Open:
“Survival of the fittest” what is meant by this phrase?
Terry said he thought, “The prevailing undercurrent in our culture is survival of the fittest.” Do you agree?
In what way does this undercurrent of “survival of the fittest” always fail? Are the strong always as strong as they think?
Objective:
Our objective is to know and understand that the only way to truly win in life is to do life God’s way. So if we’re truly going to be the strong brother or sister then we’ve got to become the one who is the mature one in Christ. We do this by seeing our selfishness for what it is and we take decisive actions against it.
Read:
Romans 15:1-6,
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 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. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Study:
Verse 1: The strong must bear with the weak and not live to please self:
- Why does Paul tell us this?
- In what ways is it upside down from the world way of thinking?
Verse 2: We are to do to others as we would have them do to us.
- Why are we to actively pursue the good of others?
Verse 3: Even Christ did not please himself…but instead took abuse and suffering from others for their own good.
- What are the implications of Christ example?
Verse 4: Everything written in the past was written to teach us: so that through the endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
- Does what you read in the scriptures have application for your life today? Why?
- Specifically how does it give one endurance and encouragement that leads to hope?
Verse 5, 6: 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.
- What does this Prayer for the Romans and us tell us about God?
- What does it tell us about unity?
With all this in mind answer the following questions:
- How do you win?
- What does it mean to win?
- How do you measure?
Apply:
The starting point for us in becoming the stronger brother or sister is to become the mature one. That means we see our selfishness for what it is and we take decisive actions:
- Pray for change: Ask fervently and consistently for God to change you.
- Judge your judging: Who do you want to be? Is the action, attitude, or word in line with that? No? Then judge it as wrong.
- Work on your thinking: Get perspective sooner rather than later.