wpd

ID Number:

In chapters twelve through fourteen of the book of Romans Paul talks about how our life in Christ affects the way we interact with those around us.

In chapter 12 we saw the Christian's obligation to fellow Christians.

In the first half of chapter 13 we see the Christian's obligation to the ruling authorities.

In the last half of chapter 13, we see the Christian's obligation to all men.

Now, beginning in chapter 14 we see the Christian’s obligation to a fellow believer’s liberty over disputable matters.

The Christian church is a new community.

Believers are to accept one another without condemnation over each other’s personal convictions.

We have no right to judge fellow believers over disputable matters, for they are matters of conscience, to be settled between the individual and the Lord.

In chapters twelve through fourteen of the book of Romans Paul talks about how our life in Christ affects the way we interact with those around us.

In chapter 12 we saw the Christian's obligation to fellow Christians.

In the first half of chapter 13 we see the Christian's obligation to the ruling authorities.

In the last half of chapter 13, we see the Christian's obligation to all men.

Now, beginning in chapter 14 we see the Christian’s obligation to a fellow believer’s liberty over disputable matters.

The Christian church is a new community.

Believers are to accept one another without condemnation over each other’s personal convictions.

We have no right to judge fellow believers over disputable matters, for they are matters of conscience, to be settled between the individual and the Lord.

In this passage, the Apostle is dealing with how Christians are to behave with respect to issues where the bible does not clearly speak.

The outline is simple.

In this passage Paul speaks about three kinds of conduct, two kinds of Christian, and one proper attitude.

I. THREE KINDS OF CONDUCT

1. distinguishing between right and wrong in matters of personal conduct is often difficult

a. this is evident from the fact that there is so much disagreement among Christians as to what behaviors are sinful

as to what behaviors are sinful

b. practices which are approved of — even condoned — by some Christians are rejected, and condemned by others as being inconsistent with a Godly lifestyle

rejected, and condemned by others as being inconsistent with a Godly lifestyle

ILLUS.

Case in point: Many of you will recognize the name of Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Spurgeon is considered the greatest English preacher of the 19th century.

He was a Baptist, and pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church — probably the world’s first mega-church.

Even today Spurgeon is referred to as the “Prince of Preachers.”

His sermons are still studied in Baptist Seminaries.

Rev. Spurgeon was a Baptist preacher who thoroughly enjoyed cigars — especially Cuban cigars.

Everyone in his church knew he smoked cigars.

He smoked a cigar every evening before he went to bed, and he smoked a cigar every Sunday on his way to church to, according to Spurgeon himself, “prepare his throat for preaching.”

Spurgeon.

Spurgeon is considered the greatest English preacher of the 19th century.

He was a Baptist, and pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church — probably the world’s first mega-church.

Even today Spurgeon is referred to as the “Prince of Preachers.”

His sermons are still studied in Baptist Seminaries.

Rev. Spurgeon was a Baptist preacher who thoroughly enjoyed cigars — especially Cuban cigars.

Everyone in his church knew he smoked cigars.

He smoked a cigar every evening before he went to bed, and he smoked a cigar every Sunday on his way to church to, according to Spurgeon himself, “prepare his throat for preaching.”

In the Fall of 1874 Spurgeon had invited the prominent American evangelist, George F. Pentecost to preach at the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church in London.

Dr. Pentecost stepped into the pulpit and proceeded to preach a fiery message against the sin of smoking, not knowing that Spurgeon was an avid smoker.

Dr. Pentecost preached away, telling Spurgeon’s people how God had delivered him from the foul practice.

As he preached the people in congregation just got quieter and quieter.

After Dr. Pentecost concluded his message, Charles Spurgeon stood up, and in a very loving and kind way, said, “Let’s open our bibles to .”

He used the passage I’m preaching from this morning to talk about Christian liberty.

He told his congregation, “For some Christians, their conscience won’t let them smoke cigars.

I have no such qualms.

If anybody can show me in the Bible the command, 'Thou shalt not smoke,' I am ready to keep it; but I haven't found it yet.

I find ten commandments, and it's as much as I can do to keep them; and I've no desire to make them into eleven or twelve.

Not only do I smoke cigars, I smoke cigars to the glory of God.”

1) there are a lot of Baptists who wince at that statement, and wish Spurgeon had never said it

never said it

2) on the other hand there are a lot of Baptists in eastern Kentucky whose livelihood comes from growing tobacco who say Amen and amen!

comes from growing tobacco who say Amen and amen!

2. what do we do when we have such a profound difference of opinion over whether-or-not a behavior is sinful when the bible says nothing about it?

not a behavior is sinful when the bible says nothing about it?

a. this is what the apostle addresses in this chapter

b. he addresses it because Christian unity is at stake within the church at Rome

3. there are three kinds of conduct talked about in the Scriptures

A. WRONG CONDUCT (i.e.

... SIN)

A. WRONG CONDUCT (i.e.

... SIN)

1. obviously there are many areas of conduct, attitude, and behavior where the Bible clearly speaks

clearly speaks

“Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

(, ESV)

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (, ESV)

• “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (, ESV)

a. in these, and similar passages, the bible lists behaviors that are always wrong

1) there's no way that a confessing Christian can shoplift something off of a store shelf and say with a straight face, "Well, I really don't believe stealing is a sin — especially if I really need it."

shelf and say with a straight face, "Well, I really don't believe stealing is a sin — especially if I really need it."

2) there is no way that a confessing Christian can engage in premarital sex, or adulterous sex, or homosexual sex, and confess, "You know, I just don't think that's wrong.

God made me this way.

Who are you to judge?"

adulterous sex, or homosexual sex, and confess, "You know, I just don't think that's wrong.

God made me this way.

Who are you to judge?"

3) there is no way that a confessing Christian can drink themselves into a drunken stupor and say, “I’m sloshed to the glory of God!”

stupor and say, “I’m sloshed to the glory of God!”

2. there are some behaviors that are wrong because the Scriptures clearly tell us they are wrong

are wrong

a. every Christian is fully accountable for their behavior in those areas where the Bible clearly speaks

clearly speaks

b. and, we are accountable to the church, and it’s spiritual discipline when we continue to practice that conduct which is specifically forbidden

to practice that conduct which is specifically forbidden