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Sunday School Special : Romans - Lesson 84

Text: Romans 14:1-4
16 March 2025

Senior Sunday School 16 March 2025

Text: Romans 14

Subject: “Receive one who is weak in faith”

THE REALITY OF LIFE

1. There are some who are strong in faith

2. But there are also many who are weak in faith

3. Conflicts often arise in the Church because of human relationship problems

THE LORD JESUS WARNED HIS DISCIPLES ABOUT JUDGING PEOPLE

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 

2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 

5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5

1. The problem is being “judgmental”

2. Many are too ready to pass judgment on others

3. They fail to see their own weaknesses and faults

4. The deeper problem is that of hypocrisy

1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 

2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 

3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 

4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:1-4

1. The weak in faith

a) This was a gracious way of describing people who are not strong
b) Weakness:
i) Of the flesh
ii) Of the mind
iii) Of the faith

2. Expressions of weakness in the faith

a) There were some things that were “doubtful”
b) Special focus: The Dietary laws of the Old Testament
c) There were some who would only east vegetables

3. There were others who appeared to be “strong”

a) They are not affected by the dietary laws

b) They would eat anything

THE PROBLEM OF DESPISING EACH OTHER

1. The “strong” despise the weak for not eating everything

2. The “weak” judge those who eat everything

3. These problems would ultimately affect the church community

PAUL’S ADVICE

1. The “weak” are to be received

a) They are not to be despised
b) They are not to be ridiculed
c) They are not to held in derision

2. There must be no judgment of anyone

a) Who are we to judge another person?
b) If God were to receive someone, why should we reject the person thus received?

3. A person stands or falls to his master

a) God is able to make a person stand
b) If this is the case, who are we to pass judgment?