B. Mentoring "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification." (2) Two aspects of mentoring are presented:

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview February 12, 2006 "Glorify God" Background & Lesson: Romans 15:1-13 Motivation: A familiar church creed begins "The chief end of man is to glorify God..." We find in this lesson that unity in the Body glorifies God. 1 Cor. 10:31; Micah 6:8 Examination: I. Serve Others A. Maturity "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves." (1) Consistently in God's Word we find that more mature Christians are held to a higher level of responsibility than those less mature. (Matt. 5:23-24; James 3:1). In continuing the discussion of Chapter 14, Paul emphasizes this principle again. "Scruples" is variously translated "infirmities", "failings", and "weaknesses". While it certainly is true in the physical realm, that the strong should help the weak, it primarily relates in this instance to Christian maturity. The more mature a person is in the Christian faith, the less he/she will live for self pleasure and the more he/she will seek to please God. B. Mentoring "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification." (2) Two aspects of mentoring are presented: 1. Encourage "please his neighbor" - The Amplified Bible renders this " make happy." By bearing with the weak and putting their concerns ahead of our own, we will encourage them and demonstrate Christ likeness. 1 / 7

2 2. Edify "leading to edification" - This phrase is variously translated "b uild him up," "help him grow," and "help in his development." Our "bearing" with the week is not a passive exercise that overlooks weakness. Rather, it involves constructive steps springing from a desire for peace (14:19) that leads to the weaker becoming stronger in the faith. Col. 2:6-7 C. Method "For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.'" (3) Jesus is the ultimate example of the strong bearing with the weak. Though He could have called "more than twelve legions of angels" (Matt. 26:53) to defend Him, He endured mockery, insult, torture and even death for our sakes. His method was not to please Himself but to please His Heavenly Father. D. Message "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." (4) Another argument for this principle of service is the clear instruction of Scripture. In the previous verse, Paul quoted from Psalm 69:9. Though the Psalm is Messianic, it reminds us of our responsibility to endure hardship for a greater good (Rom. 5:1-5). It's also a good reminder of why we study God's Word: 1. "Learning" - 2 Timothy 2:15 "study to show thyself approved...rightly dividing the word of truth." 2. "Patience" - Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (NIV). 3. "Comfort" - 2 Corinthians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." (cf. v. 4) 2 / 7

3 4. "Hope" - 1 Thessalonians 1:3 "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father." 1 Cor. 13:13 As we study God's Word, learning, patience, comfort and hope should motivate us to obedience and faith, becoming "doers of the word and not hearers only" (James 1:21). II. Get Along With Others A. Goal "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus." (5) Unity is our goal with the understanding that it is also a grace gift. God must "grant" it to us. The gift of "like-mindedness" will only be possible if we take on the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5-11) and follow his example. 1. Unity is initiated by God. 2. Unity involves patience and comfort. 3. Unity issues from a desire to glorify God. B. Glory "That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (6) In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul cites our ultimate mission statement: "Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" How do we give God glory? (Ezek. 43:1-5) 3 / 7

4 1. We glorify God by unity in His Body. Out text makes clear that God desires one-ness (Eph. 4:3-6). John 17: We glorify God by our worship and praise. "Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together" (Ps. 34:3; Ps. 50:14-15, 23; Jer. 29:11; Ps. 86:9, 12; Rom. 8:17, 30; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 2:12; Rev. 15:4 3. We glorify God by using His gifts to serve "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10). 4. We glorify God by letting our light shine "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). 5. We glorify God by abundant, responsible reproduction of disciples "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be My disciples" (John 15:8). III. Treat Others Well "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: for this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.' And again he says: Rejoice, O gentiles, with His people!' And again: Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!' And again, Isaiah says: There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.' " 4 / 7

5 (7-12) Eph. 2:11-12 William Barclay comments: "Paul makes one last appeal that all people within the Church should be bound into one, that those who are weak in the faith and those who are strong in the faith should be one united body, that Jew and Gentile should find a common fellowship. There may be many differences but there is only one Christ, and the bond of unity is a common loyalty to him. Christ's work was for Jew and Gentile alike. He was born a Jew and was subject to the Jewish law. This was in order that all the great promises given to the fathers of the Jewish race might come true and that salvation might come first to the Jew. But he came, not only for the Jew, but for the Gentile also. To prove that this is not his own novel and heretical idea Paul cites four passages from the Old Testament; he quotes them from the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament, which is why they vary from the translation of the Old Testament as we know it. The passages are Psalm 18:50; Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 117:1; Isaiah 11:10. In all of them Paul finds ancient forecasts of the reception of the Gentiles into the faith. He is convinced that, just as Jesus Christ came into this world to save all men, so the Church must welcome all men, no matter what their differences may be. Christ was an inclusive Savior, and therefore his Church must be an inclusive Church." (The Letter to the Romans, p. 198) IV. Find Hope In thespirit "Now may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (13). Paul concludes with a prayer for his readers: (2 Pet. 3:9) 1. He prays to "the God of all hope" - Hope is only found for eternity in Him. Any other basis for hope is temporary. Titus 2: He prays for filling - Hope must be a grace gift granted by God through the filling of His Spirit. 3. He prays for joy - The results of the proper disposition (5) will be unity resulting in joy. God's Word never paints our Christian experience as a grim business to be endured. Rather, the Christian life is to be lived in abundance with great joy (John 10:10; 15:11). 5 / 7

6 4. He prays for peace - Another result of unity will be peace, one of our goals in the Body (14:19). 5. He prays for belief - God's grace gifts are accepted by faith based on belief in His Word. 6. He prays for hope - Since God is the "God of all hope," His followers should be noted for abounding in hope. Faith and hope are tied together. Since we cannot please God without faith, (Heb. 11:6) hope should be in abundant supply to true followers of Christ. 7. He prays for power - Our power is only available through God's Holy Spirit. John 15:5; Mark 10:27 Application: 1. Mature believers have a responsibility to the weak. 2. God's Word grows us into His Likeness. 3. We glorify God through our unity. Explore the Bible Teachers Packet: Item 21 Poster: Behavior That Glorifies God Item 22 Handout: Scripture Search 6 / 7

7 Illustrator: No article Notes & Dates: Feb MYA Valentine event, Mar Guatemala & Cuba Rookie Trips, Mar Fred Luter preaching (Franklin Ave.), Mar Apr. 1 - Precept Ministries Training Institute; Apr Easter, Apr Teacher Training Track 102; May 31 - June 4 - Middle School Camp; June Vacation Bible School; June 17 - HCDE Summer Conf.; June High School Camp 7 / 7