Be Encouraged

In Romans 15:1–6, Paul calls the church to be a community where the strong willingly bear with the weaknesses of others, seeking their good and building them up rather than living to please themselves. The sermon challenges the modern church’s temptation to pursue relevance, popularity, power, and consumer-driven growth, instead calling believers to follow the way of the Lamb by serving one another and becoming a refuge for the weary and struggling. We are encouraged by becoming encouragers—turning our attention away from self-pity and toward recognizing and affirming God’s work in the lives of others. We are also encouraged by looking to the past, especially to Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross and to God’s enduring faithfulness throughout the history of His people. Finally, we are encouraged by enjoying and appreciating our local church as a gift from God, imperfect yet valuable—a place where believers are loved, strengthened, and built up together. The sermon concludes with a practical challenge: intentionally encourage three brothers or sisters in Christ this week by pointing out genuine evidence of God’s grace and work in their lives, so that both giver and receiver may be strengthened and God may be glorified together.