Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace

How to Avoid Conflicts 1

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2011-04-03

Synopsis: In this introductory sermon on avoiding conflicts between Christians, John Weaver teaches from Romans 14:1-3 that conflicts arise from differing degrees of faith and maturity. He emphasizes that practical Christian living must be based on doctrine, and that believers must recognize varying levels of spiritual growth, receive weaker brethren with love and patience, and avoid arguing over disputable matters. The sermon calls for ministering to others according to their stage of faith, just as Christ received us.

[John Weaver] Let's open our Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Romans chapter 14. Romans chapter 14. I want to bring a brief series, and I say brief, it will probably be at least three messages, maybe four, but at least three, on the subject of how to avoid conflicts between Christians. How to avoid conflicts between Christians. Obviously, today will be an introduction and we're going to cover several important points. However, next week, next Sunday, Lord willing, I want to bring a message. It's still going to be by this same title, how to avoid conflicts between Christians, but I'm going to show you the uselessness. Of arguing. And having internal problems, so I would encourage you to Be faithful for each of these three Sundays. Notice, if you would please, Romans chapter 14, verse 1 and 2. In fact, we'll read through verse 3.

[John Weaver] Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye, but not the doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him.

[John Weaver] Now, conflicts are inevitable simply because we're sinners. However, we need not have them as frequently as we do, nor do they necessarily need to be as complex as they are, and they would never be as complex as they are if we would simply follow the clear teachings of Scripture upon the issue. The Apostle Paul gives us many principles by which we are to conduct our lives. And you have to remember, circumstances change, feelings change, but principles never change. Principles do not have funerals. Principles do not die.

[John Weaver] When you come to the book of Romans, you have to understand that the book of Romans is basically divided into two sections. The first section, which is chapters 1 through 11, is doctrinal. The second section, which is chapter 12 through 16, is practical. And I want you to understand, I want to emphasize this point, that the apostle lays out doctrine first. And then he lays out the practical application. So what the Apostle Paul is trying to teach us is a very simple concept. And that is that practical Christian living is always based upon doctrine.

[John Weaver] Let me say this another way. It is impossible to live biblically, to live holily and godly without understanding doctrine and its applications. One of the reasons there's so much loose living today and so much ungodly conduct, even among professing Christian people, is because there's a lack of doctrinal teaching and doctrinal understanding as well as application.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold Romans 14. We're coming right back there. But look in your Bibles to 1st Peter chapter 1. I'm sorry, 1st Timothy chapter 1. And look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 3. 1 Timothy 1, and look in verse 3. Look what the apostle Paul said. I want to point this out. I've pointed it out previously, but it's very important that we get this one principle. 1 Timothy 1, verse 3, Paul writes Timothy, and he said, I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus.

[John Weaver] when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine." Literally, he is saying that they teach not heterodoxy, but orthodoxy. In other words, there's one doctrine, and that is biblical doctrine. And then he says in verse 4, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith so do.

[John Weaver] Now look at verse 5, now the end of the commandment is charity or love out of a pure heart, out of a good conscience, and a faith unfamed. Now I want you to see what the Apostle Paul tells Timothy. He said in verse 3, he was charging him that he might charge some that they teach no other doctrine. Why did he only want biblical true doctrine taught? Now, when you skip down to verse five, he says now the end of the commandment is. What commandment? Then you have to go back to verse three, the word charge, the Greek word is perigaleos, which is also translated commandment. So he's commanding Timothy to command others that they teach only biblical doctrine. When you understand that only biblical doctrine is to be taught, then you come down to verse 5. He tells you the end or the result of that commandment. He said the result of that commandment of teaching pure doctrine is charity out of a pure heart, out of a good conscience, out of faith unfeigned or unhypocritical.

[John Weaver] So to understand the true outcome of biblical doctrine, you have to turn that upside down. Real, pure, biblical doctrine produces first, an unhypocritical faith. Secondly, it produces there a good conscience. And thirdly, it produces love out of a pure heart. So, what the Apostle is teaching us here again is that if you understand biblical doctrine, if you base your life upon doctrine, biblical doctrine inevitably You're going to be living a holy, godly, obedient life. Now, I understand that there are a lot of people in churches that have made a profession of faith who are not possessors of faith. They're just there. They're lost. They're lost church members.

[John Weaver] That's all there is to it. They have never, ever been converted. However, There are an awful lot of real, genuine Christians in many churches that have just simply never been taught. They are absolutely, totally ignorant of biblical doctrine and how to apply it to their lives. You will never live a godly life without understanding doctrine. You will never live a godly life without applying that doctrine to your everyday life.

[John Weaver] Now, this is what the Apostle Paul is trying to teach us in Romans chapter 14. He's showing us the absolute importance of doctrine that is already laid out in chapters 1 through 11. And he comes to verse 1 of chapter 14, and he says, him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. Do you realize what the Bible says concerning the wicked in Romans 3 and verse 19?

[John Weaver] Let me just quote it. The Bible says the wicked does not know the way of peace. But then, on the other hand, in 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 15, the Bible teaches us that God hath called us to peace. Well, now, if God has called us to peace, we should be living in peace. And living in peace is accomplished by living biblically. OK? We have to work our way through Romans chapter 14 and observe and learn the truths that the Apostle Paul gives us that teach us how to live peaceably with others. So in verse 1 again, Paul says, him that is weak in the faith receive you but not to doubtful disputations.

[John Weaver] I only want to give you about three things today. But they are very, very important. First of all, as you look at verse one, the very first thing that you are to learn is there are degrees of faith. Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. You know, we have a tendency to think, well, saving faith is saving faith. And it is true, if one has saving faith, he is saved, period. But the Bible teaches that there are also degrees in faith. And the problem that drew the Apostle Paul's attention in Romans chapter 14 was a problem that arose because there were some who were strong in faith and some who were weak in faith and there were contentions and there were conflicts arising.

[John Weaver] And these problems and these conflicts did not arise over strong doctrinal issues like the person and work of Christ or the inspiration and veracity of Scripture, no. Rather they arose over differences of understanding and differences of enlightenment.

[John Weaver] Now, if there is a weak faith, then obviously there has to be the opposite, a strong faith. If there is a weak faith, and if there is a strong faith, then obviously there must be varying degrees of faith in between those two extremes. And of course, the Word of God teaches there are those varying degrees of faith. In fact, if you'll look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verses 19 through 21, let me show you what the Bible just says concerning Abraham, how it gives a negative and then a positive concerning his faith. Romans chapter 4, beginning there with verse 19. Watch carefully, Romans 4 verse 19, talking about Abraham and being not weak in faith, He considered not his own body now dead, when he was about 100 years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able to perform, and therefore was imputed to him for righteousness."

[John Weaver] Now I want you to note how there is a negative in verse 19 and being not weak in faith, so he was not a person with a weak faith. And then there is the positive that he was strong in faith in verse 20. So you have obviously a weak faith and a strong faith. When you look back at Romans 14 and verse 1, God says, But he that is weak in the faith receiveth you, but not to doubtful disputations." Verse 2,"...for one believeth that he may eat all things," he's the strong brother,"...another who is weak eateth herbs." So obviously there is a weak and there is a strong. If you look in Romans 15 in verse 1, we'll come back there later, but the apostle says,"...we then that are strong," ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves." Now right now I'm just trying to show you how obviously there is indeed a difference between the weak and the strong.

[John Weaver] And I will point this out. 1 Corinthians chapter 8 always also deals with this issue between the weak and the strong. And we will probably get to look at that passage at least in the third message, and just to show you the source of some of these conflicts. So now, if we understand that there is varying degrees of faith, that all men do not have the same light, nor do they have the same amount of light, nor do they have the same light or the same amount of light at the same time.

[John Weaver] If we really understand that, then we don't necessarily expect everyone to understand exactly what we do, believe exactly the way we believe, act exactly the way we act, or even talk and think the way we talk and think. In other words, there are varying degrees of faith.

[John Weaver] Now, whole Romans 14, but look in your Bibles to 1 John chapter 2. 1 John 2, and I want to just show you how clearly the Bible teaches these varying degrees of faith. Notice, if you would, 1 John 2, beginning there with verse 12. The Apostle John writes and he divides these believers into three groups. 1 John 2 and verse 12, he says, I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you fathers because you have known him, that is, from the beginning. I write unto you young men because you have overcome the wicked one, I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written unto you, because you have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because you have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one." Now, I want you to note how John divides believers.

[John Weaver] He divides them into three categories, to young children or babes, to young men and to fathers. Now everyone in this room understands that little children differ from young men. And young men differ from the fathers. We understand that the understanding and the attitude of a two-year-old child is different from the understanding and attitude of a 19-year-old young man. And we also understand that the understanding and attitude of a 50-year-old man is different from a 19-year-old young man. One does not expect a little child to act like a teenager, to talk like a teenager, to think like a teenager, and one does not expect a teenager to walk, talk, and think like someone that's 50 or 60 years of age. It's absolutely impossible.

[John Weaver] And what John is telling us right here is this. There are different degrees of understanding, different degrees of faith. It may be saving faith. You may have that childish faith or you may have the faith of a young man or you may have the faith of an old man. The childish faith is known just simply for its simplicity. You no doubt heard about the pastor, I forget which one it was now, prayed for rain because there's a drought going on as he started out the door. His little daughter, who was five or six years of age, who had prayed with him as he started out the door, she said, Father, aren't you going to carry your umbrella? I mean, that was her simple faith. We prayed for rain. You better carry your umbrella. It's going to rain. So obviously, here's the child in his simplicity. Here's the young man in his energy and his strength. And here's the father in his experience and his wisdom. So there are varying degrees of faith, varying degrees of attitudes and understandings, and I might point out that the children and the young men should always seek to be taught by the fathers.

[John Weaver] When John divides these believers into children and young men and fathers. The children are what you and I would call mere novices in Christianity. They're babes in Christ. They may understand some of the rudiments of the doctrine. They may understand some basic fundamentals of the Bible, but they don't really understand the totality of everything. The young men, as I pointed out, are noted for their zeal and their strength. They're eager to serve and they've got all kind of zeal and all kind of energy. But you notice the apostle also talks about some who have a zeal without knowledge. But young folks are known for their zeal and energy. And yet the fathers are known for their faith and their experience. They're the old heads. They're the old disciples.

[John Weaver] Luke wrote in Acts 21 verse 16. I want you to just listen. Acts 21 verse 16. Luke wrote and he said, There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one nation of Cyprus, an old disciple with whom we should lodge. He was known as an old disciple. which means probably he was a father in the faith. And it's those old, mature, and fatherly disciples that are to teach us and to lead us.

[John Weaver] So, the Apostle John makes these distinctions. Babes, young men, and fathers.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in John 21, our Lord Himself teaches this, and He's talking to Peter. Look in the book of John, chapter 21, And begin there with verse 15. John 21, verse 15. Look what our Lord says. John 21, verse 15. So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He said unto him, Yea, Lord. Thou knowest that I love thee.

[John Weaver] He, that is Christ, saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He said to him the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He said unto him, Yea, Lord. Thou knowest that I love thee. He said unto him, Feed my sheep. He said unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep.

[John Weaver] John 21, verses 15 through 17. Now, let me ask you a question. Jesus told Peter, first of all, if he loved him to feed his lambs. Then the next two times he said, if you love me, feed my sheep. Here's my question, are lambs different from sheep? And the answer is yes. They may be a sheep, but they are baby sheep. One is a baby. And in the tour.

