Sermon Outline 8.17.25

Title: Bearing with One Another as Christ Bore You
Text: Romans 15:1-13

I. The Strong Must Bear the Weak in Christlike Love (vv. 1-2)

• Those who are strong in conscience and faith carry the burden of preserving unity.
• Strength is not a platform for pride, but a call to servanthood.
• Use your liberty to build others up, not to please yourself.

II. Christ Bore Our Reproach to Make This Possible (v. 3)

• Jesus models self-denying love by bearing the wrath meant for us.
• “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” (Ps 69:9)
• If Christ bore shame for our sake, how can we not bear with others?

III. Scripture Fuels Endurance, Encouragement, and Unity (v. 4)

• The OT wasn’t just for Israel but was written for the church, too.

IV. God’s Design: Glorify Him with One Voice (vv. 5-6)

• True unity isn’t uniformity but praise under one Lord.

V. Welcome One Another as Christ Welcomed You (v. 7)

• A measure of your gospel understanding = how you treat those who see things differently

VI. Christ Became a Servant to Unite Jew and Gentile (vv. 8-9a)
A. Servant to the Jews (v. 8)

• Gal 4:4: “Born under the Law…”
• Matt 5:17: “Not to abolish, but to fulfill.”

B. Mercy to the Gentiles (v. 9a)

• The Gentiles glorify God not because they earned it, but because they received mercy.
• Eph 2:12–13

VII. The Scriptures Anticipated Unity (vv. 9b-12)

• Jews and Gentiles together as one church was always God’s plan.
  • Psalm 18:49: David praises among the Gentiles.
  • Deut 32:43: Gentiles rejoicing with God’s people.
  • Psalm 117:1: A universal call
  • Isaiah 11:10: Gentiles hope in Root of Jesse.

VIII. The Goal: A People Filled with Gospel Hope (v. 13)

• The God of hope fills believers with joy, peace, and overflowing hope.

Conclusion