• 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
• 2 Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up.
• 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
• 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
• 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
• 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

INTRODUCTION:

• Are you strong or weak? We need a yard stick, a way to measure.
• Weight lifters can measure their strength easily.
• Body builders can measure their biceps.
• Architects can measure the strength of building materials.
• Chemists can measure the strength of an acid or base.
• Car builders can measure the strength of their cars through crash tests.
• Educators can measure mental strength through testing.

How do we measure ourselves, to see if we are strong or weak in the Faith?

I. The strong Christian has patience to bear with weaker Christians.

• 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,
• 7 ¶ but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
• 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
• 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
• 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
• 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
• 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
  (I Thessalonians 2:6-12)

Paul treated the Thessalonian Christians as if he were their mother. How do mothers treat infants? Not roughly. Not thoughtlessly. No, we feed them milk, we dress them, we keep them clean, we hug them and love them. When they throw temper tantrums we keep on loving them. When they dis-obey us, we keep on loving them. We treat children gently until they grow up. Strong Christians, you must treat weak and infant Christians in the same way. Sure, it takes a lot of patience and long-suffering, but that's what Christ has called us to do.

II. The strong Christian is actively engaged in helping his neighbors and especially his brothers in Christ.

• 25 ¶ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
• 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
• 27 He answered: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’"
• 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
• 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?"
• 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead.
• 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
• 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
• 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
• 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
• 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
• 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
• 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
  (Luke 10:25-37)

• Have you heard of physicians who go to remote jungle villages to help the needy?
• Have you heard of Phd linguists, who could hold University chairs, but who go to remote mountains to teach people to read the Bible in their own language?
• Have you heard of people who could run major Fortune 500 companies, and be millionaires, but instead run mission boards and live on peanuts?

There are many such, and God has called you and me to do likewise. Maybe not to go to a far away primitive country, but to serve our neighbors right here in the Chattanooga area.

III. The strong Christian can bear the insults of unbelievers.

• 38 ¶ "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’
• 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
• 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
• 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
• 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
• 43 ¶ "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
• 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
• 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
• 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
• 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
• 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  (Matthew 5:38-48)

We do not naturally refrain from retaliation, revenge, and fighting back. But we are called to be meek and humble, when it comes to insults. This does not mean we freely receive criminal attacks: robbery, rape, vandalism, murder, etc. But it does mean we stop fighting back if it is only words, or only minor slights. A slap on the cheek is nothing. Carrying a bag for a soldier two miles instead of one. Helping all who ask for help, even if you feel it will never get paid back.

• 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
• 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
• 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
• 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
• 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
• 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
  (I Peter 2:18-23)

Why must we act so humbly? Because we are on a mission to win souls for Christ. We are not here to please ourselves, or build ourselves up, or to eliminate people who don't want to be Christians. We are here to be witnesses for Christ.

IV. The strong Christian has laid up a good store of Bible knowledge.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)

• 23 ¶ That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
• 24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.
• 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.
• 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.
• 27 Finally, the woman died.
• 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"
• 29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
  (Matthew 22:23-29)

• I love you, O LORD, my strength.
• 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
• 3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
• 4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
• 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
• 6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
  (Psalm 18:1-6)

VI. The strong Christian is faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

The word "disciple" is used about 400 times in the New Testament to designate Christians. It's the most common word. For example...

• Ac 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
• Ac 6:2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
• Ac 6:7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly
• Ac 18:23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and travelled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
• Ac 18:27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
• Ac 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples

If you are a Christian, you must be a disciple of Jesus. If you are not a disciple of Jesus, then you are not a Christian. What is a disciple? He or she is a person who has learned about Jesus, and who loves and worships Him, and tries to please Him every day of his or her life. You learn Jesus' teachings, and you believe and obey. That's what a disciple is. Are you a disciple of Christ? Or have you claimed to be a Christian without really counting the cost, and understanding what it really means?

VII. The strong Christian praises God together with other Christians.

• 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
  (Romans 15:6-7)

• 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.
• 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

I know of many "Christians" who just refuse to get committed to a local church. There is always something they don't like. The preaching is boring. The people are not friendly. The pews are uncomfortable. The music is bad. Etc. etc. Just know this, if you refuse to get involved in church (notice I didn't say "just go" to church) then you are not being obedient to Jesus and His apostles. You are disobeying the Word of God. If you can't find a church you like, then find one you hate less than the others, and get involved, and try to fix what needs fixing. God has called you to be a blessing to other Christians. Church is not about what you can GET, but what you can GIVE (to God, and to the other believers). As Jack Kennedy famously said: "As not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church!"

VIII. The strong Christian never forgets that he himself is an unworthy sinner saved by grace.

Have we forgotten how gracious God was to US? Were we not wretched sinners when Jesus saved us? Were we not weak? Were we not proud and arrogant? Were we not immoral and unkind and selfish? Did any of us deserve salvation? No, of course not! And God has called us to imitate Jesus, to love the unlovely, to accept the unacceptable. How are we doing? Remember yourself when you first came to Christ. The strong Christian never forgets that "there but for the grace of God go I."

Remember the parable of the forgiven servant who refused to forgive others.

• 23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
• 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
• 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
• 26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
• 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go.
• 28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
• 29 "His fellow-servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
• 30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
• 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
• 32 "Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
• 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow-servant just as I had on you?’
• 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
• 35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
  (Matthew 18:23-35)

CONCLUSION: The key to everything is keeping our eyes on Jesus. This world is not about me and you. We are not here to please ourselves. If we are really Christians, then we are disciples of Christ, and we want to please Him in everything. May God give us grace to have this attitude.