[John Weaver] The other is an adult and mature. Let me ask you. Do you feed a baby lamb differently than you do an adult sheep? And the answer is yes. Very clearly, yes, one never expects a lamb to act like a sheep because the lamb is a baby. And there'd be something seriously wrong if a sheep begin to act like a lamb. You don't ever expect a sheep to act like a lamb. No, there's a difference. One's a child, one's an adult.

[John Weaver] They're different levels of maturity. Now, I want you to see how our Lord still emphasizes this. So turn in the book of Mark, Mark chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 28. Mark 4, verse 28. I'm just showing you there are varying degrees. Life may be there. Saving faith may be there. But there's still varying degrees. Look what our Lord says in Mark 4, verse 28.

[John Weaver] For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself, first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn, in the ear. Now, our Lord is giving us the different levels of maturity using grain or garden. Here's an example. A number of you folks have already planted your gardens. And if you put that seed in the ground. And the Lord waters it with rain. After five or six, seven or eight days, the next thing you see is that little shoot coming up out of the ground. When you see that little shoot coming up out of the ground, how many of you run out and harvest your garden at that point? Nobody. Nobody. And even when that little shoot becomes a plant and you see the blooms or the little beginning of fruit on those vegetables, how many of you run out and harvest them at that particular time? No, you don't. You wait until there's full corn in the ears. So when you look at the plant, you can tell their varying degrees, their different stages.

[John Weaver] If you and I can recognize that there are varying degrees and different stages in plant life, if we understand there's varying degrees and different stages in animal life, if we recognize and understand there are different stages in human life, babes and young people and fathers, Why cannot we understand that there are varying and different degrees of maturity in Christian people? Not everyone has the same amount of understanding. Not everyone thinks alike. Why should we therefore expect everyone to think like we think and to understand the way we think? Do you recognize the fact that there are not only differences spiritually speaking, there are differences culturally, emotionally, educationally, there are even differences among personalities. A northerner, maybe a genuine and sincere Christian, And we must receive such a one as a brother in Christ. However, there are real cultural differences between a Northerner and a Southerner. There are real cultural differences between a Westerner and an Easterner and a Southerner. In other words, we have to take all of these differences into consideration. Because all of these differences can create conflict.

[John Weaver] All my life I've been raised, if you're not 15 minutes early, you're late. Some of you folks in here just marched to the beat of a different drummer. You know, I can, hey, the way I was raised is totally different from the way you were raised. All of this can be a source of conflict. One of the major areas of which conflicts arise is what is known as Christian liberty, or over things that are indifferent.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note what the Apostle Paul said. Look back in your Bibles, Romans 14 and verse 1, and let me begin by emphasizing this. He says, him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. The question must be asked, what are we to do with those who are weak in the faith? They are often times obnoxious, temperamental, foolish, and even childish in the things of faith.

[John Weaver] What in the world are we to do with them? Well, the Apostle Paul tells us exactly what we are to do. After we recognize there are varying degrees of faith, here's the second thing, receive them. Him that is weak in the faith, receive you. In other words, we are to receive them as weaker brothers. He says we're to receive them, but not to doubtful disputations. We're to receive them and treat them exactly like they are, like brothers, like fellow believers. Now, the word receive is a very interesting word.

[John Weaver] It is pros lombano in the Greek. Pros is a preposition which means to or toward. Lombano is the verb which means I take. So it literally means to take to or toward oneself. It has the implication then of taking one and receiving one into his home with kindness, friendship, and fellowship. It also has the implication of taking one into one's heart and receiving him into his heart.

[John Weaver] The word implies a real fraternal love, affection, which is demonstrated by attitude and action. And the Apostle is telling us we must admit the weaker brethren into our society fellowship and receive them kindly, in love, and without a cold and harsh rebuke. It is very easy for you and I to receive people. That we agree with. And that we like. Or who are notable in the cause of Christ. Do you know there was a man by the name of Paphroditus who worked with the Apostle Paul? And he worked so hard.

[John Weaver] That he actually made himself sick. And the Apostle Paul had to send him back to the Philippians, and I want you to listen to what Paul wrote in Philippians 2 and verse 29. When Paul sent Epaphroditus back, he told the Philippians, receive him therefore in the Lord with gladness and hold such in reputation. Receive him in the Lord with gladness and hold such in reputation. There's not a one of us If the Apostle Paul was alive today, who would not gladly receive him into our homes? Or the Apostle Peter? Or Luke? Or Mark? Even prominent preachers today, we would receive them in our home with gladness. It's easy to receive someone that we like, someone that we agree with, or someone that is notable. Yet, it's not quite so easy to receive someone that ticks you off all the time. You know what the Apostle Paul said to Philemon?

[John Weaver] You remember, and I preached on this in the last year or so, Onesimus, the runaway slave. When the Apostle Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon, he wrote this. whom I have sinned again, thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own vows." In other words, you treat him just like you would treat me. You receive him just the way you would receive me. Paul said, Onesimus is my spiritual child. And if you love me, you will receive him exactly the same way that you would receive me. Did you know that there was one man in the Bible who was so wicked, so vile, so contemptible that one of his flagrant sins was a failing to receive the brethren?

[John Weaver] If you look in your Bibles to 3 John 1, 2, 3 John, there's only one chapter there. So I want you to look in verse 10, 3 John and verse 10. And look, if you would, what the Bible says about diatrophies. Third John, verse 10. John writes. In fact, let's read verse nine, OK, just so you can see it here. John wrote, I wrote into the church, but diatrophies who love it to have the preeminence among them receive it thus not wouldn't even receive the apostle John.

[John Weaver] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words. He lied, he slandered, he rebuked them, and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church." So here, Diocrates loved to have the preeminence. Did you know that the word preeminence only occurs two times in the New Testament? The first time it occurs is found in the book of Colossians chapter one concerning Christ. Then in all things, he might have the preeminence. Now, says Diotrephes, who loved to have preeminence. In other words, he would usurp the position of Jesus Christ. Why? Because he was forbidding those in the church to receive the brethren who would. He was acting as if he was Lord of the church. He would not even receive the Apostle John. Nor would he allow anyone else to receive the brethren as well. So what the Apostle Paul is telling us is this. We have to receive the weak brethren and treat them as true believers.

[John Weaver] We cannot deny them fellowship and we cannot deny them friendship just simply because they're weaker brethren. And I can hear some of the objections right now. Because someone can say, but you don't understand, Pastor, how childish they are, how judgmental they are, how so ignorant they are. And I just don't have the time and I just don't have the patience to answer all of their stupid questions and try to establish a friendship with them. They're always asking questions. They're always bothering me, hindering me and stopping me from serving the Lord. That's an interesting concept. You're so busy serving the Lord, you don't have time to minister to his people.

[John Weaver] You ought to ask Alice how many times I'm interrupted a day by a telephone call or by people coming out to see me. And by asking me questions that I've answered a thousand times. You know what we've forgotten? We have forgotten that the way to serve the Lord is to serve his people, to minister to his people. Hebrews 6 and verse 10, listen carefully. For God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love. And your work and your labor of love, which you have showed toward his name in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister. Did you hear that? For God is not unrighteous to forget your work And your labor of love, which you have showed toward His name in that you minister to the saints and do minister." Have you ever stopped to think that God has sent someone your way for you to teach them and for you to minister to them?

[John Weaver] And I'll tell you what I found. I found when I'm studying hard and you know, I've got a deadline and I've got to get this out and all of a sudden someone comes up or I get a phone call. And some of my phone calls are well over five minutes, usually an hour, hour and a half minimum. I found when I stop and I minister to the saints the way I should.

[John Weaver] God always aids me, God always assists me, He always helps me make up the time that I thought that I would lose by ministering to those people. He allows things to come easier, more quickly, and with less difficulty. Why? Because God is not going to be any man's debtor. And if you minister to Him by ministering to His people, however weak they are, However ignorant they are, God's always going to make it up to you.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn in your Bibles to Romans 15 and look at verse 7. And I understand the time and the patience and the work and the labor involved and ministering to weak, ignorant saints. I understand that. But look at Romans 15, verse 7. Look what the scripture says, wherefore, receive you one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

[John Weaver] Now, I have a question for you. Are you not glad that God had time to receive you in your ignorance, in your obnoxiousness, in your stubbornness, and in your sin? You weren't born perfect. And you didn't come to God through Christ perfect. You had your problems. You had your hangups. You had your idiosyncrasies. And what does he say in verse 7? Wherefore, receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God. How are we to receive each other? Exactly the way Christ received us to the honor and glory of God.

[John Weaver] He patiently, consistently drew you to himself. and convicted you and taught you. Irrespective of your childless excuses and your rebellion. In other words, he took time for you. So he tells us we have to take time for the brethren. It's just that simple. Him that is weak in the faith receive you and we're to receive each other exactly the way Christ received us to the glory of God.

[John Weaver] Now there's another aspect of receiving each other. Let me point this out. I want you to turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. And look at verse 41. Matthew 10. Verse 41.

[John Weaver] Look what he says, Matthew 10, verse 41. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. How many of God's saints are righteous? All of them. Does it matter if they're weak? Does it matter if they're strong or in between? So if we receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man. We're going to receive a righteous man's. Award. We're not going to lose our reward. If we take the time and be patient and receive them the way that we should now look in Matthew 18 in verse 5 and I want you as you turn to Matthew 18 Go ahead and turn over to Mark chapter 9 as well. Mark chapter 9, we're going right there next. I do not have time to go over all the context of these right now, but look in Matthew chapter 18 and verse 5.

[John Weaver] And our Lord said this. And who shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. Now, he took a little child here to use as an illustration, but later on, he's talking about God's children. He's talking about all of the saints. He said, and whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. So if Christ knocked on your door and wanted to come in and spend an hour or two with you and ask a few questions, would you allow him to do that? Would you stop from your busy work schedule and allow him? Sure you would.

[John Weaver] Well, what if it's a weak saint? Who just has to have some questions answered. Our Lord said, if you receive one of these little babes, you receive him.

[John Weaver] Now look in Mark chapter nine and verse thirty seven. Let's go a little further. Our Lord said it like this. Mark nine, verse thirty seven. Whoso shall receive one of such children in my name receiveth me, and whosoever shall receive me receiveth not me, but him that sent me." So our Lord says it like this, if you receive that weak child in my name, you're receiving me. And you're not just receiving me, you're receiving him that sent me, that is my Father.

[John Weaver] So we need to understand that when God sends the weaker brethren our way. Often the ones who irritate us the most. And can't see and can't understand which I'm going to deal with next week. We're to receive them and to be patient with them and to teach them and to help them. Because we're to receive them, even as Christ received us for the glory of God, the Father.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something, folks. It is hard and it is difficult to start all over. You say, what are you talking about, Preacher? You ought to visit some of the churches that I have visited. Some would say, Brother Weaver, we need you to come be our pastor. You know what I think? Oh, Lord have mercy. I don't have 40 more years to bring you folks up to speed. That's my thought. It's just like Alice and I laugh, and some of you may not think this is funny, but we get to laughing. I'm so glad I don't have to start out getting married and breaking somebody else in all over again.

[John Weaver] And she's the same way. You know, you think of playing Jennifer. Look at everything they've got to face and go through. And I'm so thankful I don't have to do all that. You know, I'm just saying. You reach a point in life when, you know, you don't want to start over. And it's difficult. It's hard. And yet, what you have to do when you have a new babe in Christ, you have to start all over.

