Worship Preparation - August 6, 2023

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Read the sermon text: Romans 14:13-23

Read the sermon summary: This past Sunday we saw that we can have unity in the church even in the midst of strong disagreements. In the essentials of the faith, we have uniformity and agreement. However, in the non-essentials, there is room for disagreement. How can we maintain harmony with one another in the midst of strong disagreements? As we saw last Sunday, one of Paul’s answers to this question seems to be, “Mind your own business.” This means you should be fully convinced in your own mind that what you’re doing is in honor of the Lord and understanding your brother who disagrees with you stands not under you, but under God as master and judge. This Sunday, we see an additional answer that goes something like this and is directed to the stronger brother: there is something more important than the freedom to enjoy your freedom in Christ in regard to the non-essentials, namely, walking in love with your brothers. We see that we are not only free to enjoy our freedoms, so to speak. We are also free (and responsible) to limit our freedoms in love for the sake of our brothers and sisters. Paul calls on us to consider which we love more: our freedoms or our brothers and sisters for whom Christ died.

Read the following song lyrics in relation to the sermon: 

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

CCLI Song # 3350395

Keith Getty | Stuart Townend

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