CrossPointe Church Westerville | Sermons (Audio)

We Who are Strong

Unity in the church is not something believers create. It is a gift from God that we are called to protect. Romans 15:1-6 makes clear that protecting unity requires selflessness, particularly from stronger believers who are called to bear with the weaknesses of others rather than insisting on their own preferences. The distinction between strong and weak believers is not a ranking but a description of conscience, and stronger believers are given their maturity as a stewardship to benefit others. Christ Himself set the ultimate example by not pleasing Himself, bearing the reproaches meant for sinners who deserved condemnation. Scripture fuels this kind of endurance by giving believers hope and encouragement for the journey. When different believers, tuned to the same Lord, lay down self-interest and worship together, their unity becomes visible proof that the gospel creates what human preference alone never could.

When the Wrong Voice Sounds Right

Building, Not Breaking: Part Two

Christian liberty is one of the most misunderstood gifts God has given His people. True freedom in Christ is not the license to do whatever we want, but the freedom to serve Him without being ruled by selfish desires. Romans 14:20-23 calls believers to be fully convinced in their own minds about disputable matters, testing every action against Scripture and asking whether it can be done with genuine thanksgiving to God. Acting against a doubting conscience is sinful, even when the action itself may be permissible, because faith always seeks to honor the Lord. A clear conscience is not built on personal preference or tradition but on God's Word. Liberty is a gift meant to strengthen the church, not a weapon to prove personal freedom.

Building, Not Breaking

Christian liberty is a gift, but it was never meant to be used as a weapon against fellow believers. Romans 14 addresses a real conflict in the early church between stronger and weaker believers who were condemning and despising each other over secondary issues like food and special days. Paul's response is rooted in the love command from Romans 13: love does no wrong to a neighbor. Every believer has two responsibilities when it comes to disputed freedoms. First, protect the spiritual well-being of others by refusing to pressure weaker believers into acting against their conscience. Second, actively pursue what builds up the church, because the kingdom of God is not about secondary issues but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The strongest Christians are not those who loudly insist on everything they have the right to do, but those most willing to surrender their rights for the spiritual good of others.

Unity in Diversity

The Church has always been made up of people with different backgrounds, convictions, and levels of spiritual maturity, and Romans 14 gives believers a clear path for living together in that diversity. Paul distinguishes between core Christian doctrine and personal opinions in areas where Scripture does not give a direct command. In those areas, believers are called to stop judging and despising one another, because God has already welcomed every genuine believer. Three actions hold the church together: accepting one another despite differences, faithfully living out personal convictions to honor the Lord, and remembering that every believer's ultimate accountability is to Christ alone. When honoring Christ becomes the highest priority, many conflicts with other believers shrink or disappear entirely. The church is strongest when its members stop trying to occupy Christ's judgment seat and start preparing to stand before it.

Living in the Last Days

Many believers affirm that Jesus is coming back, but far fewer actually live in light of that truth. Scripture calls us to cast off the works of darkness, those sinful attitudes and behaviors that have no place in a life surrendered to God, and to put on the armor of light. This is not passive religion. It is active, daily warfare against indwelling sin. Putting on Christ means allowing Him to govern every area of life: marriage, work, speech, finances, and even private thoughts. Holiness is not a solo pursuit. Believers are called to walk together, encourage one another, and keep each other anchored to the reality that Christ is returning. Live today in a way that His return would find you faithfully clothed in Him.

Distinct Yet One

The Debt Impossible to Discharge

Every Christian carries an ongoing obligation to love others, and it is a debt that never gets fully paid. Romans 13 makes clear that while financial debts can be settled, the debt of love resets every single morning. Loving yourself is natural and instinctive, but loving others in the same way is supernatural and requires the work of the Holy Spirit. Love is not simply the absence of hostility. It is the active presence of goodwill toward every person God places in your path. When we break God's commandments, we are in that moment loving ourselves more than we love God or others. Sin is not just bad behavior. It is disordered love. Our hope is not in our own perfect love but in Christ, who loved God and others perfectly and gave Himself for us. Because He has already accepted us, love becomes the evidence of the righteousness He is producing in us.

God, Government, and You

Christians are called to submit to governing authorities because all authority comes from God, not man. While we naturally resist authority due to our rebellious nature, Romans 13:1-7 teaches that government is a divine institution established by God for our good. This doesn't mean absolute obedience - when government commands what God forbids or forbids what God commands, we must obey God rather than man. Our practical obligations include paying taxes, showing respect to officials, and maintaining honor even toward leaders we disagree with. Our hope should never rest in earthly governments but in King Jesus, who rules over all authority.

Led, Loved, and Kept

Jesus asked his disciples the most important question in human history: Who do you say that I am? Peter's answer - the Christ of God - reveals Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King. Unlike other religious leaders who pointed away from themselves, Jesus made extraordinary claims about his identity. He claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life, leaving no room for considering him merely a good teacher. True biblical faith requires accepting Jesus in all three roles: as Prophet whose teaching we submit to, as Priest whose sacrifice saves us, and as King whose authority we surrender to. Many today embrace Jesus as Savior while resisting him as Lord, but this partial faith falls short of Peter's full confession.