[John Weaver] Because He's not going to understand a thing that you say if you try to talk to Him on a fatherly basis. For instance, when Clay's and Jennifer's child gets here, the first thing I want to do is hold that child in my arms and I want to teach him about covenantal theology. And I want to explain the differences between dichotomy and trichotomy and infralapsarianism and supralapsarianism. Do you think he's going to understand that? No. If I hold that child, I'll probably be saying goo goo ga ga, just like that's all he can say. So you can't start out with a child talking like a mature adult, you have to come down and put it on their level, period. I'll explain that.

[John Weaver] Notice, if you would, Romans 14, verse one, watch carefully, Romans 14, verse one. First of all, we understand there are varying degrees of faith. It's saving faith, but it's from weak to strong and everything in between.

[John Weaver] Secondly, we have to receive each other because Christ, for God's sake, has received us. And thirdly, he says in verse one, him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not the doubtful disputations. In other words, we must not argue, fight or bicker. We're not talking about major Bible doctrines. We're talking about disputations that arise over a number of things. Without endorsing C.S. Lewis, I want to give you one quote from his book, Mere Christianity. He says this, one of the things Christians are disagreed about is the importance of their disagreements. When two Christians of different denominations start arguing, it is usually not long before one asks whether such and such a point really matters. And the other replies, matter? Well, that's absolutely essential. And it's not just different denominations. It's Christians with different views on different subjects. It's absolutely amazing how you and I wish to determine for ourselves what is important and what is not important. It's interesting how we wish to determine for ourselves. What is a matter of fellowship and what is not a matter of fellowship?

[John Weaver] instead of allowing God to do so. What the Apostle Paul is teaching us in verse one is we're not to receive the weaker brethren for the purpose of telling them off, straightening them out and demanding that they grow up. That's like me walking up to a two year old child and saying, grow up, dummy. How can he? How can I expect him to go from a two-year-old to a 50-year-old instantly? It's impossible. That's like me going out to a lamb and saying, all right, by tomorrow I want you to be a sheep.

[John Weaver] It doesn't work that way. I can go to my garden all day long that Alice planted. I can go to that garden all day long and say, I want a watermelon tomorrow. It doesn't work like that. I can't demand that those plants produce. And if you and I come to a weaker brethren with a mightier than thou attitude, or you'd better listen to me, buster attitude, we're not going to help them. We're going to harm them. We're going to harden them. And we're going to drive them away in their ignorance.

[John Weaver] The Apostle Paul says, yes, we receive them, but we receive them into our company to converse, to have communion with them. to deal with them, to teach them, to help them. We treat them as brethren in Christ. We treat them as equals in Christ with all possible endearments. We're not there to quarrel. We're not there to argue. We're not there to be divisive. We're there to help and administer to them.

[John Weaver] I want you to listen to what Albert Barnes wrote on verse one of Romans 14, he said this. Do not admit him to your society for the purpose of debating the matter in an angry and harsh manner, of repelling him by denunciation, and thus by the natural reaction of such a course confirming him in his doubts. Or no, do not deal with him in such a manner as shall have a tendency to increase his scruples about meets, dates, etc. The leading idea here which all Christians should remember is that a harsh and angry denunciation of a man in relation to things not morally wrong, but where he may have honest scruples, will only tend to confirm him more and more in his doubts. To denounce and abuse him will be to confirm him. To receive him affectionately, to admit him to fellowship with us, to talk freely and kindly with him, to do him good, will have a far greater tendency to overcome his scruples.

[John Weaver] And questions which now occur about modes of dress, about measures, about means of promoting revivals, about rites and ceremonies, this is by far the wisest course. If we wish to overcome the scruples of our brethren and induce them to think as we do. In other words, he's saying we must deal with him kindly and graciously. So the Apostle Paul says, him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not for doubtful disputations. So, today you must learn, number one, there are varying degrees in faith. Number two, God demands that we receive each brother in Christ, as long as he is a brother, regardless of where he is in the faith. And thirdly, when we receive him, it's not to argue, it's not to bicker, it's not to fuss, it's not to take a mightier than thou attitude and straighten him out. No, we will teach.

[John Weaver] but we cannot impatiently demand that he grow up instantaneously. When you stop and think, how long did it take you to get where you are in your Christian faith? You didn't get there overnight, I can assure you. Wherever we are, we are there only by the grace of God. Now, let me make some applications and I want you to think with me on these. The first one is this.

[John Weaver] We must learn to receive each other and administer each other according to the stage. At which one is in his Christian life. That means there are going to be some babes, there are going to be some young men, there are going to be some fathers. Not a person in this room would go to a six-month-old baby and give him a T-bone steak for dinner.

[John Weaver] First, he couldn't chew it. Secondly, if he could swallow it, he probably could not digest it. But what you're going to give that six-month-old baby is either milk or something very soft. You're going to feed that child according to his age group. Likewise, you have to learn to minister to each Christian. To wherever he is in his Christian life, if he's a babe, if he's a young man or if he's a father.

[John Weaver] If we wish to avoid conflicts. And if we wish to live peaceably with each other, And with other saints, we have to learn to recognize the varying degrees to receive each other, but not to doubtful disputations and learn to minister to each other wherever they are in their Christian life. OK, here's the second application. Learning to receive those. With whom we are impatient and easily irritated with should be a real challenge and enable us to grow in grace.

[John Weaver] It is hard, difficult and laborious work to start at the beginning and go over everything in detail. I recently had someone at my home That we sat and discussed theology for hours till my voice was almost gone. I tried to help, I tried to teach, and there are several moments where I believe, you know, the light was beginning to break through. But did I see any fruit right then? The answer is no. No.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you about a learning experience that I had many years ago. I have taught from fourth grade all the way through college. And I remember my first year of teaching fourth grade, I had my fourth grade history book and the history book was about this thick. Three quarters of an inch at the most. And I thought, oh no. I'll be through this book in two months. Then what am I going to do for the rest of the year? Well, my first week, I covered three chapters. And I gave my first quiz to all those fourth graders. And many of them were very bright. Out of all that class, every one of them failed the quiz.

[John Weaver] And I got to thinking, well, it can't be the students because I know most of them are really genuinely smart. It's got to be the teacher. So you know what I had to do? I had to go back, start on chapter one, and then it dawned on me I'm going to have to teach chapter one for two weeks. I mean, chapter one was something I could have comprehended and covered in 15 minutes. But those fourth graders could not comprehend it in a week. All I'm trying to show you is this.

[John Weaver] There has to be an understanding. That if you're going to teach someone You have to be patient. And they're not going to get it right away. And you'll have to go over and over and over and over the same material. Until it sinks in. I'll explain that more next week. The third application of this, we will never reach other saints by thinking that we can force them, overpower them, intimidate them, and harass them into believing correctly. I hope you know that each of us, each of us is still just sinner enough that if you try to force us, we're going to show you we're not going to do it. That's a fact. That's a fact, folks. You try to make me do something. And you're going to have a hard time.

[John Weaver] Especially if I don't want to. If you asked me, I'd probably do it. But if you tried to force me, no. Same thing with believing. You try to force someone to believe something, no. Sometimes someone might say, well, all right, I yield just to get out of there. But that doesn't mean you've taught them anything. It doesn't mean that they've really embraced what you're trying to say. And we're never, ever going to get anywhere by quarreling, by bickering, by arguing. You're never going to do it.

[John Weaver] So he says, receive you one another. But not to doubtful disputations. So learn three things today. Number one, there are varying degrees of faith. Number two, we must receive every true believer no matter where he is. And number three, when we receive them, it's not to be to arguments and quarrels and bickering. It is to minister to them and to build them up in the most holy faith.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to you this day. We thank you for your love. We thank you for your mercy. And we pray that you will teach us, Father, and help us to be able to help others. and to bring them into the fullness of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, amen.

[John Weaver] You may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, Suite 705, PMD 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-0995.

[John Weaver] You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

How to Avoid Conflicts 1

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	6211734470
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace
Genre	Sermon
Date	2011-04-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 153: How to Avoid Conflicts — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	76

Formatted Transcript

Opening

Let's open our Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Romans chapter 14. Romans chapter 14. I want to bring a brief series, and I say brief, it will probably be at least three messages, maybe four, but at least three, on the subject of how to avoid conflicts between Christians. How to avoid conflicts between Christians. Obviously, today will be an introduction and we're going to cover several important points. However, next week, next Sunday, Lord willing, I want to bring a message. It's still going to be by this same title, how to avoid conflicts between Christians, but I'm going to show you the uselessness of arguing and having internal problems, so I would encourage you to be faithful for each of these three Sundays. Notice, if you would please, Romans chapter 14, verse 1 and 2. In fact, we'll read through verse 3.

"Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him."

Introduction: The Need to Avoid Conflicts

Conflicts are inevitable due to sin, but they can be minimized by following biblical principles. The series will cover how to avoid conflicts, with this message serving as an introduction.

Now, conflicts are inevitable simply because we're sinners. However, we need not have them as frequently as we do, nor do they necessarily need to be as complex as they are, and they would never be as complex as they are if we would simply follow the clear teachings of Scripture upon the issue. The Apostle Paul gives us many principles by which we are to conduct our lives. And you have to remember, circumstances change, feelings change, but principles never change. Principles do not have funerals. Principles do not die.

Doctrine as the Foundation for Practical Living

Romans is divided into doctrinal (chapters 1-11) and practical (chapters 12-16) sections. Practical Christian living must be based on doctrine; without doctrinal understanding, godly living is impossible.

When you come to the book of Romans, you have to understand that the book of Romans is basically divided into two sections. The first section, which is chapters 1 through 11, is doctrinal. The second section, which is chapter 12 through 16, is practical. And I want you to understand, I want to emphasize this point, that the apostle lays out doctrine first. And then he lays out the practical application. So what the Apostle Paul is trying to teach us is a very simple concept. And that is that practical Christian living is always based upon doctrine.

Let me say this another way. It is impossible to live biblically, to live holily and godly without understanding doctrine and its applications. One of the reasons there's so much loose living today and so much ungodly conduct, even among professing Christian people, is because there's a lack of doctrinal teaching and doctrinal understanding as well as application.

The Outcome of Pure Doctrine

From 1 Timothy 1:3-5, teaching pure doctrine produces unhypocritical faith, a good conscience, and love from a pure heart. This underscores the importance of doctrine for holy living.

when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine." Literally, he is saying that they teach not heterodoxy, but orthodoxy. In other words, there's one doctrine, and that is biblical doctrine. And then he says in verse 4, "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." Now look at verse 5, "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." Now I want you to see what the Apostle Paul tells Timothy. He said in verse 3, he was charging him that he might charge some that they teach no other doctrine. Why did he only want biblical true doctrine taught? Now, when you skip down to verse five, he says now the end of the commandment is. What commandment? Then you have to go back to verse three, the word charge, the Greek word is paraggelia, which is also translated commandment. So he's commanding Timothy to command others that they teach only biblical doctrine. When you understand that only biblical doctrine is to be taught, then you come down to verse 5. He tells you the end or the result of that commandment. He said the result of that commandment of teaching pure doctrine is charity out of a pure heart, out of a good conscience, out of faith unfeigned or unhypocritical.

So to understand the true outcome of biblical doctrine, you have to turn that upside down. Real, pure, biblical doctrine produces first, an unhypocritical faith. Secondly, it produces there a good conscience. And thirdly, it produces love out of a pure heart. So, what the Apostle is teaching us here again is that if you understand biblical doctrine, if you base your life upon doctrine, biblical doctrine inevitably you're going to be living a holy, godly, obedient life. Now, I understand that there are a lot of people in churches that have made a profession of faith who are not possessors of faith. They're just there. They're lost. They're lost church members.

