HELP SOMEBODY! ROMANS 15: 1-6

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 15)

PLEASING OTHERS, NOT OURSELVES

15:1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. 2 Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me., 4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. 5 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.

BIG IDEA: WE ARE CALLED TO COMFORT

EVERYBODY IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING!

EVERYBODY IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING!

AND YET WE ARE COMMITTED, NOT TO BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT OUR STRUGGLES, BUT WE’RE COMMITTED TO KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.

SOME OF US WOULD RATHER STRUGGLE INDEPENDENTLY (SUFFER SILENTLY), RATHER THAN PARTNER CORPORATELY!

(BUT SCRIPTURE SAYS IN) GALATIANS 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

AWWW BELOVED, WE CAN’T CARRY IF WE CAN’T GET CLOSE…AND WE CAN’T GET CLOSE, IF WE’RE PRETENDING TO HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER!

EVERYBODY IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING!

AWWW, SO AS WE TRANSITION TO THIS SUMMER SERIES - SUMMER PUSH…I’M EXHORTING EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE AND ON THE STREAM TO “HELP SOMEBODY!” YES, HELP SOMEBODY!

BUT I’M ALSO EXHORTING EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE AND ON THE STREAM TO DECLARE “HELP, SOMEBODY!” LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY, “HELP, SOMEBODY.”

THIS IS A CALL FOR AID - A REQUEST FOR SUPPORT...

OH GOD, WE ARE REFRAMING OUR CULTURE AT GREATER!

WE’RE RETHINKING OUR VALUES AS MEMBERS OF THIS BODY....

REMEMBER: Great Family Programming for all generations - We are committed to being a multigenerational church that pursues Christ together— investing in generations beyond our own. Our joy is to help build strong families and ultimately the family of God through impactful ministry that strengthens individuals, fortifies marriages, and raises up children in God's truth and love.

HELP SOMEBODY!!!

15 - NOW WE WHO ARE STRONG HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BEAR THE WEAKNESSES OF THOSE WITHOUT STRENGTH, AND NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES.

SINCE CHAPTER 14, PAUL HAS BEEN EXHORTING THE CHURCH TO BE PATIENT WITH AND TO MAKE ROOM FOR BELIEVERS WHO MAY BE ENDURING A WEAK SEASON...

14:1 - WELCOME ANYONE WHO IS WEAK IN FAITH… CHAPT. 14:1

LET ME GIVE YOU THIS FIRST OBSERVATION:

SHIFTING IS COMMON!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN PB?

DEPENDING UPON OUR SEASON, WE CAN FIND OURSELVES WEAK OR STRONG.

SHIFTING IS COMMON!

HAVEN’T YOU DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF FORTIFIED - STRONG - ABLE? AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF LACKING - WEAK - PITIFUL...

WE SHIFT.

SO, SINCE WE SHIFT, WE OUGHT NEVER THINK TOO HIGHLY OF OURSELVES OR THINK LESS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES EXPERIENCING WEAKNESS...

NOW WE CAN SURMISE FROM THIS TEXT THAT PAUL IS SPEAKING IN GENERAL TERMS: STRONG BELIEVERS VS WEAK BELIEVERS… (OF WHICH PAUL WAS STRONG - NOW WE WHO ARE STRONG…)

IT’S STILL SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT WE STILL EXPERIENCE SHIFTS:

IN MY MARRIAGE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN A SITUATION OR TOPIC REVEALS I’M STRONGER OR MORE CONFIDENT…AND THERE ARE YET OTHER TIMES WHEN MY WIFE IS CLEARLY STRONGER - MORE CONFIDENT IN A SITUATION...

SHIFTING IS COMMON...

A SECOND OBSERVATION IS THIS:

SERVING MUST BECOME COMMON.

IN THE FULL CONTEXT OF OUR TEXT, INCLUDING CHAPTER 14, PAUL IS CHALLENGING US TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS - TO REFRAIN FROM CRITICALLY JUDGING OTHERS...

TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY AS NOT TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO STUMBLE OR TO STRUGGLE...

FOR THIS IS HOW A SERVANT LIVES…

WE ARE OBLIGATED…THIS IS OUR CALLING…THIS IS GOD’S EXPECTATION FOR HIS CHILDREN...

WATCH THIS. EITHER WE MUST:

LOOK TO HELP (OTHERS)! ELAB...

LOOK FOR HELP (OTHERS)! ELAB..

AS A WEIGHT-LIFTER - BODYBUILDER, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPANIONS WE HAVE IS A SPOTTER...

A SPOTTER IS THE ONE WHOSE KEY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO OBSERVE AND TO ASSIST THE LIFTER...

NOTE, THE SPOTTER IS NOT THE LIFTER!

BUT, HE OR SHE STANDS NEXT TO THE LIFTER TO ASSIST, WHEN THE NEED ARISES...

AND ALSO, THE SPOTTER IS TASKED WITH BEING THE ENCOURAGER!

AGAIN, NOT LIFTING, BUT ENCOURAGING!

SCREAMING (AT TIMES) YOU'VE GOT THIS!

GIVE ME ONE MORE...

YOU CAN DO IT!

I'VE GROWN TO LEARN HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SPOTTERS ARE TO OUR DAILY LIVES...

(((MORE ON SUPPORTING OTHERS)))

15:1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. 2 Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me., 4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. 5 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.

ALLOW ME TO UNPACK A FEW PRINCIPLES THAT WILL BE OF SIGNIFICANT PROFIT FOR US TODAY AND BEYOND… HERE IT IS:

CARRY THE WEIGHT

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME!

