Sunday School Lesson May 31, 2020

Subject: Accept

The Point: Don’t let differences of opinion damage your relationships.

The Passages: Romans 14:1-4, 13-19

Study The Bible: Romans 14:1-4

1). Acceptance Means We Can Accept a Person Whose Opinions Differ from Ours.

1. Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.
2. One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables.
3. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him.
4. Who are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.

Lasting truths from Romans 14:1-4

• Individuals have many different opinions and convictions in our churches.
• We, as the church, are not to be judgmental on issues that, in the long term, prove to be of no consequence.
• We must be accepting of all individuals who are accepted by God.
• In time, new Christians will grow and be strengthened in their faith.

2). Acceptance Means We Do Nothing to Cause the Other Person to Stumble.

Romans 14:13-15

13. Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.
14. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean, to that one it is unclean.
15. For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.

Lasting truths from Romans 14:13-15

• Criticism not only leads to bad feelings between church members, but it possibly can lead an individual to experience a spiritual downfall or to abandon the fellowship of other believers.
• As believers, we should not be critical of one another, but we should do all we can, in love, to help each other grow in the faith.
• We must be sensitive to others’ needs as we exercise our freedom in Christ.

3). Acceptance Means We Do That Which Builds Up The Other Person.

Romans 14:16-19

16. Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,
17. for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18. Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.
19. So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.

Lasting truths from Romans 14:16-19

• Our freedom in Christ should not be lorded over others, but rather, should be our motivation for living in peace with others.
• We serve Christ through righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
• We are to pursue peace in all of our relationships, building up one another in love.