Varying Degrees of Faith

Romans 14:1 introduces the concept of weak and strong faith. Scripture shows degrees of faith (e.g., Abraham in Romans 4:19-21, believers as children, young men, and fathers in 1 John 2:12-14).

I only want to give you about three things today. But they are very, very important. First of all, as you look at verse one, the very first thing that you are to learn is there are degrees of faith. "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations." You know, we have a tendency to think, well, saving faith is saving faith. And it is true, if one has saving faith, he is saved, period. But the Bible teaches that there are also degrees in faith. And the problem that drew the Apostle Paul's attention in Romans chapter 14 was a problem that arose because there were some who were strong in faith and some who were weak in faith and there were contentions and there were conflicts arising.

And these problems and these conflicts did not arise over strong doctrinal issues like the person and work of Christ or the inspiration and veracity of Scripture, no. Rather they arose over differences of understanding and differences of enlightenment. Now, if there is a weak faith, then obviously there has to be the opposite, a strong faith. If there is a weak faith, and if there is a strong faith, then obviously there must be varying degrees of faith in between those two extremes. And of course, the Word of God teaches there are those varying degrees of faith. In fact, if you'll look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verses 19 through 21, let me show you what the Bible just says concerning Abraham, how it gives a negative and then a positive concerning his faith. Romans chapter 4, beginning there with verse 19. Watch carefully, Romans 4 verse 19, talking about Abraham, "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."

Now I want you to note how there is a negative in verse 19,

Scripture Reading — Romans 4:19-21

"and being not weak in faith,"

so he was not a person with a weak faith. And then there is the positive that he was strong in faith in verse 20. So you have obviously a weak faith and a strong faith. When you look back at Romans 14 and verse 1, God says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." Verse 2, "...for one believeth that he may eat all things," he's the strong brother, "...another who is weak eateth herbs." So obviously there is a weak and there is a strong. If you look in Romans 15 in verse 1, we'll come back there later, but the apostle says, "...we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Now right now I'm just trying to show you how obviously there is indeed a difference between the weak and the strong.

And I will point this out. 1 Corinthians chapter 8 always also deals with this issue between the weak and the strong. And we will probably get to look at that passage at least in the third message, and just to show you the source of some of these conflicts. So now, if we understand that there is varying degrees of faith, that all men do not have the same light, nor do they have the same amount of light, nor do they have the same light or the same amount of light at the same time. If we really understand that, then we don't necessarily expect everyone to understand exactly what we do, believe exactly the way we believe, act exactly the way we act, or even talk and think the way we talk and think. In other words, there are varying degrees of faith.

Now, hold Romans 14, but look in your Bibles to 1 John chapter 2. 1 John 2, and I want to just show you how clearly the Bible teaches these varying degrees of faith. Notice, if you would, 1 John 2, beginning there with verse 12. The Apostle John writes and he divides these believers into three groups. 1 John 2 and verse 12, he says, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." Now, I want you to note how John divides believers.

He divides them into three categories, to young children or babes, to young men and to fathers. Now everyone in this room understands that little children differ from young men. And young men differ from the fathers. We understand that the understanding and the attitude of a two-year-old child is different from the understanding and attitude of a 19-year-old young man. And we also understand that the understanding and attitude of a 50-year-old man is different from a 19-year-old young man. One does not expect a little child to act like a teenager, to talk like a teenager, to think like a teenager, and one does not expect a teenager to walk, talk, and think like someone that's 50 or 60 years of age. It's absolutely impossible.

Illustrations of Spiritual Maturity

Jesus' command to feed lambs and sheep (John 21:15-17) and the parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:28) illustrate different levels of spiritual maturity. Believers should not expect uniform understanding.

"He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

John 21, verses 15 through 17. Now, let me ask you a question. Jesus told Peter, first of all, if he loved him to feed his lambs. Then the next two times he said, if you love me, feed my sheep. Here's my question, are lambs different from sheep? And the answer is yes. They may be a sheep, but they are baby sheep. One is a baby.

The other is an adult and mature. Let me ask you. Do you feed a baby lamb differently than you do an adult sheep? And the answer is yes. Very clearly, yes, one never expects a lamb to act like a sheep because the lamb is a baby. And there'd be something seriously wrong if a sheep begin to act like a lamb. You don't ever expect a sheep to act like a lamb. No, there's a difference. One's a child, one's an adult.

They're different levels of maturity. Now, I want you to see how our Lord still emphasizes this. So turn in the book of Mark, Mark chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 28. Mark 4, verse 28. I'm just showing you there are varying degrees. Life may be there. Saving faith may be there. But there's still varying degrees. Look what our Lord says in Mark 4, verse 28.

"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Now, our Lord is giving us the different levels of maturity using grain or garden. Here's an example. A number of you folks have already planted your gardens. And if you put that seed in the ground. And the Lord waters it with rain. After five or six, seven or eight days, the next thing you see is that little shoot coming up out of the ground. When you see that little shoot coming up out of the ground, how many of you run out and harvest your garden at that point? Nobody. Nobody. And even when that little shoot becomes a plant and you see the blooms or the little beginning of fruit on those vegetables, how many of you run out and harvest them at that particular time? No, you don't. You wait until there's full corn in the ears. So when you look at the plant, you can tell their varying degrees, their different stages.

Receiving the Weak in Faith

Romans 14:1 commands believers to receive the weak without quarreling. 'Receive' (proslambano) means to take to oneself with kindness and fellowship, treating them as true brothers.

Now, I want you to note what the Apostle Paul said. Look back in your Bibles, Romans 14 and verse 1, and let me begin by emphasizing this. He says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations." The question must be asked, what are we to do with those who are weak in the faith? They are often times obnoxious, temperamental, foolish, and even childish in the things of faith. What in the world are we to do with them? Well, the Apostle Paul tells us exactly what we are to do. After we recognize there are varying degrees of faith, here's the second thing, receive them. "Him that is weak in the faith, receive you." In other words, we are to receive them as weaker brothers. He says we're to receive them, but not to doubtful disputations. We're to receive them and treat them exactly like they are, like brothers, like fellow believers. Now, the word receive is a very interesting word.

It is proslambano in the Greek. Pros is a preposition which means to or toward. Lambano is the verb which means I take. So it literally means to take to or toward oneself. It has the implication then of taking one and receiving one into his home with kindness, friendship, and fellowship. It also has the implication of taking one into one's heart and receiving him into his heart. The word implies a real fraternal love, affection, which is demonstrated by attitude and action. And the Apostle is telling us we must admit the weaker brethren into our society fellowship and receive them kindly, in love, and without a cold and harsh rebuke. It is very easy for you and I to receive people that we agree with and that we like or who are notable in the cause of Christ. Do you know there was a man by the name of Epaphroditus who worked with the Apostle Paul? And he worked so hard

Receiving as Christ Received Us

Romans 15:7 calls believers to receive one another as Christ received us—patiently and graciously. Ministering to the saints is serving the Lord, and God rewards such service (Hebrews 6:10).

Now, I have a question for you. Are you not glad that God had time to receive you in your ignorance, in your obnoxiousness, in your stubbornness, and in your sin? You weren't born perfect. And you didn't come to God through Christ perfect. You had your problems. You had your hangups. You had your idiosyncrasies. And what does he say in verse 7? "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God." How are we to receive each other? Exactly the way Christ received us to the honor and glory of God.

He patiently, consistently drew you to himself and convicted you and taught you. Irrespective of your childish excuses and your rebellion. In other words, he took time for you. So he tells us we have to take time for the brethren. It's just that simple. "Him that is weak in the faith receive you" and we're to receive each other exactly the way Christ received us to the glory of God.

Now there's another aspect of receiving each other. Let me point this out. I want you to turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. And look at verse 41. Matthew 10. Verse 41.

Receiving Without Arguing

The command 'not to doubtful disputations' means we must not receive weaker brethren to argue or force them to mature instantly. Instead, we are to teach patiently, as with children or plants.

Secondly, we have to receive each other because Christ, for God's sake, has received us. And thirdly, he says in verse one, "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations." In other words, we must not argue, fight or bicker. We're not talking about major Bible doctrines. We're talking about disputations that arise over a number of things. Without endorsing C.S. Lewis, I want to give you one quote from his book, Mere Christianity. He says this, "One of the things Christians are disagreed about is the importance of their disagreements. When two Christians of different denominations start arguing, it is usually not long before one asks whether such and such a point really matters. And the other replies, 'Matter? Well, that's absolutely essential.'" And it's not just different denominations. It's Christians with different views on different subjects. It's absolutely amazing how you and I wish to determine for ourselves what is important and what is not important. It's interesting how we wish to determine for ourselves what is a matter of fellowship and what is not a matter of fellowship,

instead of allowing God to do so. What the Apostle Paul is teaching us in verse one is we're not to receive the weaker brethren for the purpose of telling them off, straightening them out and demanding that they grow up. That's like me walking up to a two year old child and saying, grow up, dummy. How can he? How can I expect him to go from a two-year-old to a 50-year-old instantly? It's impossible. That's like me going out to a lamb and saying, all right, by tomorrow I want you to be a sheep.

It doesn't work that way. I can go to my garden all day long that Alice planted. I can go to that garden all day long and say, I want a watermelon tomorrow. It doesn't work like that. I can't demand that those plants produce. And if you and I come to a weaker brethren with a mightier than thou attitude, or you'd better listen to me, buster attitude, we're not going to help them. We're going to harm them. We're going to harden them. And we're going to drive them away in their ignorance.

Applications for Peaceful Relationships

Applications include ministering according to spiritual stage, growing in grace through patience with the irritating, and avoiding force or intimidation in teaching. True reception builds up in love.

We must learn to receive each other and administer each other according to the stage at which one is in his Christian life. That means there are going to be some babes, there are going to be some young men, there are going to be some fathers. Not a person in this room would go to a six-month-old baby and give him a T-bone steak for dinner. First, he couldn't chew it. Secondly, if he could swallow it, he probably could not digest it. But what you're going to give that six-month-old baby is either milk or something very soft. You're going to feed that child according to his age group. Likewise, you have to learn to minister to each Christian to wherever he is in his Christian life, if he's a babe, if he's a young man or if he's a father.

If we wish to avoid conflicts and if we wish to live peaceably with each other and with other saints, we have to learn to recognize the varying degrees to receive each other, but not to doubtful disputations and learn to minister to each other wherever they are in their Christian life. OK, here's the second application. Learning to receive those with whom we are impatient and easily irritated with should be a real challenge and enable us to grow in grace. It is hard, difficult and laborious work to start at the beginning and go over everything in detail. I recently had someone at my home that we sat and discussed theology for hours till my voice was almost gone. I tried to help, I tried to teach, and there are several moments where I believe, you know, the light was beginning to break through. But did I see any fruit right then? The answer is no. No.

Let me tell you about a learning experience that I had many years ago. I have taught from fourth grade all the way through college. And I remember my first year of teaching fourth grade, I had my fourth grade history book and the history book was about this thick. Three quarters of an inch at the most. And I thought, oh no. I'll be through this book in two months. Then what am I going to do for the rest of the year? Well, my first week, I covered three chapters. And I gave my first quiz to all those fourth graders. And many of them were very bright. Out of all that class, every one of them failed the quiz.

And I got to thinking, well, it can't be the students because I know most of them are really genuinely smart. It's got to be the teacher. So you know what I had to do? I had to go back, start on chapter one, and then it dawned on me I'm going to have to teach chapter one for two weeks. I mean, chapter one was something I could have comprehended and covered in 15 minutes. But those fourth graders could not comprehend it in a week. All I'm trying to show you is this.

