All the Spaces in Between 11 Jun 17

What can I / am I allowed to do?

• Romans 14:1-5
• Are you fully convinced in your heart that it is right?

What if I’m okay with it, but someone else isn’t?

• Romans 14:6-13
• Romans 14:20-21
• Is it a stumbling block for others?

What if I can’t agree with someone else on an issue?

• Romans 14:14-19
• Does it bring peace and build others up?
  

What if I don’t have a clear answer?

• Romans 14:22-23
• If there is doubt, don’t.

What is the ultimate goal?

• Romans 15:1-7
• UNITY

How do we prepare ourselves for these situations?

1. Know what the Bible teaches.
2. Continue to pursue your walk with God.
3. Seek wise counsel.
4. If there’s doubt, don’t.

1. When was the last time you had a disagreement with someone and you just couldn’t come together on it? What was the issue?
2. In the Christian faith, we have found that there are areas in life that are not clear cut black and white – they are “gray” areas. What are some gray areas that you see other Christians disagreeing over?
   • When it comes to gray areas, the answers may not be obvious but there are answers. Based on Scripture, there are guidelines that Christians can follow when it comes to discerning how to navigate gray areas.
3. Read Romans 14:1-5. Are you fully convinced in your heart that it is right? Have you ever acted or spoken in response to what the crowd is doing without being fully  convinced yourself? Have you ever tried to convince the crowd or another individual to act or believe what you believe about a matter that does not have eternal implications? What are some ways that it can be easy to be dishonest with yourself regarding the question of being fully convinced in your heart?
4. Read Romans 14:6-13, 20-21. Is it a stumbling block for others? How would you define the phrase “stumbling block”? How can your choices in gray areas serve as stumbling blocks for others?
5. Read Romans 14:14-19. Does it bring peace and build others up? How does this apply to areas in which you personally do not struggle but others do?
6. Read Romans 14:22-23. When there’s doubt, don’t. What does this say about areas in which we just are uncertain about? Share some examples of how this principle has played true in your life.
7. Read Romans 15:1-7. Ultimately, does it bring unity? How can our choices about gray areas hurt unity within the church?
8. Thinking about others who are in your small group and with whom you worship on Sundays, what is the overall best course of action to take when it comes to those areas that you know may cause them to struggle?
9. Discuss why is it unnecessary to come to a consensus on every spiritual/scriptural issue.

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