1. Difference and Disagreement or Transforming Community, part III Rick Wright 14 th Sunday of Pentecost (A) September 14 2014

2. Wrong question? What do you think about using wine – not grape juice – when we celebrate communion? Two families leave the church! Protestant Christians (mostly in America) sometimes disagree about… Christians can + do sometimes disagree about how we will live if we are followers of Christ. Sometimes disagreements threaten unity + harmony within the Christian church!

3. Background of Romans 14 People from different religious + cultural backgrounds! Some Christians used to avoiding certain foods or drinks Or used to observing certain holidays Some Christians want to show that they have changed + are different How do we balance different opinions about how to live the Christian life?

4. Three theological truths Who are you to judge another servant?!? – Each of us belongs to God Make up your own mind… does so in honor of God – Other person does (not) eat/drink/celebrate in honor of God! – Be honest about why you do (not do) that – Just to be popular? Respected by society + culture? All of us will stand before God to be judged by him – Do not judge the other Christian – only God does that!

5. Why are we talking about this? Is this a problem in Church of the Nations? Challenges and difficulties in multiethnic multinational multicultural churches Maybe we should be having more disagreements! One day (soon? Here?) you will face disagreements + differences about how to live Christian life Remember what Paul says

6. Limits and essentials? Does this mean agree to disagree about anything or everything? No How can we tell? When will we know? In the essentials – unity. In non-essentials – liberty And in all things – charity. Even then… What does Paul teach us?