There has to be an understanding that if you're going to teach someone, you have to be patient. And they're not going to get it right away. And you'll have to go over and over and over and over the same material until it sinks in. I'll explain that more next week. The third application of this, we will never reach other saints by thinking that we can force them, overpower them, intimidate them, and harass them into believing correctly. I hope you know that each of us, each of us is still just sinner enough that if you try to force us, we're going to show you we're not going to do it. That's a fact. That's a fact, folks. You try to make me do something. And you're going to have a hard time.

Especially if I don't want to. If you asked me, I'd probably do it. But if you tried to force me, no. Same thing with believing. You try to force someone to believe something, no. Sometimes someone might say, well, all right, I yield just to get out of there. But that doesn't mean you've taught them anything. It doesn't mean that they've really embraced what you're trying to say. And we're never, ever going to get anywhere by quarreling, by bickering, by arguing. You're never going to do it.

So he says, receive you one another. But not to doubtful disputations. So learn three things today. Number one, there are varying degrees of faith. Number two, we must receive every true believer no matter where he is. And number three, when we receive them, it's not to be to arguments and quarrels and bickering. It is to minister to them and to build them up in the most holy faith.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Doctrine as the Basis for Christian Living

Summary: Practical Christian living must be grounded in biblical doctrine; without it, godly conduct is impossible.

Evidence: The Apostle Paul lays out doctrine first (Romans 1-11) and then practical application (Romans 12-16). 1 Timothy 1:3-5 shows that pure doctrine produces love, a good conscience, and unhypocritical faith.

Varying Degrees of Faith and Maturity

Summary: Believers have different levels of faith and understanding, from weak to strong, and should be treated accordingly.

Evidence: Romans 14:1-2 mentions the weak and strong. 1 John 2:12-14 divides believers into children, young men, and fathers. John 21:15-17 and Mark 4:28 illustrate different stages of growth.

Receiving Weaker Brethren with Love

Summary: Christians are commanded to receive those weak in faith with kindness and fellowship, not for arguments.

Evidence: Romans 14:1 says 'receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.' The Greek word proslambano implies taking to oneself with affection. Romans 15:7 commands receiving as Christ received us.

Patience in Ministering to the Immature

Summary: Spiritual growth takes time; believers must patiently teach and not demand instant maturity.

Evidence: Illustrations of feeding lambs vs. sheep, plant growth stages, and the teacher's experience with fourth graders show that understanding develops gradually.

Avoiding Arguments over Disputable Matters

Summary: Conflicts often arise over non-essential issues; believers should not quarrel but build each other up.

Evidence: Romans 14:1 warns against 'doubtful disputations.' Albert Barnes is quoted: harsh denunciation confirms doubts; kind reception overcomes scruples.

Key Arguments

Doctrine Precedes Practice

Summary: Paul structures Romans to teach that right living flows from right doctrine; ignorance of doctrine leads to ungodly conduct.

Evidence: Romans is divided into doctrinal (ch.1-11) and practical (ch.12-16) sections. 1 Timothy 1:3-5 shows the end of the commandment to teach pure doctrine is love from a pure heart.

Faith Has Degrees

Summary: Saving faith exists in varying strengths; believers are at different stages of maturity, which must be recognized to avoid conflict.

Evidence: Romans 14:1 mentions 'weak in the faith.' Romans 4:19-21 describes Abraham as 'strong in faith.' 1 John 2:12-14 categorizes believers as children, young men, and fathers.

Receive the Weak as Brothers

Summary: The command to 'receive' means to welcome weaker believers into fellowship with love, not to reject or despise them.

Evidence: Romans 14:1 says 'receive ye.' The Greek proslambano means to take to oneself with kindness. Diotrephes in 3 John 1:9-10 is condemned for not receiving the brethren.

Receiving Reflects Christ's Reception of Us

Summary: We are to receive others as Christ received us—patiently, despite our ignorance and sin—for God's glory.

Evidence: Romans 15:7: 'receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.' Hebrews 6:10 shows God remembers our ministry to the saints.

Reception Is Not for Arguments

Summary: We must not receive weaker brethren to quarrel or force them to mature; instead, we are to teach patiently and build them up.

Evidence: Romans 14:1 says 'not to doubtful disputations.' The illustration of demanding a two-year-old to grow up shows the futility of forcing maturity.

Scripture References

Romans 14:1-3

Context: The primary text for the sermon, introducing the weak and strong in faith and the command to receive without disputing.

1 Timothy 1:3-5

Context: Used to show that teaching pure doctrine produces love, a good conscience, and unhypocritical faith.

Romans 3:19

Context: Quoted to contrast the wicked who do not know the way of peace with God's call to peace.

1 Corinthians 7:15

Context: Cited to affirm that God has called us to peace.

Romans 4:19-21

Context: Demonstrates Abraham's strong faith, contrasting with weak faith.

Romans 15:1

Context: Mentions the strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, reinforcing the distinction.

1 John 2:12-14

Context: Shows three categories of believers: little children, young men, and fathers, illustrating varying maturity.

Acts 21:16

Context: References Mnason, an old disciple, as an example of a father in the faith.

John 21:15-17

Context: Jesus' command to feed lambs and sheep illustrates different levels of spiritual maturity.

Mark 4:28

Context: The parable of the growing seed shows stages of growth: blade, ear, full corn.

Philippians 2:29

Context: Paul instructs the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus with gladness, illustrating how to receive notable believers.

Philemon 1:12

Context: Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself.

3 John 1:9-10

Context: Diotrephes is condemned for not receiving the brethren, showing the sin of refusing fellowship.

Hebrews 6:10

Context: God remembers the work of ministering to the saints, encouraging reception of weaker believers.

Romans 15:7

Context: Commands believers to receive one another as Christ received us, to the glory of God.

Matthew 10:41

Context: Receiving a righteous man brings a righteous man's reward, encouraging reception of all believers.

Matthew 18:5

Context: Receiving a little child in Jesus' name is receiving Christ, applied to receiving weak believers.

Mark 9:37

Context: Receiving a child in Jesus' name is receiving Christ and the Father, emphasizing the importance of receiving the weak.

Historical References

Albert Barnes' commentary on Romans 14:1

Context: Quoted to support the idea that harsh denunciation confirms doubts, while kind reception overcomes scruples.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Context: Quoted to illustrate how Christians disagree about the importance of their disagreements, often leading to arguments.

Important Quotes

Principles do not have funerals. Principles do not die.

Significance: Emphasizes the enduring nature of biblical principles over changing circumstances and feelings.

It is impossible to live biblically, to live holily and godly without understanding doctrine and its applications.

Significance: Highlights the foundational role of doctrine in practical Christian living.

Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations.

Significance: The key verse of the sermon, commanding reception of the weak without arguing.

Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Significance: The standard for receiving others: as Christ received us, patiently and graciously.

We have forgotten that the way to serve the Lord is to serve his people, to minister to his people.

Significance: Corrects the misconception that serving the Lord is separate from ministering to fellow believers.

Discussion Questions

How does the structure of Romans (doctrine first, then practice) challenge the way we approach Christian living?

Context: The sermon emphasizes that practical living must be based on doctrine (Romans 1-11 before 12-16).

In what ways do we fail to recognize varying degrees of faith among believers, and how does that lead to conflict?

Context: The sermon explains that believers are at different stages (children, young men, fathers) and we often expect uniformity.

What does it practically mean to 'receive' a weaker brother or sister without 'doubtful disputations'?

Context: The command in Romans 14:1 is to welcome with love, not to argue or force maturity.

How can we cultivate patience when ministering to those who are spiritually immature or irritating?

Context: The sermon uses illustrations of lambs, plants, and teaching fourth graders to show the need for patience.

Why is it difficult to receive those who are different from us culturally, emotionally, or educationally, and how can we overcome that?

Context: The sermon notes that differences in background can create conflict, but we must still receive one another.

How does remembering that Christ received us in our ignorance and sin change our attitude toward weaker believers?

Context: Romans 15:7 calls us to receive as Christ received us, which should humble us.

Applications

Minister According to Spiritual Stage

Summary: We must learn to receive and minister to each believer according to their level of maturity, just as we feed a baby milk, not steak.

Evidence: The sermon applies the categories of children, young men, and fathers to how we teach and care for others, using the analogy of feeding a six-month-old.

Grow in Grace Through Patience

Summary: Learning to receive those who irritate us should challenge us to grow in grace, as it is difficult but rewarding work.

Evidence: The preacher shares his experience of teaching theology for hours without immediate fruit, and the fourth-grade teaching story illustrates the need for patience.

Avoid Force and Intimidation

Summary: We will never reach other saints by forcing, overpowering, or harassing them into correct belief; such methods harden rather than help.

Evidence: The sermon states that trying to force someone to believe something only provokes resistance, and we must not quarrel or bicker.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T15:22:08Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T04:41:18Z

