Sermon Notes - Romans 14:13-23 - Liberty and Loving Others - Littleby Baptist Church - June 1, 2025

1.        Romans chapter 14 is one of those chapters that really could be a single sermon.

2.        Paul started this chapter encouraging us to welcome other believers.

a.        Welcome those who need to grow in their faith.

b.       At the same time we are not argue about things that are not called out as sin.

c.        Food may have been important at one point.

d.       A specific day for the Sabbath or a day of celebration may have been critical according to the OT Law.

e.        But none of that is worth arguing over.

f.          Follow what you believe.

g.        But do not argue over it.

h.        Someone from a Jewish background will likely have strong feelings one direction.

i.          Someone who grew up differently will see things through a different lens.

3.        Scripture is clear, there are certain things that are sins.

a.        Paul is not backing off on any of those items.

b.       But there are things that we make mountains out of that we should not.

c.        In many cases they may not even be mole hills.

4.        As we continue with part two of this sermon.

a.        Paul is focusing his attention on those who are ok with the different variables.

b.       The eating of things that may have been sacrificed to idols or that may not be kosher.

c.        Those who are ok with the freedom to do what does not cause us to sin.

d.       But he wants us to be careful.

e.        If we are loving others.

f.          We do have to think about how our actions impact them.

g.        If we are seeking God with all of our hearts, soul, mind, and strength…

h.        Are our choices supporting loving God and others or hindering it.

i.          Let’s see what God through Paul has to say today.

5.        Romans 14:13

a.        Instead of judging if someone's faith is strong enough to embrace the liberty or freedom we have.

b.       Make a choice to not be a stumbling block or pitfall for others.

c.        This is the theme of the rest of the chapter.

d.       We need to consciously choose to act in a way that supports others walks with Christ, not impedes them.

e.        We need to help them.

f.          Not hinder them.

g.        Just because we can do something.

h.        Just because we have the ability to or the right to.

i.          Does not mean we should.

6.        Romans 14:14

a.        Through the grace we have been given by Jesus.

b.       Through the death and new life we have received by giving our lives to Jesus.

c.        Nothing is unclean or sinful that was once stated as unlawful per the OT rules.

d.       Jesus tells us that what goes into the stomach does not defile a person.

e.        It is what comes out of the heart that defiles us.

f.          God told Peter to go and eat whatever the gentiles put before him.

g.        As we talked last week, even food offered to pagan gods is not sinful to eat.

h.        These items are not unclean.

i.          They are not sinful.

7.        Yet, if someone sees them as unclean.

a.        If it would be a stumbling block for them.

b.       If it impacts their ability to grow in their faith.

c.        It would be a sin for them.

d.       It is one of those following your conscience situations.

e.        If you believe it is wrong and impacts your faith in Christ, you need to follow it.

8.        We are not talking about situational ethics or moral relativism.

a.        Where what I think is right for me today is right and I can change my mind and live differently later.

b.       No, this is if something in my past has taught me that this behavior is wrong, so it is a sin until I can unlearn that and accept that it isn’t.

c.        Remember Romans 14:1

d.       Welcome the weaker believers.

e.        Don’t argue with them.

f.          Instead train them up and overtime their faith will grow.

g.        We are talking about Discipleship.

9.        Romans 14:15

a.        If we are farther along the Sanctification process, then others.

b.       We may be ok with things.

c.        If we were raised Jewish and now were ok eating unlawful foods, we are free to.

d.       Scripture does not forbid us from having a drink of alcohol.

e.        Today, video games or movies may not be a problem for some of us.

f.          But each one of these things can be and are stumbling blocks for others.

g.        They can and do lead brothers and sisters to fall back into sinful ways.

h.        If we embrace these things and ultimately hurt a brother or sister in the process, Paul is saying we are not showing love to others.

10.   If we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

a.        If we are to be making disciples.

b.       We should be doing our best to help them stand as fellow believers.

c.        Not putting stumbling blocks before them.

d.       And yes that means sacrificing certain things in our lives.

e.        Which is small in comparison to what our Savior did for us.

11.   Romans 14:16

a.        Don’t let the good we have in Christ be tarnished.

b.       Don’t let the freedom we are given as a new creation turn into a negative thing.

c.        By being part of the reason weaker believers fall into sin.

