A Church With Open Arms (Part 4)

Living Peaceably in a Divided World

Text: Romans 14:1–12
Big Idea: Mature believers pursue unity over preferences.

Introduction: Romans 14 deals with genuine believers whose consciences and understanding differ on secondary matters, yet whom God commands to receive rather than despise or condemn them.

Swindoll: God calls His church to unity without requiring uniformity.

Listening Guide – A Church With Open Arms (Part 4)

A Church With Open Arms (Part 3)

Love Without Hypocrisy

Romans 12:9–21

Introduction: After talking about spiritual gifts, Paul immediately starts talking about spiritual love. He does essentially the same thing in 1 Corinthians. First Corinthians 12 he discusses spiritual gifts, and then chapter 13 begins, in effect saying, “You may have every gift imaginable, but without love you are nothing.” Jesus said in John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

And that raises an important question: What does Christian love actually look like?

Listening Guide – A Church With Open Arms (Part 3)

Service and Sermon – A Church With Open Arms (Part 3)

A Church With Open Arms (Part 2)

“Gifts That Build Up Others”

Romans 12:3–8

Introduction: Our passage today is Romans 12:3–8, where Paul shows us how a life transformed by grace turns into ministry through the gifts God has given us. God equips every believer to strengthen others. Not to puff themselves up, but to lift others up. Our gifts aren’t trophies; they’re tools. And today we learn how to use them.

Listening Guide – A Church With Open Arms (Part 2)

Service and Sermon – A Church With Open Arms (Part 2)

A Church With Open Arms (Part 1)

“A Living Sacrifice”

(Romans 12:1–2)

Introduction: We are beginning a brand-new sermon series today that we are calling: “A Church With Open Arms.” Over the next several weeks, we are going to walk through portions of Romans 12 through 15 and ask a very practical question: What does the gospel look like when saved people actually live it out in relationship with other people?

The apostle Paul starts this entire section at an unusual place, A renewed mind produces renewed relationships.

Listening Guide – A Church With Open Arms (Part 1)

Service and Sermon – A Church With Open Arms (Part 1)