Clean Transcript

How to Avoid Conflicts 1

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Let's open our Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Romans chapter 14. Romans chapter 14. I want to bring a brief series, and I say brief, it will probably be at least three messages, maybe four, but at least three, on the subject of how to avoid conflicts between Christians. How to avoid conflicts between Christians. Obviously, today will be an introduction and we're going to cover several important points. However, next week, next Sunday, Lord willing, I want to bring a message. It's still going to be by this same title, how to avoid conflicts between Christians, but I'm going to show you the uselessness of arguing and having internal problems, so I would encourage you to be faithful for each of these three Sundays. Notice, if you would please, Romans chapter 14, verse 1 and 2. In fact, we'll read through verse 3.
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"Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him."
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Now, conflicts are inevitable simply because we're sinners. However, we need not have them as frequently as we do, nor do they necessarily need to be as complex as they are, and they would never be as complex as they are if we would simply follow the clear teachings of Scripture upon the issue. The Apostle Paul gives us many principles by which we are to conduct our lives. And you have to remember, circumstances change, feelings change, but principles never change. Principles do not have funerals. Principles do not die.
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When you come to the book of Romans, you have to understand that the book of Romans is basically divided into two sections. The first section, which is chapters 1 through 11, is doctrinal. The second section, which is chapter 12 through 16, is practical. And I want you to understand, I want to emphasize this point, that the apostle lays out doctrine first. And then he lays out the practical application. So what the Apostle Paul is trying to teach us is a very simple concept. And that is that practical Christian living is always based upon doctrine.
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Let me say this another way. It is impossible to live biblically, to live holily and godly without understanding doctrine and its applications. One of the reasons there's so much loose living today and so much ungodly conduct, even among professing Christian people, is because there's a lack of doctrinal teaching and doctrinal understanding as well as application.
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Now, I want you to hold Romans 14. We're coming right back there. But look in your Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 1. And look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 3. 1 Timothy 1, and look in verse 3. Look what the apostle Paul said. I want to point this out. I've pointed it out previously, but it's very important that we get this one principle. 1 Timothy 1, verse 3, Paul writes Timothy, and he said, "I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus,
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when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine." Literally, he is saying that they teach not heterodoxy, but orthodoxy. In other words, there's one doctrine, and that is biblical doctrine. And then he says in verse 4, "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do."
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Now look at verse 5, "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." Now I want you to see what the Apostle Paul tells Timothy. He said in verse 3, he was charging him that he might charge some that they teach no other doctrine. Why did he only want biblical true doctrine taught? Now, when you skip down to verse five, he says now the end of the commandment is. What commandment? Then you have to go back to verse three, the word charge, the Greek word is paraggelia, which is also translated commandment. So he's commanding Timothy to command others that they teach only biblical doctrine. When you understand that only biblical doctrine is to be taught, then you come down to verse 5. He tells you the end or the result of that commandment. He said the result of that commandment of teaching pure doctrine is charity out of a pure heart, out of a good conscience, out of faith unfeigned or unhypocritical.
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So to understand the true outcome of biblical doctrine, you have to turn that upside down. Real, pure, biblical doctrine produces first, an unhypocritical faith. Secondly, it produces there a good conscience. And thirdly, it produces love out of a pure heart. So, what the Apostle is teaching us here again is that if you understand biblical doctrine, if you base your life upon doctrine, biblical doctrine inevitably you're going to be living a holy, godly, obedient life. Now, I understand that there are a lot of people in churches that have made a profession of faith who are not possessors of faith. They're just there. They're lost. They're lost church members.
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That's all there is to it. They have never, ever been converted. However, there are an awful lot of real, genuine Christians in many churches that have just simply never been taught. They are absolutely, totally ignorant of biblical doctrine and how to apply it to their lives. You will never live a godly life without understanding doctrine. You will never live a godly life without applying that doctrine to your everyday life.
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Now, this is what the Apostle Paul is trying to teach us in Romans chapter 14. He's showing us the absolute importance of doctrine that is already laid out in chapters 1 through 11. And he comes to verse 1 of chapter 14, and he says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations." Do you realize what the Bible says concerning the wicked in Romans 3 and verse 19?
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Let me just quote it. The Bible says the wicked does not know the way of peace. But then, on the other hand, in 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 15, the Bible teaches us that God hath called us to peace. Well, now, if God has called us to peace, we should be living in peace. And living in peace is accomplished by living biblically. OK? We have to work our way through Romans chapter 14 and observe and learn the truths that the Apostle Paul gives us that teach us how to live peaceably with others. So in verse 1 again, Paul says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive you but not to doubtful disputations."
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I only want to give you about three things today. But they are very, very important. First of all, as you look at verse one, the very first thing that you are to learn is there are degrees of faith. "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations." You know, we have a tendency to think, well, saving faith is saving faith. And it is true, if one has saving faith, he is saved, period. But the Bible teaches that there are also degrees in faith. And the problem that drew the Apostle Paul's attention in Romans chapter 14 was a problem that arose because there were some who were strong in faith and some who were weak in faith and there were contentions and there were conflicts arising.
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And these problems and these conflicts did not arise over strong doctrinal issues like the person and work of Christ or the inspiration and veracity of Scripture, no. Rather they arose over differences of understanding and differences of enlightenment.
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Now, if there is a weak faith, then obviously there has to be the opposite, a strong faith. If there is a weak faith, and if there is a strong faith, then obviously there must be varying degrees of faith in between those two extremes. And of course, the Word of God teaches there are those varying degrees of faith. In fact, if you'll look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verses 19 through 21, let me show you what the Bible just says concerning Abraham, how it gives a negative and then a positive concerning his faith. Romans chapter 4, beginning there with verse 19. Watch carefully, Romans 4 verse 19, talking about Abraham, "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."
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Now I want you to note how there is a negative in verse 19, "and being not weak in faith," so he was not a person with a weak faith. And then there is the positive that he was strong in faith in verse 20. So you have obviously a weak faith and a strong faith. When you look back at Romans 14 and verse 1, God says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." Verse 2, "...for one believeth that he may eat all things," he's the strong brother, "...another who is weak eateth herbs." So obviously there is a weak and there is a strong. If you look in Romans 15 in verse 1, we'll come back there later, but the apostle says, "...we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Now right now I'm just trying to show you how obviously there is indeed a difference between the weak and the strong.
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And I will point this out. 1 Corinthians chapter 8 always also deals with this issue between the weak and the strong. And we will probably get to look at that passage at least in the third message, and just to show you the source of some of these conflicts. So now, if we understand that there is varying degrees of faith, that all men do not have the same light, nor do they have the same amount of light, nor do they have the same light or the same amount of light at the same time.
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If we really understand that, then we don't necessarily expect everyone to understand exactly what we do, believe exactly the way we believe, act exactly the way we act, or even talk and think the way we talk and think. In other words, there are varying degrees of faith.
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Now, hold Romans 14, but look in your Bibles to 1 John chapter 2. 1 John 2, and I want to just show you how clearly the Bible teaches these varying degrees of faith. Notice, if you would, 1 John 2, beginning there with verse 12. The Apostle John writes and he divides these believers into three groups. 1 John 2 and verse 12, he says, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." Now, I want you to note how John divides believers.
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He divides them into three categories, to young children or babes, to young men and to fathers. Now everyone in this room understands that little children differ from young men. And young men differ from the fathers. We understand that the understanding and the attitude of a two-year-old child is different from the understanding and attitude of a 19-year-old young man. And we also understand that the understanding and attitude of a 50-year-old man is different from a 19-year-old young man. One does not expect a little child to act like a teenager, to talk like a teenager, to think like a teenager, and one does not expect a teenager to walk, talk, and think like someone that's 50 or 60 years of age. It's absolutely impossible.
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And what John is telling us right here is this. There are different degrees of understanding, different degrees of faith. It may be saving faith. You may have that childish faith or you may have the faith of a young man or you may have the faith of an old man. The childish faith is known just simply for its simplicity. You no doubt heard about the pastor, I forget which one it was now, prayed for rain because there's a drought going on as he started out the door. His little daughter, who was five or six years of age, who had prayed with him as he started out the door, she said, "Father, aren't you going to carry your umbrella?" I mean, that was her simple faith. We prayed for rain. You better carry your umbrella. It's going to rain. So obviously, here's the child in his simplicity. Here's the young man in his energy and his strength. And here's the father in his experience and his wisdom. So there are varying degrees of faith, varying degrees of attitudes and understandings, and I might point out that the children and the young men should always seek to be taught by the fathers.
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When John divides these believers into children and young men and fathers. The children are what you and I would call mere novices in Christianity. They're babes in Christ. They may understand some of the rudiments of the doctrine. They may understand some basic fundamentals of the Bible, but they don't really understand the totality of everything. The young men, as I pointed out, are noted for their zeal and their strength. They're eager to serve and they've got all kind of zeal and all kind of energy. But you notice the apostle also talks about some who have a zeal without knowledge. But young folks are known for their zeal and energy. And yet the fathers are known for their faith and their experience. They're the old heads. They're the old disciples.
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Luke wrote in Acts 21 verse 16. I want you to just listen. Acts 21 verse 16. Luke wrote and he said, "There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge." He was known as an old disciple, which means probably he was a father in the faith. And it's those old, mature, and fatherly disciples that are to teach us and to lead us.
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So, the Apostle John makes these distinctions. Babes, young men, and fathers.
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Now, if you look in John 21, our Lord Himself teaches this, and He's talking to Peter. Look in the book of John, chapter 21, and begin there with verse 15. John 21, verse 15. Look what our Lord says. John 21, verse 15. "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee."
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"He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
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John 21, verses 15 through 17. Now, let me ask you a question. Jesus told Peter, first of all, if he loved him to feed his lambs. Then the next two times he said, if you love me, feed my sheep. Here's my question, are lambs different from sheep? And the answer is yes. They may be a sheep, but they are baby sheep. One is a baby.
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The other is an adult and mature. Let me ask you. Do you feed a baby lamb differently than you do an adult sheep? And the answer is yes. Very clearly, yes, one never expects a lamb to act like a sheep because the lamb is a baby. And there'd be something seriously wrong if a sheep begin to act like a lamb. You don't ever expect a sheep to act like a lamb. No, there's a difference. One's a child, one's an adult.
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They're different levels of maturity. Now, I want you to see how our Lord still emphasizes this. So turn in the book of Mark, Mark chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 28. Mark 4, verse 28. I'm just showing you there are varying degrees. Life may be there. Saving faith may be there. But there's still varying degrees. Look what our Lord says in Mark 4, verse 28.
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"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Now, our Lord is giving us the different levels of maturity using grain or garden. Here's an example. A number of you folks have already planted your gardens. And if you put that seed in the ground. And the Lord waters it with rain. After five or six, seven or eight days, the next thing you see is that little shoot coming up out of the ground. When you see that little shoot coming up out of the ground, how many of you run out and harvest your garden at that point? Nobody. Nobody. And even when that little shoot becomes a plant and you see the blooms or the little beginning of fruit on those vegetables, how many of you run out and harvest them at that particular time? No, you don't. You wait until there's full corn in the ears. So when you look at the plant, you can tell their varying degrees, their different stages.
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If you and I can recognize that there are varying degrees and different stages in plant life, if we understand there's varying degrees and different stages in animal life, if we recognize and understand there are different stages in human life, babes and young people and fathers, why cannot we understand that there are varying and different degrees of maturity in Christian people? Not everyone has the same amount of understanding. Not everyone thinks alike. Why should we therefore expect everyone to think like we think and to understand the way we think? Do you recognize the fact that there are not only differences spiritually speaking, there are differences culturally, emotionally, educationally, there are even differences among personalities. A northerner, maybe a genuine and sincere Christian, and we must receive such a one as a brother in Christ. However, there are real cultural differences between a Northerner and a Southerner. There are real cultural differences between a Westerner and an Easterner and a Southerner. In other words, we have to take all of these differences into consideration. Because all of these differences can create conflict.
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All my life I've been raised, if you're not 15 minutes early, you're late. Some of you folks in here just march to the beat of a different drummer. You know, I can, hey, the way I was raised is totally different from the way you were raised. All of this can be a source of conflict. One of the major areas of which conflicts arise is what is known as Christian liberty, or over things that are indifferent.
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Now, I want you to note what the Apostle Paul said. Look back in your Bibles, Romans 14 and verse 1, and let me begin by emphasizing this. He says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations." The question must be asked, what are we to do with those who are weak in the faith? They are often times obnoxious, temperamental, foolish, and even childish in the things of faith.
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What in the world are we to do with them? Well, the Apostle Paul tells us exactly what we are to do. After we recognize there are varying degrees of faith, here's the second thing, receive them. "Him that is weak in the faith, receive you." In other words, we are to receive them as weaker brothers. He says we're to receive them, but not to doubtful disputations. We're to receive them and treat them exactly like they are, like brothers, like fellow believers. Now, the word receive is a very interesting word.
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It is proslambano in the Greek. Pros is a preposition which means to or toward. Lambano is the verb which means I take. So it literally means to take to or toward oneself. It has the implication then of taking one and receiving one into his home with kindness, friendship, and fellowship. It also has the implication of taking one into one's heart and receiving him into his heart.
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The word implies a real fraternal love, affection, which is demonstrated by attitude and action. And the Apostle is telling us we must admit the weaker brethren into our society fellowship and receive them kindly, in love, and without a cold and harsh rebuke. It is very easy for you and I to receive people that we agree with and that we like or who are notable in the cause of Christ. Do you know there was a man by the name of Epaphroditus who worked with the Apostle Paul? And he worked so hard
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that he actually made himself sick. And the Apostle Paul had to send him back to the Philippians, and I want you to listen to what Paul wrote in Philippians 2 and verse 29. When Paul sent Epaphroditus back, he told the Philippians, "Receive him therefore in the Lord with gladness; and hold such in reputation." Receive him in the Lord with gladness and hold such in reputation. There's not a one of us, if the Apostle Paul was alive today, who would not gladly receive him into our homes? Or the Apostle Peter? Or Luke? Or Mark? Even prominent preachers today, we would receive them in our home with gladness. It's easy to receive someone that we like, someone that we agree with, or someone that is notable. Yet, it's not quite so easy to receive someone that ticks you off all the time. You know what the Apostle Paul said to Philemon?
