A Tale of Two Churches

Lakewood Baptist Church - WI

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A Tale of Two Churches

& Their Consciences

October 23, 2016 • Dave Marriott

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The church at Rome and the church at Corinth faced similar problems related to conscience issues but in different contexts. As a matter of fact, every church will face conscience issues. But when those issues arise, how are we to relate to each other in these areas?

A survey of 1 Cor. 8-10 and Rom. 14-15 gives us 10 resolutions on how to relate with other believers over conscience issues:

1. Resolve to understand that conscience issues can be complex (1 Cor. 10:25-29).

2. Resolve never to violate your own conscience (Rom. 14:5, 22-23).

3. Resolve never to trap other believers to violate their conscience (Rom. 14:13), by pressuring them to sin. Never make them choose between maintaining their relationship with you or sinning by violating their own conscience.

4. Resolve to see other believers as more than debate opponents on conscience issue (Rom. 14:1).

5. Resolve not to judge or despise others that differ from your conscience issues (Rom. 14:4-3).

6. Resolve never to assume another believer's motives on conscience issues (Rom. 14:6-12).

7. Resolve to always value love over knowledge in dealing with conscience issues (1 Cor. 8:1-3, Rom. 14:15).

8.Resolve not to live for yourself when it comes to conscience issues (Rom. 15:13; 14:17).

9. Resolve to value the gospel's advance more than your freedom of conscience (1 Cor. 9:19-23; 10:31-33).

10. Resolve to always live for God's glory on conscience issues (1 Cor. 10:31).

Jesus' Cross and My Conscience

October 16, 2016 • Dave Marriott

1. Before the Cross: My Conscience Condemns Me for My Sin (Romans 2:14-16). 2. At the Cross: My conscience is cleansed by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 9-10). 3. After the Cross: My conscience should be obeyed, kept clear, and increasingly informed by Scripture. A. Seek to always obey your conscience (Romans 14: 22b-23) B. Seek to always keep your conscience clear before God (Acts 23:1b; 24:16; 1 John 1:8-10) Scripture presents multiple ways that a conscience can err or be misinformed. 1. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul speaks of a WEAK CONSCIENCE. 2. In Titus 1:15-16, Paul speaks of a DEFILED CONSCIENCE. 3. Paul also speaks of a SEARED CONSCIENCE in 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Sermon review guide — “Jesus’ Cross & My Conscience” Personal reflection: Recount a time that your conscience really stirred you either keeping you from doing something or bothering you after you had done something. Your conscience is your internal moral witness; it’s your self-judging system.” How does the conscience look back on actions? How does the conscience look forward to potential actions? Read Romans 2:1-16. How does this passage demonstrate that the conscience is “standard equipment for a human” — that it is a gift of creation not salvation? What two facts in verse 15 make it possible for people to find themselves in a position where they are more or less acknowledging the rightness of the 10 commandments, even though they had never actually been given them? What are some attempts of the world to silence our conscience, demonstrating that the conscience is not a popular gift? How does the conscience work to bring us to Jesus prior to salvation? What are some of the benefits applied to the believer by the blood of Jesus (Rom. 3:25; Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7)? How is our conscience specifically affected by the shed blood of Jesus (Heb. 9:11-15)? How does the ministry of the OT priestly system contrast with the work of Christ on the Cross? (Heb. 10:4; 10:11-14; Heb. 10:22a; cf. Psalm 103:12). Is it ever right to violate your own conscience? Why or why not? (Rom. 14:5; Rom. 14:22b-23; 1 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:15)? After salvation, how should you care for our conscience (Acts 23:1b; Acts 24:16)? What should we do once we have violated our conscience (Luke 11:4; 1 John 1:8-10)? How does God inform and correct consciences? What are some ways our conscience err or be misinformed (1 Cor. 8:7; Titus 1:15-16; 1 Tim. 4:1-5)? What does a seared conscience lead to (see 1 Tim. 4:3 again)? What are some specific and practical ways we can apply the truths of Scripture regarding our conscience… if we are condemned by our conscience? if we are annoyed that our conscience isn’t more sensitive to sin? If we wish our conscience was less sensitive to what is not sin?