Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. - Romans 14:13-14 (NKJV)
We are responsible for one another. Paul made this point as he outlined the guidelines for believers' behavior. As Christians, we must take our fellow believers in Christ into account when it comes to the choices we make and directions we take in life. We need to make sure that we never put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
Practically, this means we need to take into account what we do when we're around other Christians. You see, there's a whole host of things that the Bible doesn't specify as sin, but they're still somewhat objectionable to others. Scripture says that these things can be a sin for them (Romans 14:23). But what if I happen to enjoy one of these things and I'm in the company of a believer who doesn't feel the same way? I could be defensive and demand my rights. Or, because I recognize that I'm responsible for the spiritual well-being of that believer, I can deny what I enjoy and behave in a way that best serves my brother or sister in Christ.
It's a true turning point in your Christian walk when you stop viewing responsibility as something confined to yourself and start seeing that you're also responsible for your fellow believers. You have innumerable freedoms in Jesus, but may your sense of responsibility guide and govern the way you enjoy those freedoms.
And you are sinning against Christ when you sin against other Christians by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong. (1 Corinthians 8:12 NLT)
DIG - In what way are Christians responsible for each other?
DISCOVER - Have you personally struggled with not exercising some of your freedoms?
DISPLAY - What must you do in order to be more responsible in this area?
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At the age of 24, Bob Coy left a coveted position in the music industry to serve as an associate pastor with Calvary Chapel of Las Vegas. In 1985, Bob and his wife, Diane, moved to Fort Lauderdale and began Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale. As senior pastor, he has become well known for his unique style in expounding the Scriptures, making them come alive and relate to those of us living in the 21st century. His teaching style emphasizes the believer's "life application" of the highest standards of God's truth while his delivery captures the loving heart of God's Spirit.
Pastor Bob has had the rare privilege of watching God's miraculous hand move in the individual lives of those in the fellowship as well as the corporate body as a whole. From the first meeting in a living room with four in attendance, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale has now become home to over 17,000 men and women from the tri-county area, and ranks as the eighth largest church in the country. Though many have tried to attribute its rapid growth to numerous reasons, no one is more surprised by the phenomenon than Pastor Bob, who gives total credit and all the glory to God alone.
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