Judge Not — Love Much (Sermon Blog)

Romans 14–15 invites us to live in unity even when our convictions differ. Pastor Steve walked us through Paul’s practical teaching on how to stop judging one another and start loving much.

Unity Was Jesus’ Prayer

• On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed “that they may be one as We are one” (John 17:22-23).

• Unity was His heart for every generation of believers—even as our world feels divided.

Why We Clash

• We are all unique: different cultures, personalities, and life experiences.

• Diversity is a gift, but without grace it becomes fuel for misunderstanding and disunity.

• The early church wrestled with hot-button issues like food laws and sacred days (Romans 14:1-6).

Paul’s Four Principles for Peace

1. Follow Scripture—Not Personal Preference

“When Scripture is silent, let your personal convictions speak for yourself.”

• Some believers eat everything, some eat only vegetables; both honor God (Romans 14:5-6).

• Speak where God speaks, stay silent where He is silent.

2. Use Freedom Wisely

• “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble” (Romans 14:21).

• Our freedom should never wound someone else’s conscience.

3. Refuse to Judge

• “We will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Romans 14:10-12).

• God alone is judge; our role is to love.

4. Pursue Peace and Mutual Up-Building

• “Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19).

• Build each other up with encouragement, not criticism.

Modern “Debatable Issues”

Pastor Steve highlighted how these ancient principles apply today. Christians still differ over:

• Music styles and movies

• Tattoos and piercings

• Halloween outreach

• Alcohol, marijuana, or smoking

• Parenting methods, dating norms, dancing, even sports gambling

The point? If you think none of these are debatable because you know the absolute right answer, you may be part of the problem. Unity requires humility.

Accountability, Not License

• Freedom in Christ is never an excuse for sin (Galatians 5:13-15).

• Healthy church life includes loving accountability (Matthew 18:15-17).

Living the Message

• Lay down a critical spirit.

• Ask God to soften your heart toward those you’ve judged—inside or outside the church.

• Remember: the Church is people in process, and unity is our witness to the world.

“Love your neighbor as yourself. If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” —Galatians 5:14-15