Aug. 23, 2026

In this sermon, Pastor Scotty dives into Romans 14 and 15 to show us how God teaches believers what to believe and how to behave, especially when it comes to navigating differences within the church. By examining what can be called a Christian "bill of rights" alongside our deep responsibilities to one another, the message challenges us to drop the drama, stop judging, and focus on representing God's love to the world around us.

When Church Drama Distracts Us from the Mission

• The Walmart Encounter: A quick trip to a Walmart in Springfield, Missouri, serves as a funny illustration of seeing something that just doesn't look the way it's supposed to look.
  • The buggy of butter: Seeing Amish shoppers with a shopping cart piled high with tub butter, even though they are famous for making their own.
  • The unexpected ride: Watching them load their purchases into a brand-new Ford Expedition rather than a traditional horse and buggy.
• The Spiritual Lesson: Just like that confusing Walmart scene, church drama and internal division are not what the Christian life is supposed to look like.
• The Enemy's Strategy: The enemy loves to throw drama at the church so believers will fuss among themselves. When we are busy arguing over petty preferences, we lose our focus on praying for one another and sharing the life-saving message of Jesus.

The Christian Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

• Accept those with weak faith: Do not push away or argue with those who are new to the faith or who struggle and miss the mark. Instead, walk alongside them so you can reach a better place together.
  • Growing in faith: Spiritual strength comes from getting into Bible study and actually applying the Word to our daily walks.
  • Rallying in prayer: We are called to support each other through trials, such as uniting in prayer for a church member's granddaughter who needs a double lung transplant.
• Be slow to judge other believers: It can be easy and comfortable to wear a "judge's robe" and pronounce sentences on others, but it is not our job. We should celebrate and support revival wherever it breaks out—regardless of the denomination.
• Live for something bigger than yourself: None of us belongs to ourselves. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord, and our lives should be lived for His higher purposes.
• Prepare for God's judgment seat: Keep in mind that everyone will eventually stand before the Lord to give an account. Thinking about this daily keeps us humble, wise, and centered on what matters most.
• Do not be a stumbling block: Avoid using your personal freedom to do things that distress or offend other Christians. When others are weak, we should prop them up, knowing we will need them to do the same for us when we struggle.

The Three Core Truths of the Kingdom of God

• Righteousness: This is about having a right standing with God, which naturally gets demonstrated through morally right and justifiable behavior in our daily lives.
• Peace: True peace is made available to us through the cross. We must actively pursue this peace in our relationships, our communities, and our nation.
• Joy: Because the Holy Spirit lives inside us, believers have a deep, constant reason to be the most joy-filled people on the planet.

Building Up the Kingdom and Avoiding Earthly Traps

• Build up the people around you: Every person we interact with should leave our presence feeling better rather than bitter. We should show others the same grace, encouragement, and restoration that Jesus gave to us.
• Do not destroy God's work for earthly reasons: Temporary things like food, clothing, money, and titles should never cause division. We should cooperate rather than compete with other church communities.
• Do not endorse what God does not approve: Be careful not to seek permission or give approval to things that run counter to God's word. Instead, focus on using the freedom God has approved:
  • Unconditional love: Loving people even when they are hard to love, including those with different political views.
  • The Gospel: Sharing the message of Jesus everywhere.
  • Unashamed worship: Praising God freely and openly.