Today’s passage: Romans 15:1-7
Helpful thoughts:
- Our increasing spiritual strength is to be used up for the benefit of others. The stronger we grow, the more we can love people who aren’t just like us.
- Verse 4 looks like a summary statement of Hebrews 11:1-12:2.
- Christ welcomed us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). Welcome others as Christ welcomed you.
- This doesn’t exclude the idea of rebuke for the sake of edification. We come to Christ as sinners, and then the work of progressive sanctification begins. (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Questions to consider:
- Who is the “You” in verse 6? Does the church exist for individuals to receive personal satisfaction or has God rescued and given individuals to make a collective body who sacrifice for one another to the praise of His glory? Which of those two options truly satisfies the soul?
- What are the ways we think about life selfishly? Whose day is your day? Whose church is your church? Whose life is your life? We know that we live in a consumer-minded culture…How often do we see the world through consumeristic lenses and not even realize it?
- How did Christ welcome you? What is the Gospel? How does preaching the Gospel to yourself help you stay in the right frame of mind to help other people who also need Christ just like we did?