NOW WE WHO ARE STRONG HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BEAR THE WEAKNESS OF THOSE WITHOUT STRENGTH, AND NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES...

THOSE WHO ARE STRONGER OUGHT HELP THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING!

WE WHO ARE UP OUGHT HELP THOSE WHO ARE DOWN...

NOTICE THE LANGUAGE: BEAR THE WEAKNESS AND NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES...

THERE IS A TEMPTATION THAT WE MUST FIGHT AGAINST, WHICH IS SELFISHNESS!

YES, THE I GOT MINE, YOU GET YOURS MENTALITY!

THERE AIN’T ONE STRONG BELIEVER IN HERE WHO GOT STRONG ON THEIR OWN!

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 22)

PETER’S DENIAL PREDICTED31 “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

WE ARE OBLIGATED - EXPECTED - CALLED - TO TURN AROUND TO HELP OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

I DON’T WANT ANY MEMBER OF OUR CHURCH TO EVER FEEL THAT NO ONE CARES - THAT NO ONE IS WILLING TO HELP...

CHILD OF GOD, YOU’RE NOT ABOVE SERVING:

YOUR SCHEDULE AIN’T FULL! YOU’RE JUST FULL OF YOURSELF!

PRAYER LIST - CALL AND PRAY!

SINGLE MOMS - OFFER TO SIT!

STUDENTS - COOK A MEAL!

WORKING YOUNG ADULT - OFFER GAS MONEY!

NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES (VS.3) FOR EVEN JESUS DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF…JESUS BORE THE INSULTS AND HOSTILITY THAT PEOPLE HAD AGAINST GOD (PSALM 69:9)

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 2)

2:1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. (CHRIST’S HUMILITY AND EXALTATION) 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

CARRY THE WEIGHT - NOT ABOUT ME.

SECONDLY,

ENCOURAGE THE WEAK

ALL FOR THEM...

2. EACH ONE OF US IS TO PLEASE HIS NEIGHBOR FOR HIS GOOD, TO BUILD HIM UP.

FAMILY, PAUL WANTS EACH OF US TO BUILD EACH OTHER UP!

IT’S EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY...

AND THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS...

THIS IS COUNTER-CULTURE STUFF!

PARTICIPATING IN AN ACTIVITY THAT COMPLETELY BENEFITS SOMEONE ELSE...

PARTICIPATING IN AN ACTIVITY THAT COMPLETELY BLESSES SOMEONE ELSE...

IT’S FOR HIS GOOD - TO BUILD HIM UP!

When a woman is in labor, she’s hurting. In this situation, no one ever really knows exactly how long the pain is going to last. The husband is there, holding her hand, wiping her forehead, and patting her back. That’s all he can do. He’s limited. Holding her hand doesn’t change the pain. He’s just there to comfort her.

God is birthing something in the life of every believer, and He wants believers to comfort one another, while we go through the birthing process.

((((MORE ON ENCOURAGING…))))

CARRY THE WEIGHT - ENCOURAGE THE WEAK…FINALLY:

COMMIT TO THE WORD

HOPE FOR ALL...

4. FOR WHATEVER WAS WRITTEN IN THE PAST WAS WRITTEN FOR OUR INSTRUCTION, SO THAT WE MAY HAVE HOPE THROUGH ENDURANCE AND THROUGH THE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE SCRIPTURES...

THE WORD HELPED THEN...

THE WORD HELPS NOW!!!

THROUGH THE WORD, WE HAVE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT...

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (3. The importance of pleasing one another 15:1–6)

These Scriptures give us hope because in them we see God’s approval of those who persevered faithfully in spite of opposition and frustration.

COMMIT TO THE WORD.

BELOVED, OUR FIRM HANDLE UPON THE WORD WILL HELP US TO ENDURE...

ESPECIALLY NOW, WHEN FOLKS ARE MANIPULATING THE WORD TO LURE FOLKS (BLACK FOLKS IN PARTICULAR) FROM THE TRUE FAITH!

I TOLD YOU ON WEDNESDAY, STOP SCROLLING AND START TURNING (THE PAGES OF SCRIPTURE)...

GET IN OUR SCHOOL OF LEARNING (SUNDAY SCHOOL)...

COMMIT TO OUR WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER AND STUDY, ALONG WITH OUR WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY!

COMMIT TO THE WORD...

STOP PLAYING LIKE A CHRISTIAN AND BE A CHRISTIAN!

COMMIT TO THE WORD:

Tony Evans Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More Than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Bible, Sufficiency Of)

BIBLE, SUFFICIENCY OF THERE WAS a commercial not too long ago for Prego spaghetti sauce. A mother is cooking the spaghetti and the pot is full of what looks like a vibrant, red spaghetti sauce. The aroma appears to be filling the house. The son comes up and looks at his mother cooking the sauce and asks, “Mom, where are the mushrooms?”She says, “It’s in there.”“But what about the sausage?”“Why, it’s in there.”“What about the ripe tomatoes?”“It’s in there.”Prego’s spaghetti sauce had kick and flavor, because of what was inside. Every time the boy looked for something to explain what he smelled, his mother would reply, “It’s in there.”If you are looking for victory, it’s in the Bible. If you’re looking for transformation, it’s already in there. If you’re looking for power, it’s in there. If you’re looking for deliverance, it’s in there. If you’re looking for a brand-new you, it’s already there. The divine nature has given you everything you need and you can learn about what’s available to you by studying the Word of God.31

CARRY THE WEIGHT - NOT ABOUT ME.

ENCOURAGE THE WEAK - ALL FOR THEM.

COMMIT TO THE WORD - HOPE FOR ALL.