Gracious God, open our minds to understanding, teach our hearts to love, and strengthen our wills to carry out the mission of your Word. Amen.
New Testament Reading: Romans 15:1-7
There’s a quiet strength in a community where people look out for each other, not just when it’s convenient, not just when they agree, but even when they don’t. And in our New Testament reading from the Book of Romans today, the Apostle Paul, its author, gives us a vision for that kind of community: one marked not by selfishness, but by sacrificial love. It’s a community that supports one another, and builds each other up, despite any, and all differences.
Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is a letter which he wrote to the newly formed church in Rome who were undergoing growing pains. The church was made up of both Jewish and Gentile believers who had recently come to faith in Christ, but now there was growing tension between the members as the differences in their cultural backgrounds was causing jealousy and dissension. So, he took the time to write a letter to explain the heart of the Gospel message to them, which is to love one another, live in harmony with one another, and with unified hearts and voices offer praise to God.
This morning, we heard the opening verses of the fifteenth chapter which started with these lines, “We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbour for the good purpose of building up the neighbour.”
Here Paul isn’t talking about physical strength. He’s speaking about spiritual maturity. The “strong” are those who understand their freedom in Christ and are willing to help others, and to be patient, gentle, kind and understanding. Paul says, “Use your strength to lift others up—not to please yourselves.”
Paul isn’t asking us to abandon our convictions, but he is challenging us to think of others first. In the next line he says, “For even Christ did not please himself.” Our Saviour, the Son of God, the one with all authority, did not come to be served, but to serve. He carried our burdens. He bore our weakness. He took on our sin. So, when Paul says, “don’t please yourselves,” he’s not giving a new law, he’s inviting us into the likeness of Christ.
Sometimes building others up means listening patiently. Sometimes it means making space for their questions. Sometimes it means sacrificing what you’re entitled to so that someone else doesn’t stumble. Other times, it might mean gently challenging someone toward growth—but only when love, not pride, is driving the conversation.
Can you imagine a community where this kind of love is the norm? Where the strong don’t flaunt their strength, but quietly carry others? Where people use their freedom not as a weapon, but as a way to welcome others in? Where every decision is made not by asking, “What’s best for me?” but rather “What will build up my neighbour?”
This is the kind of church God dreams of. A church that lives, not for itself, but for one another. A church shaped by the cross, where strength is shown in service and love is the highest calling. This is the kind of love that builds up. It doesn’t tear down. It doesn’t manipulate or dominate. It invests in others because it believes God is still at work in them. This is the heart of the Gospel lived out: we care for others, even when it’s hard, because that’s what Christ did for us.
Paul then continues on to say, “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” In these words, Paul gives us a glimpse of what the church is called to be: not just a place where people gather, but a place where people welcome one another the way Christ welcomed us—not based on merit, background, or behavior, but on grace.
Notice the standard applied here. We are to accept each other as Christ accepted us. How did he accept us? He accepted us “while we were yet sinners.” He took us when we were hopeless and gave us hope. He loved us in spite of our sin and welcomed us when we did not deserve to be welcomed. He opened heaven to us when we deserved only hell. This is a high standard, so high that we will never meet it in our own power. Only Christ himself can give us strength to accept others this way.
And these aren’t just nice words, Paul is reminding us of God’s character. He is a God who does not give up on people. A God who strengthens the weary. A God who encourages the discouraged. There are two things every human being longs for: to belong and to be welcomed. To be known and not rejected. To be embraced, not excluded.
And it is God, not our own willpower or strategy, who can give us what we need to live in harmony with each other. If you’ve ever tried to love someone difficult, you know it’s not easy. Unity isn’t natural. It’s something we need help with—divine help. That’s the key. Christian unity isn’t just about “getting along.” It’s about living in a way that reflects the heart and humility of Jesus. Jesus, who lowered himself to become human, who strengthened the weak, and who forgave and welcomed sinners.
So, how did Christ welcome you? He welcomed you while you were still a sinner, he welcomed you without hesitation. He welcomed you not because you were good enough, but because his love was great enough. In the same way we are called to welcome others with that same grace—even when they frustrate us, even when they don’t agree with us, even when it would be easier to keep our distance. The church becomes a living testimony to God’s glory not through perfection, but through love. Not by everyone being the same, but by everyone being welcomed.
Paul’s words are both a prayer and a call. He prays that God would shape our hearts, because only God can truly teach us to love like Jesus. And he calls us to act, to welcome, to live in harmony, to glorify God with one voice. We are to welcome newcomers not as strangers, but as those Christ already welcomes. Our lives together as a church are to be reflection of Christ’s love—steadfast, encouraging, welcoming. This is not an easy calling, but it is a holy one. And by God’s grace, we can do it.
What we can learn from this is that unity is a precious gift from God. Where unity is present, all things are possible. When a church is divided, nothing works right. Unity is easily lost and hard to regain. True unity does not happen by accident. We must pray for it, and we must work at it.
A good example of the unity in the early church can be found in the Book of Acts. On the Day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit had descended upon the believers and gave them the gift of speaking to the crowds who had gathered in that Jerusalem square in their own languages, the disciple Peter stood up and addressed the crowd. He told them about Jesus, saying, “‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’” (Acts 2:36) Following this, the author of Acts, the Apostle Luke, writes, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:41)
Luke then continues on to tell us, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47) The unity of the early church wasn’t just a matter of shared belief—it was a way of life. They were bound together by the Spirit, committed to learning, to one another, and to the needs of the community. In their generosity, worship, and daily fellowship, they gave the world a glimpse of God’s kingdom on earth.
May we, too, be inspired to live with such sincerity, generosity, and devotion—so that through our shared life, others may come to know the love and grace of Christ.
Let us Pray:
Gracious and welcoming God, you are the one who never gives up on us, who strengthens us in weakness, who encourages us when we are discouraged, and who welcomes us just as we are—with mercy and love.
Thank you for the gift of Christ, who did not wait for us to be worthy, but met us in our need and called us your own.
Now, O Lord, help us to reflect that same love. Teach us to live in harmony with one another. Give us patience for our differences, grace in our disagreements, and a spirit of unity that honours you.
Make us a church that sings with one voice—a song of hope, of faith, and of welcome. And may all we do be for your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our example, we pray. Amen.