Romans 15

Living for Your Neighbors

1. If you are strong, use it to serve your weaker neighbor, not to please yourself

   1. Serving for their sake so they can grow morally and us as well

   2. Jesus put others first

      1. The hate of those who hates him fell onto him

   3. And may God bless us to have the patience of Jesus and be comforted so we can be like him and glorify the Lord

2. Receive Each other

   1. Just as Jesus received all of us

      1. Not because we are good or to get something but because he loves us

   2. Jesus took us all in, both Jew and Gentile

   3. And we Gentiles are called to praise, rejoice, and have hope in the Lord as well!

3. Why Paul is Writing

   1. First and a foremost, as a minister of Jesus Christ

      1. So that the offering of the Gentiles will be acceptable

         1. He is preparing and helping the Gentiles learn to be godly

      2. The Lord is working through him to minister and make the Gentiles obedient to the Lord

      3. Paul refers to all three persons in God

   2. His desire is to preach where Christ is unheard of

      1. Not to create another man’s foundation

      2. But to fulfill that everyone who has not heard, will hear

   3. He apologizes for not going to Rome yet and expresses his wishes to see the people there when he heads to Spain

      1. But for now he is heading to Jerusalem to preach

      2. The Gentiles he preaches to in other places have grown so much spiritually, that they wish to help their neighbors in Jerusalem

   4. Paul requests they keep in prayer with him so that he is delivered out of Judea from those who would not understand, that his service will be fruitful in Jerusalem, and that he may visit Rome soon during his travels