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Judging One Another, Part 2

Romans 14:13-15:1

November 1, 2020 • Pastor Bill Riedel

This continues the practical application of the call to love, especially in the context of disagreements in the church. While last week we looked at the temptation of the weak to judge those whose consciences don’t align with their own, this week we turn to the strong. The strong, in this context, are those who are able to rest in the accomplished work of Christ for their justification and righteousness, freeing them, not to sin but to greater flexibility in life. The call to the strong is no less difficult than the call to the weak. We will see that the strong are called to lay down freedoms for the sake of the weaker brother or sister.

To the Church

December 13, 2020 • Pastor Bill Riedel

This week we close our series with Romans 16:25-27. This closing benediction to the letter gives us a beautiful, gospel-rich, densely packed summary of the entire letter that precedes. It’s a chance for us to be reminded of everything we have seen and learned over the past year in our study of Romans together.

Watch Out

December 6, 2020 • Pastor Bill Riedel

Our passage this week is a closing warning to the church in Rome about the dangerous potential of divisive people in the church. It’s an important passage for us as we walk through one of the most divisive times in many of our lifetimes. The beauty and unity of the church is itself a witness to the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a reflection of our hope that the day is coming when Satan will be crushed.

Servants and Fellow Workers

November 29, 2020 • Pastor Bill Riedel

This passage lists a whole bunch of names and people that Paul sent personal greetings to in Rome. At first blush, it may be tough to see how it applies to us, but it does! Paul’s ministry is deeply interconnected with people who were fellow-workers. There is a lot we can learn about the makeup of the early church, who were key contributors, and what it looks like for us to work alongside each other even through to today. The church is a crazy mashup of men and women from different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities, different economic levels, across generations, all working together as a family on mission. This week is a much-needed encouragement to us this week.