Saturday October 4, 2014

Read Romans 15:7-22

Picture this scene in a local church. It could be your church. As people greet each other and welcome one another, you notice that a rich man hugs and welcomes a poor man. When no one’s watching he pulls out his wallet and slips him a few $50 bills. It’s not a drug deal but a love deal. Over in the far corner a well dressed woman stands arm in arm praying with a woman and her daughter who are both draped in shabby old clothes. Sitting in the morning tea area an obviously well educated man appears to be teaching a baseball capped, fashion challenged youth from the Scriptures. Both are laughing and joking as they read the Bible together. In the church worship centre a teenager plays handball with a preppie child and allows her to win several rounds.

When Paul encourages the church to ‘accept one another just as Christ accepted you’ this is what he is picturing. Even pagans and tax collectors (Read Matthew 5) love each other. It’s very easy to love those who are like us. It’s easy to accept those who dress like us, act like us and value what we value and dislike what we dislike. It’s easy to love those who make us feel good and stroke our egos. What God is calling us to do is not so much to love those who are like us but to love and accept those who are not like us. The Jews were called to love and accept the Gentiles and vice versa. The rich were called to love and accept the poor (James 2:1-7) and vice versa and so on.

This kind of love is a love that brings glory and honour to God. It’s this kind of love that reflects the love that Christ has shown to each of us individually and corporately. None of us were like Christ at the point of our salvation (Read Romans 5:1-11 again to verify this). None of us were righteous enough or good enough to persuade Christ to love us. But He chose to love us. At no point did Christ tell us to dress better before he could love us, or to speak differently or to get a degree first or even to act in a different way. We read of our plight when Christ loved us in Romans 5:8.

While we were still sinners Christ died for us!

This is the way in which we are to love and accept each other. Christ’s way is the way of acceptance, not of conditions. We should never think that it is our job to squeeze people into a certain mould before they are accepted into our churches. Christ’s way is the way of acceptance and not of favouritism. Christ’s way is the way of other centred love and selflessness.

Verse 7 of Romans 15 show the outcome of our accepting one another. It brings praise to God. Those who are accepted will bring praise to God and as non Christians are drawn to Christ by the acceptance and love of Christ, they too will bring praise to God.

But again, we have to be extremely careful that we don’t trample out the Gospel in accepting each other. Throughout the New Testament, sin is never accepted. False teaching is never accepted. Loving and accepting people is never an excuse to allow or indulge in transgression.

Prayer:

Use today’s Bible reading and notes to pray along the following lines.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¨ Pray that your church would be wise and loving in accepting people but not accepting sin. Pray that God would grant repentance to those who are steeped in sin and unwilling to change.

¨ Pray that your church would willingly seek to share Christ with the world and to model His love and grace in all things.

 Walk Moment:

The way you act at church and the way that you greet and treat people communicates the Gospel.

Make sure that you are communicating the true and faithful Gospel.

 Discussion Questions

1. Someone comes into your church and reveals to you that they are involved in some sin. They refuse to repent of it and argue that in line with Romans 15:7 you should accept them just as Christ has accepted you. How do you counsel this person?

2. How can we love and accept people without condoning their sin?

3. Is there any point at which a church should cease accepting  a particular person? Use biblical references in your answer.

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: Certain things make us feel loved and accepted. Certain things make us feel welcome and involved.

The church should be a haven of acceptance and welcoming people.

Discuss the things that make you feel loved and accepted.

Are there things the church should not welcome and accept?

Read  1 Peter 1:22

What boundaries are put on accepting one another and loving one another?

What does it mean to love deeply from the heart?

Pray together that God would create a loving heart in you and your church.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: Certain things make us feel loved and accepted. Certain things make us feel welcome and involved.

The church should be a haven of acceptance and welcoming people.

Discuss the things that make you feel loved and accepted.

Are there things the church should not welcome and accept?

Read  1 Peter 1:22

What boundaries are put on accepting one another and loving one another?

What does it mean to love deeply from the heart?

Pray together that God would create a loving heart in you and your church

Friday October 3, 2014

Read Romans 15:5-6

Unity and oneness in our churches is vital. It’s a non optional mandate not an extra that we can try and discard if we dislike it. In fact, one of the biggest turn-offs for the non believing world is the disunity among and within churches. Non church goers talk about the hypocrisy of the church. When they see disunity within the church they automatically conclude, rightly or wrongly, that the church is filled with hypocrites.

Put yourself in the shoes of a non church goer. You’ve been invited to church by a Christian friend. As you enter the church building, you notice that your friend is greeted with a grimace, a half smile that communicates dislike rather than love. Over morning tea you hear a group of people bagging and putting down another church goer. You witness one person being rude to another and even another person stomping off and leaving because they didn’t get their own way. Would you in all honesty come back to this church? Would you be attracted to Christ and seriously consider worshipping this God of disunity? Of course you wouldn’t!!!

In fact, unity is so important and so highly regarded that Paul tells the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:10

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Can you see the absolutes that Paul is using? In 1 Corinthians 6:7-8 he warns them that it’s better to accept being ripped off and cheated than to go to court and to be disunified.

