Practicing Love toward the Weak Galatians 6:1-5

2 Weak (Matt. 26:41; 1 Cor. 10:12) Wide range of spiritual ages & conditions “Without strength, feeble, frail, hesitating” Three basic areas of weakness:  One is not sin  One is sin  One can become sin Help practicing love toward the weak Wide range of spiritual ages & conditions “Without strength, feeble, frail, hesitating” Three basic areas of weakness:  One is not sin  One is sin  One can become sin Help practicing love toward the weak

Weak in Conscience 1 Cor. 8:7-9, 10-12; 9:22 Without full assurance toward a non-sinful matter, Rom. 14:1-2, 5, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23 This form of weakness is not a sin  Doubtful conscience toward personal liberty, 1 Cor. 8:7-10, 12 Loving the weak in conscience:  Don’t cause to stumble; bear with, Ro. 15:1-3  Foregoing your liberty (without resentment)  Receive without disputing, Rom. 14:1, 19 Without full assurance toward a non-sinful matter, Rom. 14:1-2, 5, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23 This form of weakness is not a sin  Doubtful conscience toward personal liberty, 1 Cor. 8:7-10, 12 Loving the weak in conscience:  Don’t cause to stumble; bear with, Ro. 15:1-3  Foregoing your liberty (without resentment)  Receive without disputing, Rom. 14:1, 19

4 Spiritually Weak 1 Cor. 11:30 Fallen into sin, Gal. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20 This form of weakness is sin  Negligent; disobedient Practicing love toward spiritually weak:  Strengthen and restore  Carry their burden, Gal. 6:1-2  Teach them, Heb. 12:12-13  Be merciful, not impatient, Jude Fallen into sin, Gal. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20 This form of weakness is sin  Negligent; disobedient Practicing love toward spiritually weak:  Strengthen and restore  Carry their burden, Gal. 6:1-2  Teach them, Heb. 12:12-13  Be merciful, not impatient, Jude 22-23

5 Spiritual Immaturity Hebrews 5:12-6:3 Not necessarily sin, but can become sin, 1 Pet. 2:2  New Christians need to grow up  When a Christian refuses to grow he becomes weak and unfaithful, 1 Cor. 3:1-3 Practicing love toward spiritually weak:  Help them grow to maturity, Eph. 4:15-16 Not necessarily sin, but can become sin, 1 Pet. 2:2  New Christians need to grow up  When a Christian refuses to grow he becomes weak and unfaithful, 1 Cor. 3:1-3 Practicing love toward spiritually weak:  Help them grow to maturity, Eph. 4:15-16

6 Guidelines for Loving the Weak Examine your heart  Humility, 1 Cor. 8:1-3  Love, 1 Cor. 8:1  Gentleness with self-examination, Gal. 6:1 Examine your heart  Humility, 1 Cor. 8:1-3  Love, 1 Cor. 8:1  Gentleness with self-examination, Gal. 6:1

7 Guidelines for Loving the Weak Assess the present & long term issues  Is truth at stake?  Is a soul in danger? Acts 20:20  Is this a matter of personal liberty or of sin? (Rom. 14:1, 13; 15:1-2) Assess the present & long term issues  Is truth at stake?  Is a soul in danger? Acts 20:20  Is this a matter of personal liberty or of sin? (Rom. 14:1, 13; 15:1-2)

8 Guidelines for Loving the Weak Support the weak, 1 Ths. 5:14; (2 Tim. 2:24-26)  Forbearance: Bear with, sustain, endure  Meekness: Gentle strength (1 Cor. 4:21)  Longsuffering: Self-restraint in the face of provocation that does not hastily retaliate  Use opportunities to help them grow Discipline unruly, 2 Ths. 3:6, Support the weak, 1 Ths. 5:14; (2 Tim. 2:24-26)  Forbearance: Bear with, sustain, endure  Meekness: Gentle strength (1 Cor. 4:21)  Longsuffering: Self-restraint in the face of provocation that does not hastily retaliate  Use opportunities to help them grow Discipline unruly, 2 Ths. 3:6, 14-15