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You remember, and I preached on this in the last year or so, Onesimus, the runaway slave. When the Apostle Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon, he wrote this: "Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels." In other words, you treat him just like you would treat me. You receive him just the way you would receive me. Paul said, Onesimus is my spiritual child. And if you love me, you will receive him exactly the same way that you would receive me. Did you know that there was one man in the Bible who was so wicked, so vile, so contemptible that one of his flagrant sins was a failing to receive the brethren?
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If you look in your Bibles to 3 John, there's only one chapter there. So I want you to look in verse 10, 3 John and verse 10. And look, if you would, what the Bible says about Diotrephes. Third John, verse 10. John writes. In fact, let's read verse nine, OK, just so you can see it here. John wrote, "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not." Wouldn't even receive the apostle John.
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"Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church." So here, Diotrephes loved to have the preeminence. Did you know that the word preeminence only occurs two times in the New Testament? The first time it occurs is found in the book of Colossians chapter one concerning Christ. "That in all things he might have the preeminence." Now, says Diotrephes, who loved to have preeminence. In other words, he would usurp the position of Jesus Christ. Why? Because he was forbidding those in the church to receive the brethren who would. He was acting as if he was Lord of the church. He would not even receive the Apostle John. Nor would he allow anyone else to receive the brethren as well. So what the Apostle Paul is telling us is this. We have to receive the weak brethren and treat them as true believers.
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We cannot deny them fellowship and we cannot deny them friendship just simply because they're weaker brethren. And I can hear some of the objections right now. Because someone can say, but you don't understand, Pastor, how childish they are, how judgmental they are, how so ignorant they are. And I just don't have the time and I just don't have the patience to answer all of their stupid questions and try to establish a friendship with them. They're always asking questions. They're always bothering me, hindering me and stopping me from serving the Lord. That's an interesting concept. You're so busy serving the Lord, you don't have time to minister to his people.
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You ought to ask Alice how many times I'm interrupted a day by a telephone call or by people coming out to see me. And by asking me questions that I've answered a thousand times. You know what we've forgotten? We have forgotten that the way to serve the Lord is to serve his people, to minister to his people. Hebrews 6 and verse 10, listen carefully. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." Did you hear that? "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." Have you ever stopped to think that God has sent someone your way for you to teach them and for you to minister to them?
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And I'll tell you what I found. I found when I'm studying hard and you know, I've got a deadline and I've got to get this out and all of a sudden someone comes up or I get a phone call. And some of my phone calls are well over five minutes, usually an hour, hour and a half minimum. I found when I stop and I minister to the saints the way I should,
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God always aids me, God always assists me, He always helps me make up the time that I thought that I would lose by ministering to those people. He allows things to come easier, more quickly, and with less difficulty. Why? Because God is not going to be any man's debtor. And if you minister to Him by ministering to His people, however weak they are, however ignorant they are, God's always going to make it up to you.
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I want you to turn in your Bibles to Romans 15 and look at verse 7. And I understand the time and the patience and the work and the labor involved in ministering to weak, ignorant saints. I understand that. But look at Romans 15, verse 7. Look what the scripture says, "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."
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Now, I have a question for you. Are you not glad that God had time to receive you in your ignorance, in your obnoxiousness, in your stubbornness, and in your sin? You weren't born perfect. And you didn't come to God through Christ perfect. You had your problems. You had your hangups. You had your idiosyncrasies. And what does he say in verse 7? "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God." How are we to receive each other? Exactly the way Christ received us to the honor and glory of God.
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He patiently, consistently drew you to himself and convicted you and taught you. Irrespective of your childish excuses and your rebellion. In other words, he took time for you. So he tells us we have to take time for the brethren. It's just that simple. "Him that is weak in the faith receive you" and we're to receive each other exactly the way Christ received us to the glory of God.
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Now there's another aspect of receiving each other. Let me point this out. I want you to turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. And look at verse 41. Matthew 10. Verse 41.
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Look what he says, Matthew 10, verse 41. "He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward." How many of God's saints are righteous? All of them. Does it matter if they're weak? Does it matter if they're strong or in between? So if we receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, we're going to receive a righteous man's reward. We're not going to lose our reward. If we take the time and be patient and receive them the way that we should. Now look in Matthew 18 in verse 5 and I want you as you turn to Matthew 18, go ahead and turn over to Mark chapter 9 as well. Mark chapter 9, we're going right there next. I do not have time to go over all the context of these right now, but look in Matthew chapter 18 and verse 5.
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And our Lord said this. "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." Now, he took a little child here to use as an illustration, but later on, he's talking about God's children. He's talking about all of the saints. He said, "And whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." So if Christ knocked on your door and wanted to come in and spend an hour or two with you and ask a few questions, would you allow him to do that? Would you stop from your busy work schedule and allow him? Sure you would.
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Well, what if it's a weak saint? Who just has to have some questions answered. Our Lord said, if you receive one of these little babes, you receive him.
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Now look in Mark chapter nine and verse thirty seven. Let's go a little further. Our Lord said it like this. Mark nine, verse thirty seven. "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me." So our Lord says it like this, if you receive that weak child in my name, you're receiving me. And you're not just receiving me, you're receiving him that sent me, that is my Father.
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So we need to understand that when God sends the weaker brethren our way. Often the ones who irritate us the most. And can't see and can't understand which I'm going to deal with next week. We're to receive them and to be patient with them and to teach them and to help them. Because we're to receive them, even as Christ received us for the glory of God, the Father.
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Let me tell you something, folks. It is hard and it is difficult to start all over. You say, what are you talking about, Preacher? You ought to visit some of the churches that I have visited. Some would say, Brother Weaver, we need you to come be our pastor. You know what I think? Oh, Lord have mercy. I don't have 40 more years to bring you folks up to speed. That's my thought. It's just like Alice and I laugh, and some of you may not think this is funny, but we get to laughing. I'm so glad I don't have to start out getting married and breaking somebody else in all over again.
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And she's the same way. You know, you think of playing Jennifer. Look at everything they've got to face and go through. And I'm so thankful I don't have to do all that. You know, I'm just saying. You reach a point in life when, you know, you don't want to start over. And it's difficult. It's hard. And yet, what you have to do when you have a new babe in Christ, you have to start all over.
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Because He's not going to understand a thing that you say if you try to talk to Him on a fatherly basis. For instance, when Clay's and Jennifer's child gets here, the first thing I want to do is hold that child in my arms and I want to teach him about covenantal theology. And I want to explain the differences between dichotomy and trichotomy and infralapsarianism and supralapsarianism. Do you think he's going to understand that? No. If I hold that child, I'll probably be saying goo goo ga ga, just like that's all he can say. So you can't start out with a child talking like a mature adult, you have to come down and put it on their level, period. I'll explain that.
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Notice, if you would, Romans 14, verse one, watch carefully, Romans 14, verse one. First of all, we understand there are varying degrees of faith. It's saving faith, but it's from weak to strong and everything in between.
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Secondly, we have to receive each other because Christ, for God's sake, has received us. And thirdly, he says in verse one, "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations." In other words, we must not argue, fight or bicker. We're not talking about major Bible doctrines. We're talking about disputations that arise over a number of things. Without endorsing C.S. Lewis, I want to give you one quote from his book, Mere Christianity. He says this, "One of the things Christians are disagreed about is the importance of their disagreements. When two Christians of different denominations start arguing, it is usually not long before one asks whether such and such a point really matters. And the other replies, 'Matter? Well, that's absolutely essential.'" And it's not just different denominations. It's Christians with different views on different subjects. It's absolutely amazing how you and I wish to determine for ourselves what is important and what is not important. It's interesting how we wish to determine for ourselves what is a matter of fellowship and what is not a matter of fellowship,
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instead of allowing God to do so. What the Apostle Paul is teaching us in verse one is we're not to receive the weaker brethren for the purpose of telling them off, straightening them out and demanding that they grow up. That's like me walking up to a two year old child and saying, grow up, dummy. How can he? How can I expect him to go from a two-year-old to a 50-year-old instantly? It's impossible. That's like me going out to a lamb and saying, all right, by tomorrow I want you to be a sheep.
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It doesn't work that way. I can go to my garden all day long that Alice planted. I can go to that garden all day long and say, I want a watermelon tomorrow. It doesn't work like that. I can't demand that those plants produce. And if you and I come to a weaker brethren with a mightier than thou attitude, or you'd better listen to me, buster attitude, we're not going to help them. We're going to harm them. We're going to harden them. And we're going to drive them away in their ignorance.
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The Apostle Paul says, yes, we receive them, but we receive them into our company to converse, to have communion with them, to deal with them, to teach them, to help them. We treat them as brethren in Christ. We treat them as equals in Christ with all possible endearments. We're not there to quarrel. We're not there to argue. We're not there to be divisive. We're there to help and administer to them.
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I want you to listen to what Albert Barnes wrote on verse one of Romans 14, he said this. "Do not admit him to your society for the purpose of debating the matter in an angry and harsh manner, of repelling him by denunciation, and thus by the natural reaction of such a course confirming him in his doubts. Or no, do not deal with him in such a manner as shall have a tendency to increase his scruples about meats, dates, etc. The leading idea here which all Christians should remember is that a harsh and angry denunciation of a man in relation to things not morally wrong, but where he may have honest scruples, will only tend to confirm him more and more in his doubts. To denounce and abuse him will be to confirm him. To receive him affectionately, to admit him to fellowship with us, to talk freely and kindly with him, to do him good, will have a far greater tendency to overcome his scruples.
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And questions which now occur about modes of dress, about measures, about means of promoting revivals, about rites and ceremonies, this is by far the wisest course. If we wish to overcome the scruples of our brethren and induce them to think as we do." In other words, he's saying we must deal with him kindly and graciously. So the Apostle Paul says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not for doubtful disputations." So, today you must learn, number one, there are varying degrees in faith. Number two, God demands that we receive each brother in Christ, as long as he is a brother, regardless of where he is in the faith. And thirdly, when we receive him, it's not to argue, it's not to bicker, it's not to fuss, it's not to take a mightier than thou attitude and straighten him out. No, we will teach,
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but we cannot impatiently demand that he grow up instantaneously. When you stop and think, how long did it take you to get where you are in your Christian faith? You didn't get there overnight, I can assure you. Wherever we are, we are there only by the grace of God. Now, let me make some applications and I want you to think with me on these. The first one is this.
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We must learn to receive each other and administer each other according to the stage at which one is in his Christian life. That means there are going to be some babes, there are going to be some young men, there are going to be some fathers. Not a person in this room would go to a six-month-old baby and give him a T-bone steak for dinner.
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First, he couldn't chew it. Secondly, if he could swallow it, he probably could not digest it. But what you're going to give that six-month-old baby is either milk or something very soft. You're going to feed that child according to his age group. Likewise, you have to learn to minister to each Christian to wherever he is in his Christian life, if he's a babe, if he's a young man or if he's a father.
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If we wish to avoid conflicts and if we wish to live peaceably with each other and with other saints, we have to learn to recognize the varying degrees to receive each other, but not to doubtful disputations and learn to minister to each other wherever they are in their Christian life. OK, here's the second application. Learning to receive those with whom we are impatient and easily irritated with should be a real challenge and enable us to grow in grace.
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It is hard, difficult and laborious work to start at the beginning and go over everything in detail. I recently had someone at my home that we sat and discussed theology for hours till my voice was almost gone. I tried to help, I tried to teach, and there are several moments where I believe, you know, the light was beginning to break through. But did I see any fruit right then? The answer is no. No.
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Let me tell you about a learning experience that I had many years ago. I have taught from fourth grade all the way through college. And I remember my first year of teaching fourth grade, I had my fourth grade history book and the history book was about this thick. Three quarters of an inch at the most. And I thought, oh no. I'll be through this book in two months. Then what am I going to do for the rest of the year? Well, my first week, I covered three chapters. And I gave my first quiz to all those fourth graders. And many of them were very bright. Out of all that class, every one of them failed the quiz.
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And I got to thinking, well, it can't be the students because I know most of them are really genuinely smart. It's got to be the teacher. So you know what I had to do? I had to go back, start on chapter one, and then it dawned on me I'm going to have to teach chapter one for two weeks. I mean, chapter one was something I could have comprehended and covered in 15 minutes. But those fourth graders could not comprehend it in a week. All I'm trying to show you is this.
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There has to be an understanding that if you're going to teach someone, you have to be patient. And they're not going to get it right away. And you'll have to go over and over and over and over the same material until it sinks in. I'll explain that more next week. The third application of this, we will never reach other saints by thinking that we can force them, overpower them, intimidate them, and harass them into believing correctly. I hope you know that each of us, each of us is still just sinner enough that if you try to force us, we're going to show you we're not going to do it. That's a fact. That's a fact, folks. You try to make me do something. And you're going to have a hard time.
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Especially if I don't want to. If you asked me, I'd probably do it. But if you tried to force me, no. Same thing with believing. You try to force someone to believe something, no. Sometimes someone might say, well, all right, I yield just to get out of there. But that doesn't mean you've taught them anything. It doesn't mean that they've really embraced what you're trying to say. And we're never, ever going to get anywhere by quarreling, by bickering, by arguing. You're never going to do it.
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So he says, receive you one another. But not to doubtful disputations. So learn three things today. Number one, there are varying degrees of faith. Number two, we must receive every true believer no matter where he is. And number three, when we receive them, it's not to be to arguments and quarrels and bickering. It is to minister to them and to build them up in the most holy faith.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to you this day. We thank you for your love. We thank you for your mercy. And we pray that you will teach us, Father, and help us to be able to help others and to bring them into the fullness of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, amen.
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You may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, Suite 705, PMD 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-0995.
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You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T15:22:08Z