In Romans 15:5-6 Paul pronounces a mini-benediction. He prays that God would grant endurance to those who are suffering or have been hard done by. He prays for encouragement for those who are discouraged and down in the dumps. It’s the same God who gives endurance and encouragement that Paul appeals to for unity. He wants the church to be given a spirit of unity among themselves. For this to happen, each individual needs both endurance and encouragement. Let’s face it, not all believers are as nice and easy to get along with as we are!!! The purpose of Paul’s benediction/prayer is that the church might, in heart and voice, bring glory to God the Father by singing out His praises. Paul’s heart felt desire is that the church stand united under the Lordship of Christ. It’s his desire that each individual within the church have an inner desire to bless and edify others.

If that non church goer attended church for the first time and saw her friend greeted warmly and lovingly, if she heard a group blessing and singing another’s praises, if she witnessed  godly conflict resolution not huffing and puffing and storming off, if she saw unity and oneness, she may well have visited again and she may have eventually given her life to the Lord. Unity is a powerful testimony. No wonder Paul prayed for church unity.

Prayer:

Use today’s Bible reading and notes to pray along the following lines.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¨ Pray for a growing unity within your church and your denomination. Pray that God would be growing unity across your city/town among various churches and denominations.

 Witness Moment:

Unity witnesses volumes to a lost and drowning world. Dealing with potential disunity in a godly, and biblical way is an even greater witness to them.

 Discussion Questions

1. Discuss  the meaning and application of 1 Corinthians 1:10 and the absolutes that are contained within it.

2. Why do you think unity is so important in the church?

3. What steps can be taken by the church if disunity should arise over

· an elder to be elected to the leadership?

·  proposed building plans?

· the style of the Sonday service?

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: It’s very easy to like those who are like us and to dislike those who are different. Christians are called to be unified even if they belong to different congregations or even different churches/denominations. Unity is a mark of the indwelling of the Holy spirit.

Discuss: ways in which you have seen unity bless the church and the wider community.

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16

What is Paul referring to when he says ’God’s temple’?

Who dwells in God’s temple according to this verse?

Pray together that God would bring unity in your church and the churches across the city.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: It’s common to be weary of those who are different to us. But Christians are called to be unified even if they belong to different congregations or even different churches/denominations. Unity is a mark of the indwelling of the Holy spirit.

Discuss: how God has led you to see as brothers/sisters in the Lord other churches that you once were weary of.

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16

What is Paul referring to when he says ’God’s temple’?

Who dwells in God’s temple according to this verse?

Pray together that God would bring unity in your church and the churches across the city.

Thursday October 2, 2014

Read Romans 15:1-4

Let me encourage you to think for a moment about how you budget your income be it monthly, fortnightly or weekly. Some people are, of course, very methodical and plan how every cent will be spent. Others use broader brush strokes while others still go with the flow and use what they need when they need it. Regardless of our methodology in budgeting, there are always items that have to be paid for. Bills, for example, have to be paid. Rates have to be accounted for. Education has to be accounted for. Then there’s the weekly tithe that has to come out as well. 

But even more so, we all, regardless of our method of budgeting, put ourselves into the list. We all like to spend something on ourselves. Some may not indulge as much as others. But by our very nature we are self-centred and self pleasing. We don’t buy the cheapest things for ourselves. We don’t deny ourselves constantly. We rarely forgo what we want for the sake of others. Whether we like it or not, there’s a self centred streak somewhere in all of us.

Romans 15:1-4 challenges that self centred streak within each of us. We are told outright that those who are stronger in the faith are to bear with the weaker ones and we are NOT to please ourselves. We are to seek to please our neighbour and to build her up, even dare I say, at the expense of ourselves!

The motivating example given to us is Christ Himself. He did not seek to please Himself in any way, shape or form. He left the glory of heaven, not for His sake but for ours. He entered our world, again, for our blessing and not for Himself. He lived a perfectly obedient life, even when that obedience caused pain and suffering. He willingly suffered the pain, the humiliation and the torture of crucifixion, including the false trial, the beatings, scourging and mocking that went with it. He willingly died upon that cross for us. In none of this did Christ ever seek to please Himself.

Not only does this give us endurance and hope as Romans 15:4 declares but it also gives us a beautiful example to emulate in our lives. Our natural desire is to put ourselves at the top of the list and to please ourselves. At the very least we seek to look after ourselves. The Holy Spirit encourages us and urges us to live for God and to seek to please and to build up others, even if it costs us. No where in Scripture do we read that we serve only up to the point where serving costs us, taxes us or pushes us beyond our limits. No where do we read that serving is only for those times that we want to serve or are happy to serve. If Christ took that path, each of us would be hell bound not heaven bound. Let me challenge each one of us to spend a whole day (24 hours) where we seek to please others (God first, people second) and do not seek to please ourselves at all. Are you up for the challenge?

Prayer:

Use today’s Bible reading and notes to pray along the following lines.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¨ Pray that the marriages in your congregation would be other centred and loving and that these marriages would greatly shine forth the love that Christ has for His church and vice versa.

