Study Questions for September 6, 2026

Working for Peace by Pastor Dale Beaver
Read Romans 14:1-23; Romans 15:1-7; and Romans 12:1-2.

1. Pastor Dale notes that Romans is one of the most highly developed theological letters in the New Testament and recommends utilizing the articles and study aids curated at the church's resource center. How does having an intentional, structured plan for studying Scripture help you move beyond a superficial reading of God's Word?
2. Read Romans 14:1-3. Pastor Dale warns against two pitfalls in the household of faith: strong believers flexing their freedom over the weak, and weak believers condemning those who walk in freedom. In what ways are you tempted to fall into either of these traps when you disagree with another believer on a non-essential issue?
3. The sermon notes define the "weak" as those whose consciences are easily wounded or constrained by non-essential issues, while the "strong" are grounded in Gospel freedom. Why is it important to realize that the weak are still actively seeking to honor God through their strict boundaries, rather than simply being legalistic?
4. Read Romans 12:1-2. Pastor Dale describes these verses as a "road sign" or anchor for how we should live out our convictions and freedoms in front of one another. How does allowing God to transform your mind change the way you think about and treat people who have different personal boundaries than you?
5. Read Romans 14:4-12. The sermon uses the phrase "stay in your seat" to remind us that the judgment seat belongs solely to the Master. How does remembering that we will all give a "personal, individual account" to God keep you from trying to jump into the Judge's seat to condemn others?
6. Discuss the transition Jewish and Gentile believers faced regarding the Mosaic law, holy days, and diets. How does Pastor Dale’s point that "this stuff gets in us" explain why it can take years, or even generations, for people to grow out of strict traditional backgrounds?
7. Read Romans 14:13-17. The kingdom of God is defined not as external rules like eating and drinking, but as goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Pastor Dale notes that this applies to modern debates like tattoos, piercings, vaccines, and masks. How can we prioritize goodness, peace, and joy over our personal liberties or restrictions in these areas?
8. Pastor Dale shares a cautionary story about a man in Kentucky who asked if the Bible prohibited drinking beer, went on to drink a case, and wrecked his truck. How does this story illustrate the danger of abusing our freedom without considering our own spiritual maturity or the safety of others?
9. Read Galatians 2 and consider the sermon's mention of the Apostle Peter’s spiritual journey. Even after his vision and the resurrection, Peter struggled with eating with Gentiles when other Jewish believers were around and had to be corrected by Paul. How does Peter's struggle give you hope when you find yourself slipping back into old patterns of fear or exclusion?
10. Read Romans 15:1-4. We are told that we must not live to please ourselves, following the example of Christ. How does laying down your rights for the sake of another believer's spiritual growth show a greater measure of Christian strength than simply exercising your freedom?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank the Father for the grace in which we stand and the freedom we have in Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to purify your heart of any condescension or judgmental attitudes, and to give you the humility to actively work for harmony within the church community this week.

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Analogy for Understanding: Imagine a family dinner table where children of all different ages and stages of growth are sitting down to eat. A mature older sibling has the physical capacity and freedom to eat complex, heavy foods without issue, while a toddler has a sensitive stomach and must stick to soft, simple foods. If the older sibling uses their physical strength to mock the toddler's simple diet, or if the younger child screams in protest because the older one is eating something different, the peace of the family dinner is completely destroyed. Relational peace in the church works the same way: true maturity is not about proving we have the "freedom" to eat whatever we want, but about willingly adjusting our behavior at the table so that everyone is built up and nourished together. Relational peace is a daily work where we offer our rights and convictions to serve the greater good of harmony.