Peace and Building Up

In Romans 14:19–23, Paul calls the church to pursue peace and mutual upbuilding rather than allowing disagreements over non-essential issues to fracture Christian fellowship. Because the Roman church included believers with differing convictions about food, drink, and other practices, Paul reminds them that these matters are secondary to the gospel and should never become reasons to destroy God’s work. The sermon highlights three ways Christians can cultivate a healthy and flourishing church: refusing to fight over non-essential issues, lovingly using our freedom so that we do not cause another believer to stumble, and living together with faithful and clear consciences. True peace is more than the absence of conflict—it is the presence of flourishing, forgiveness, love, encouragement, and mutual care. Rather than being peace-breakers or peace-fakers, Christians are called to be peacemakers who devote their energy to building one another up and advancing the mission of Christ.