¨ Pray that the singles in your congregation would be leading other centred lives that powerfully communicate the love of Christ to a lost and dying world. Ask the Lord to fill them and bless them immensely in their other centeredness.

 Worship Moment:

An other centred life, denying oneself and taking up one’s cross to follow Jesus, is a life of worship.

Seeking to put down the cross and to have a break is simply not worship!

 Discussion Questions

1. Share an example of other centeredness that you have benefited from. Share what happened and how it made you feel etc.

2. List and read together other verses that speak of the need to deny yourself and to live for or serve others.

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: It’s easy to share with those whom we love and care for but sometimes we have to share and look after those we don’t necessarily love.

That’s a hard call that God makes upon our lives. 

Discuss a time when you had to put other’s needs above your own. Share your struggles and your feelings at that time.

Read  Philippians 2:3-4.

Who are we to consider better than ourselves?

Does this include everyone or just people we love?

Can you think of people in your city/town that could use your love and support?

Pray together that God would allow you to be loving others.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: It’s easy to share with those whom we love and care for but sometimes we have to share and look after those we don’t necessarily love.

That’s a hard call that God makes upon our lives. 

Discuss a time when you had to put other’s needs above your own. Share your struggles and your feelings at that time.

Read  Philippians 2:3-4.

Who are we to consider better than ourselves?

Does this include everyone or just people we love?

Can you think of people in your city/town that could use your love and support?

Pray together that God would allow you to be loving others.

Wednesday October 1, 2014

Read Romans 14:9-23

We had the perfect evangelism event for Aussie males planned and mapped out. We had organised to run a wine tasting evening where the Gospel would be clearly shared. Just as we were ready to start our advertising campaign a particular fellow from the church came into the office and shared his past struggle with alcohol and the temptation that this event would place upon him. The leadership struggled and wrestled with this issue and eventually decided that running the event would be a stumbling block and thus needed to be cancelled.

According to Romans 14:9-12 each believer will stand before the judgement seat and will have to give an account of his/her life to God. This is not a condemnation. It is a reckoning or accounting. It’s much like a father asking his son to show him the homework he’s been working on for the last two hours. The father wants to see how productive the son has been. Even though a father in Paul’s day could dismiss a child from the family, the biblical picture here is of a loving God asking His children to give an account of their time on this planet.

In the light of this accounting or reckoning, we are told to stop passing judgement on each other in regard to the disputable matters and we are also commanded not to put obstacles in each other’s way. Our calling is to righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit and everyone who lives in this way is pleasing to God. There could have been no peace, no joy and no righteousness had over the church proceeded with the evangelistic evening.

Our calling is also to mutual edification and to peace. We should seek to build each other up in the Lord. Anything that pulls a brother or sister down must be removed or ceased immediately.  It is simply unloving, even sinful, to eat or drink anything that causes another to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or to drink wine than to cause a brother or sister to stumble.

If a brother or sister tells us that something we are doing or planning to do could cause them to stumble, our reaction should never be ‘I’m sorry it makes you feel like that but…’ Our reaction, according to the Word of the Lord, is to seek peace and edification of the other person!

Can you imagine a church where concern for others is a key driving principle? Can you imagine a church where believers actually consider how their actions impact others before they say or do anything?  Can you imagine a church where love for others is greater than love for self?

Unfortunately that sounds like a radical church in today’s Christian world. But your church can be the light. Your church can be the difference. Your church can lead the charge. All it takes is one person, YOU, to be the light. Go on, be different. Start thinking about others ahead of yourself today!

Prayer:

Use today’s Bible reading and notes to pray along the following lines.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¨ Pray that your congregation would be growing in other centred love and willingness to bless and edify each other. Ask God to allow this love to reach out to the world to show them that you are Jesus’ disciples.

 Word Moment:

As you read the Word of God, think about what God is saying to you personally not what He’s saying to others around you.

 Discussion Questions 

1. There is a fine line between the principle outlined today and legalism. Eg “Thou shall not drink alcohol” is legalistic but avoiding alcohol because of a brother’s struggle is loving and Jesus-honouring. How can we avoid this kind of legalism in our churches?

2. How would you sum up this principle taught in today’s reading?

3. Have you ever had to put this into practice? Share your story.

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: God has so built His church that each person has a spiritual gift that is to be used for the blessing and benefit of others and not ourselves.  He wants us to look after each other and to care for each other.

Discuss  your spiritual gift and how you use it to bless and benefit others. How did you find out your spiritual gift?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7

Who is given a spiritual gift?

What is the purpose of the spiritual gift?

Pray together that God would reveal to you your spiritual gift and where He wants you to be serving in the church.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: Boys who care for each other and look after each other can be teased and called sissies. But this is what biblical mateship is all about. God has so built His church that each person has a spiritual gift that is to be used for the blessing and benefit of others and not ourselves.

Discuss  your spiritual gift and how you use it to bless and benefit others. How did you find out your spiritual gift?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7

Who is given a spiritual gift?

What is the purpose of the spiritual gift?

Pray together that God would reveal to you your spiritual gift and where He wants you to be serving in the church.