The Chapel at Fishhawk
Love That Limits Iteself // Romans 14:13-19
Sunday Gathering
Locations & Times
The Chapel at Fishhawk
6026 Churchside Dr, Lithia, FL 33547, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
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https://thechapelfh.churchcenteronline.com/givingAdditional Scripture
1. The Illusion of Freedom
Freedom that forgets love becomes selfishness disguised as spirituality.
Galatians 5:13-14
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
1 Corinthians 8:9
“But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”
James 4:12
“There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”
2. The Command: Stop Judging, Start Building
Love doesn’t look for loopholes; it looks for ways to lift.
Romans 15:1-2
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
“‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”
Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
3. The Conviction: Nothing Is Unclean in Itself
Love values people over preferences.
Mark 7:15
“There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Romans 12:10
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
1 Corinthians 8:11-13
“And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
4. The Core: The Kingdom Is Internal, Not External
The Spirit is more interested in transforming your motives than modifying your menu.
Luke 17:20-21
“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Philippians 3:9
“And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Colossians 3:15-17
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Romans 8:6
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
5. The Call: Pursue Peace and Mutual Upbuilding
Peace doesn’t just happen - it’s hunted.
Hebrews 12:14
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Ephesians 4:2-3
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Psalm 34:14
“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
James 3:17-18
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Romans 12:18
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
6. The Freedom of the Cross
The cross is the ultimate picture of freedom restrained by love.
Philippians 2:5-8
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
John 10:17-18
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”
Romans 5:8
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
1. The Illusion of Freedom
Freedom that forgets love becomes selfishness disguised as spirituality.
Galatians 5:13-14
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
1 Corinthians 8:9
“But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”
James 4:12
“There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”
2. The Command: Stop Judging, Start Building
Love doesn’t look for loopholes; it looks for ways to lift.
Romans 15:1-2
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
“‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”
Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
3. The Conviction: Nothing Is Unclean in Itself
Love values people over preferences.
Mark 7:15
“There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Romans 12:10
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
1 Corinthians 8:11-13
“And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
4. The Core: The Kingdom Is Internal, Not External
The Spirit is more interested in transforming your motives than modifying your menu.
Luke 17:20-21
“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Philippians 3:9
“And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Colossians 3:15-17
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Romans 8:6
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
5. The Call: Pursue Peace and Mutual Upbuilding
Peace doesn’t just happen - it’s hunted.
Hebrews 12:14
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Ephesians 4:2-3
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Psalm 34:14
“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
James 3:17-18
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Romans 12:18
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
6. The Freedom of the Cross
The cross is the ultimate picture of freedom restrained by love.
Philippians 2:5-8
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
John 10:17-18
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”
Romans 5:8
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”