Before He went to the cross on Good Friday, Jesus prayed for all those who would go on to follow Him (John 17). Even you and I were on Christ's mind when He prayed that day. And what was one of the main things He prayed for? He prayed that we, His followers, would be one as He and the Father are one (v22). As we look into Romans 14, Paul brings that same idea to mind: unity. So how do we maintain unity as God's people today despite our differences? Paul lays it out for us and points us forward to where all of this unity is meant to go.

Romans 14:1-12

14 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

For Adult Homes & Groups

1. Read Romans 14 together and focus particularly on vv 1-12.

2. We all bring our unique differences to the church body. What are noticeable blessings that flow when God’s people are brought together with their differences? What are noticeable challenges?

3. As a group, what makes your group different from other groups here at Faith? How does this add to the beauty of Christ’s bride, the Church? What do you need to work on and improve? Take time to share and give heart to what might be differing opinions within your group.

4. What keeps us together and united at Faith Oakville? In what areas can we work towards better unity? Use this time for encouragement and building up. 

5. Pray the Lord’s Prayer together.

For Families with Kids

1. Read Romans 14 together.

2. For someone weak in faith, what does God want us to do? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ him or her.

3. Read verse 4 again. If you believe in Jesus, are you God’s servant? If someone else believes in Jesus are they God’s servant? Who then is the only person allowed to judge God’s servants? _ _ _

4. Only Jesus is judge, and we are His servants. What matters most is that Jesus is our Lord, and that makes us family and on the same team. Make a list of things we do well together as a church, and then write some things down we can improve together as a church family. Pray to Jesus; thank Him for all the good work He is doing here at Faith, and ask Him to help us improve where we need to improve.