Sermon Outline 8.10.25

Title: Christ is More Worthy Than Your Rights
Text: Romans 14:13–23
Big Idea: Strong Christians use freedom to build, not to win…because Jesus is King!

INTRODUCTION
If using your liberty closes someone’s heart to Christ, love calls you to silence instead.

I. Judge Less, Build More (v. 13)

• “Stumbling block:” something that causes a spiritual fall; it’s not mere disagreement.
• Legalism tears down, gospel love builds up (cf. 1 Cor 8:1).
• Historical example: Acts 15

II. Use Your Liberty To Love and Not To Wound (vv. 14-16)

• Paul affirms liberty: “Nothing is unclean in itself” (cf. Acts 10; 1 Tim 4:4).
• Kingdom Strength is the ability to restrain or control your rights out of love.
• “Destroy” (apollymi) means to bring to ruin.
• Ex: Acts 16:3

III. Remember the Kingdom’s Rea Priorities (vv. 17-18)

• Righteousness — living in line with God’s standards.
• Peace — relational harmony grounded in Christ’s reconciling work.
• Joy — Spirit-produced gladness in God, not in personal preference.
• Ex: Missionary Hudson Taylor

IV. Build Don’t Break (vv. 19-21)

• “Pursue” = means to chase hard, like a hunter after game (cf. Heb 12:14).
• Romans 12:18 – If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
• If abstaining builds your brother’s faith, lay it down joyfully.
• Ex: 1 Corinthians 9 — Paul became “all things to all people” to win more to Christ.

V. Live With Conviction & a Clear Conscience (vv. 22-23)

• Whatever is not from faith is sin = sin is not just what you do, but what you do against God-given convictions
• Ex: Luther - “to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.”

CONCLUSION