How to Avoid Conflicts 1

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this introductory sermon on avoiding conflicts between Christians, John Weaver teaches from Romans 14:1-3 that conflicts arise from differing degrees of faith and maturity. He emphasizes that practical Christian living must be based on doctrine, and that believers must recognize varying levels of spiritual growth, receive weaker brethren with love and patience, and avoid arguing over disputable matters. The sermon calls for ministering to others according to their stage of faith, just as Christ received us.

Opening

Introduction: The Need to Avoid Conflicts

Conflicts are inevitable due to sin, but they can be minimized by following biblical principles. The series will cover how to avoid conflicts, with this message serving as an introduction.

Doctrine as the Foundation for Practical Living

The Outcome of Pure Doctrine

From 1 Timothy 1:3-5, teaching pure doctrine produces unhypocritical faith, a good conscience, and love from a pure heart. This underscores the importance of doctrine for holy living.

Varying Degrees of Faith

Romans 14:1 introduces the concept of weak and strong faith. Scripture shows degrees of faith (e.g., Abraham in Romans 4:19-21, believers as children, young men, and fathers in 1 John 2:12-14).

Now I want you to note how there is a negative in verse 19,

Scripture Reading — Romans 4:19-21

"and being not weak in faith,"

Illustrations of Spiritual Maturity

Receiving the Weak in Faith

Romans 14:1 commands believers to receive the weak without quarreling. 'Receive' (proslambano) means to take to oneself with kindness and fellowship, treating them as true brothers.

Receiving as Christ Received Us

Romans 15:7 calls believers to receive one another as Christ received us—patiently and graciously. Ministering to the saints is serving the Lord, and God rewards such service (Hebrews 6:10).

Now there's another aspect of receiving each other. Let me point this out. I want you to turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. And look at verse 41. Matthew 10. Verse 41.

Receiving Without Arguing

The command 'not to doubtful disputations' means we must not receive weaker brethren to argue or force them to mature instantly. Instead, we are to teach patiently, as with children or plants.

Applications for Peaceful Relationships

Applications include ministering according to spiritual stage, growing in grace through patience with the irritating, and avoiding force or intimidation in teaching. True reception builds up in love.

How to Avoid Conflicts 1

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	6211734470
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Christian Duty, Authority, and Brotherly Peace
Genre	Sermon
Date	2011-04-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 153: How to Avoid Conflicts — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	76

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Need to Avoid Conflicts: Conflicts are inevitable due to sin, but they can be minimized by following biblical principles. The series will cover how to avoid conflicts, with this message serving as an introduction.
Doctrine as the Foundation for Practical Living: Romans is divided into doctrinal (chapters 1-11) and practical (chapters 12-16) sections. Practical Christian living must be based on doctrine; without doctrinal understanding, godly living is impossible.
The Outcome of Pure Doctrine: From 1 Timothy 1:3-5, teaching pure doctrine produces unhypocritical faith, a good conscience, and love from a pure heart. This underscores the importance of doctrine for holy living.
Varying Degrees of Faith: Romans 14:1 introduces the concept of weak and strong faith. Scripture shows degrees of faith (e.g., Abraham in Romans 4:19-21, believers as children, young men, and fathers in 1 John 2:12-14).
Illustrations of Spiritual Maturity: Jesus' command to feed lambs and sheep (John 21:15-17) and the parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:28) illustrate different levels of spiritual maturity. Believers should not expect uniform understanding.
Receiving the Weak in Faith: Romans 14:1 commands believers to receive the weak without quarreling. 'Receive' (proslambano) means to take to oneself with kindness and fellowship, treating them as true brothers.
Receiving as Christ Received Us: Romans 15:7 calls believers to receive one another as Christ received us—patiently and graciously. Ministering to the saints is serving the Lord, and God rewards such service (Hebrews 6:10).
Receiving Without Arguing: The command 'not to doubtful disputations' means we must not receive weaker brethren to argue or force them to mature instantly. Instead, we are to teach patiently, as with children or plants.
Applications for Peaceful Relationships: Applications include ministering according to spiritual stage, growing in grace through patience with the irritating, and avoiding force or intimidation in teaching. True reception builds up in love.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Doctrine Precedes Practice

Paul structures Romans to teach that right living flows from right doctrine; ignorance of doctrine leads to ungodly conduct.

Romans is divided into doctrinal (ch.1-11) and practical (ch.12-16) sections. 1 Timothy 1:3-5 shows the end of the commandment to teach pure doctrine is love from a pure heart.

Faith Has Degrees

Saving faith exists in varying strengths; believers are at different stages of maturity, which must be recognized to avoid conflict.

Romans 14:1 mentions 'weak in the faith.' Romans 4:19-21 describes Abraham as 'strong in faith.' 1 John 2:12-14 categorizes believers as children, young men, and fathers.

Receive the Weak as Brothers

The command to 'receive' means to welcome weaker believers into fellowship with love, not to reject or despise them.

Romans 14:1 says 'receive ye.' The Greek proslambano means to take to oneself with kindness. Diotrephes in 3 John 1:9-10 is condemned for not receiving the brethren.

Receiving Reflects Christ's Reception of Us

We are to receive others as Christ received us—patiently, despite our ignorance and sin—for God's glory.

Romans 15:7: 'receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.' Hebrews 6:10 shows God remembers our ministry to the saints.

Reception Is Not for Arguments

We must not receive weaker brethren to quarrel or force them to mature; instead, we are to teach patiently and build them up.

Romans 14:1 says 'not to doubtful disputations.' The illustration of demanding a two-year-old to grow up shows the futility of forcing maturity.

Scripture References

Romans 14:1-3: The primary text for the sermon, introducing the weak and strong in faith and the command to receive without disputing.
1 Timothy 1:3-5: Used to show that teaching pure doctrine produces love, a good conscience, and unhypocritical faith.
Romans 3:19: Quoted to contrast the wicked who do not know the way of peace with God's call to peace.
1 Corinthians 7:15: Cited to affirm that God has called us to peace.
Romans 4:19-21: Demonstrates Abraham's strong faith, contrasting with weak faith.
Romans 15:1: Mentions the strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, reinforcing the distinction.
1 John 2:12-14: Shows three categories of believers: little children, young men, and fathers, illustrating varying maturity.
Acts 21:16: References Mnason, an old disciple, as an example of a father in the faith.
John 21:15-17: Jesus' command to feed lambs and sheep illustrates different levels of spiritual maturity.
Mark 4:28: The parable of the growing seed shows stages of growth: blade, ear, full corn.
Philippians 2:29: Paul instructs the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus with gladness, illustrating how to receive notable believers.
Philemon 1:12: Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself.
3 John 1:9-10: Diotrephes is condemned for not receiving the brethren, showing the sin of refusing fellowship.
Hebrews 6:10: God remembers the work of ministering to the saints, encouraging reception of weaker believers.
Romans 15:7: Commands believers to receive one another as Christ received us, to the glory of God.
Matthew 10:41: Receiving a righteous man brings a righteous man's reward, encouraging reception of all believers.
Matthew 18:5: Receiving a little child in Jesus' name is receiving Christ, applied to receiving weak believers.
Mark 9:37: Receiving a child in Jesus' name is receiving Christ and the Father, emphasizing the importance of receiving the weak.

Historical References

Albert Barnes' commentary on Romans 14:1: Quoted to support the idea that harsh denunciation confirms doubts, while kind reception overcomes scruples.
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity: Quoted to illustrate how Christians disagree about the importance of their disagreements, often leading to arguments.

Important Quotes

Principles do not have funerals. Principles do not die.

Emphasizes the enduring nature of biblical principles over changing circumstances and feelings.

It is impossible to live biblically, to live holily and godly without understanding doctrine and its applications.

Highlights the foundational role of doctrine in practical Christian living.

Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations.

The key verse of the sermon, commanding reception of the weak without arguing.

Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

The standard for receiving others: as Christ received us, patiently and graciously.

We have forgotten that the way to serve the Lord is to serve his people, to minister to his people.

Corrects the misconception that serving the Lord is separate from ministering to fellow believers.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the structure of Romans (doctrine first, then practice) challenge the way we approach Christian living?

[Context]

The sermon emphasizes that practical living must be based on doctrine (Romans 1-11 before 12-16).

[Question]

In what ways do we fail to recognize varying degrees of faith among believers, and how does that lead to conflict?

[Context]

The sermon explains that believers are at different stages (children, young men, fathers) and we often expect uniformity.

[Question]

What does it practically mean to 'receive' a weaker brother or sister without 'doubtful disputations'?

[Context]

The command in Romans 14:1 is to welcome with love, not to argue or force maturity.

[Question]

How can we cultivate patience when ministering to those who are spiritually immature or irritating?

[Context]

The sermon uses illustrations of lambs, plants, and teaching fourth graders to show the need for patience.

[Question]

Why is it difficult to receive those who are different from us culturally, emotionally, or educationally, and how can we overcome that?

[Context]

The sermon notes that differences in background can create conflict, but we must still receive one another.

[Question]

How does remembering that Christ received us in our ignorance and sin change our attitude toward weaker believers?

[Context]

Romans 15:7 calls us to receive as Christ received us, which should humble us.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T04:41:18Z