Romans 14:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

I. A weak faith (v. 1)
• Acceptance and respect do not require

.
• In Christianity the spiritual is

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and the physical is spiritual.
• Weak faith is making spiritual

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where there are none.
• The worst weakness tries to

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people on disputable matters.
II. A sensitive conscience (v. 2)
• Weak faith focuses on

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as spiritual maturity.
• Weak faith confuses

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with spiritual contamination.
• Christianity teaches that spiritual corruption is

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.
• Liberated Christians demonstrate

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faith.
III. A judgment free grace (v. 3)
• Strong faith doesn’t judge theological

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.
• Strong faith doesn’t judge theological

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.
• Abstinence and liberation are spiritual

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not standards.
• Strong or weak

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is not a prerequisite to God’s acceptance.
IV. A standard to stand by (v. 4)
• Condemning others is

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on God’s territory.
• All Christians

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in their faith.
• Jesus will help us stand on

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.
•

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is being dressed in Christ’s righteousness.

1. As you listened to the message, what points stood out?
2. Read Romans 14:1-2. A disputable matter is an issue or behavior with no biblical mandate that believers might not agree on. How do disputable matters differ from a Christian’s relationship to government authority in chapter 13? What are examples of issues that are disputable? What are examples of things that are not disputable?
3. How would you describe a believer who is “weak in faith” (refer to Hebrews 5:12-14)? How would you describe a believer who is strong in faith? What is the worst weakness of faith and how should a strong believer treat a weaker one?
4. Read Romans 14:3. Why is it damaging for Christians to look down on others who have different viewpoints than themselves? What is the proper way to treat believers when they have differing opinions on disputable matters? Why can this be so difficult to do?
5. Read Romans 14:4. Why do people meddle and worry? What does the apostle Paul imply by using the words “stand” and “fall” in verse 4 and how does this give Christian’s hope?
6. If disputable matters do not have a correct answer biblically, how should believers make decisions?