12.   Romans 14:17

a.        While we have the freedom to do a lot of things.

b.       To eat what we want.

c.        To drink alcohol.

d.       Those things have absolutely nothing to do with following our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

e.        We need food to survive.

f.          We do not need alcohol.

g.        But what we need for all of eternity is seeking God and His righteousness.

h.        We need His Peace.

i.          His Joy.

j.          And the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

13.   We have freedom in a lot of things.

a.        But as humans we tend to take freedom and make things important…

b.       Things that are not really that important.

c.        Things that can be sacrificed as we follow Christ.

14.   Romans 14:18

a.        If we serve Christ in seeking righteousness, peace, and joy will be found acceptable to God.

b.       Not that we should be seeking that specifically.

c.        But when we are serving God, people will notice.

15.   Romans 14:19

a.        Pursue peace.

b.       Peace by focusing on God.

c.        Peace by building up other believers.

d.       Growing as a follower of Christ.

e.        Helping others grow as a disciple of the One True God.

f.          Draw near to our Jesus.

g.        Not making mountains out of things that shouldn’t be.

h.        Not clinging onto things that can cause our brothers and sisters to stumble.

i.          Instead cling to our Jesus.

j.          Embrace Him and let go of other things as you need to.

16.   Romans 14:20

a.        We have already touched on this.

b.       Yet Paul feels he needs to be very direct to the Roman church.

c.        Everything is clean.

d.       Offered at little g temples, not a problem.

e.        Unclean according to the OT law, don’t worry about it.

f.          What goes in your mouth into your stomach does not make one unclean.

17.   But as a follower of Christ who is to love others… do not cause others to stumble.

a.        If someone struggles with something avoid it when you are around them.

b.       In Paul's day if they struggle with little g worship, do not have little g offerings for dinner.

c.        It may mean avoiding eating these things all together.

d.       It would be wrong for a Christ follower to knowingly eat something and cause someone else to sin.

e.        That concept applies to a lot of things in our lives.

18.   Romans 14:21

a.        As a Christ follower, it is good for us to avoid things that can cause a fellow believer to stumble.

b.       Eating different types of food is probably not as relevant today.

c.        Drinking is and a standard belief in Southern Baptist circles is that we abstain from alcohol for this exact reason.

d.       Today, we would have to add Marijuana to the list.

e.        Just because it is legal and not specifically listed does not mean it is good.

f.          It leads to addiction and other things.

19.   Paul stated, ‘anything that makes your brother or sister stumble’.

a.        That is a big and complicated list to pull together.

b.       We need to choose carefully so that we do not do things that lead others to stumble.

20.   You might ask, doesn’t the other person have some responsibility in this.

a.        Remember Paul called them the weaker believer.

b.       We are called to lift up our fellow believers.

c.        If we are the reason they stumble and sin.

d.       We are sinning too.

21.   Romans 14:22

a.        If we are walking in love with others, should we be telling them that we have no problem drinking not knowing if they do or not?

b.       Should we be offering them beer or wine to drink?

c.        Should we be posting pictures on social media?

d.       No, these are things we should not be doing.

e.        Our faith in God has given us liberty.

f.          It has given us freedom.

g.        But that is between us and God.

22.   Romans 14:23

a.        If someone with a strong faith encourages someone to eat, drink, or do something else that their faith is not strong enough to understand yet.

b.       They are causing the weaker believer to sin.

c.        Even though the action itself may not be a sin, if someone’s faith is weak in that area it is a sin.

d.       It is that serious.

e.        If someone struggles with alcohol and one of us were to offer them a drink and they drink it, both them and us are sinning.

f.          Even them seeing us drinking which encourages Them drink is a sin for us.

g.        Even though having a single drink of alcohol is not a sin.

23.   Even in freedom, our actions do matter.

a.        As a follower of Christ.

b.       As one who Loves God.

c.        And is working to love others.

d.       We need to watch our actions carefully.

24.   I want to encourage you to do just that.

a.        Reflect this week to see if there is anything in your life that could be close to or is causing a brother or sister to stumble.

b.       Maybe it is impacting someone close to you and you may not realize it.

c.        Ask God to show you how to let go of your freedom so that you can help your fellow Christ follower grow in their faith.

d.       Then take a step of faith and change something in your life.

25.   If you do not know Jesus and are ready to make that commitment.

a.        I would love to pray with you.