Picture the upper room on the night before the cross. Lamps flicker. Shadows stretch. The disciples whisper, anxious and unsure. Jesus—hours from betrayal and death—lifts His eyes and prays. Not for escape. Not for vengeance. Not even for His own relief. He prays for us: “That they may all be one… so that the world may believe” (John 17:20–21).
That prayer echoes in Romans 15. After urging believers to welcome one another across differences (Rom. 14), Paul calls the church to live “in harmony… with one voice” so that God is glorified (Rom. 15:5–6). Unity isn’t sentimental or optional—it’s essential to our witness.
I. Bearing With One Another (Rom. 15:1–3)
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” To “bear with” is more than tolerating—it’s shouldering weight.
How to bear well
- Encourage, don’t criticize. Step toward the struggler.
- Be patient. Growth is a process, not a performance.
- Sacrifice comfort. Lay down preferences (style, methods, convenience) for a sibling’s good.
“For Christ did not please himself.” The cross is the pattern: strength leveraged for another’s good (Gal. 6:2; Col. 3:13; Phil. 2:3–4).
II. Encouragement Through the Word (Rom. 15:4–6)
Scripture is God’s tuning fork. A symphony doesn’t harmonize by shouting parts; every instrument tunes to the same pitch. So do we. The Word gives endurance, encouragement, and hope—and lifts our voices into one song.
Practice: In tension, ask together, “What does God’s Word say?” Not to weaponize verses, but to submit our hearts to the same authority.
III. United for God’s Glory (Rom. 15:7–12)
“Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Jesus fulfilled promises to Israel and embraced the nations; Paul strings OT citations to show unity has always been God’s plan. The family table is messy—but we share the same Name and the same grace.
Welcoming looks like:
- Moving toward the new or different.
- Making room for consciences and backgrounds unlike yours.
- Choosing embrace over suspicion because Christ embraced you first.
IV. Overflowing With Hope (Rom. 15:13)
Paul ends with a prayer, not a pep talk: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing… so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Joy, peace, and hope are Spirit-supplied. Stay connected and they overflow like a reservoir—refreshing families, friendships, and the church.
Living It This Week
- Carry a weight: Send a note, share a meal, cover a task for someone weary.
- Tune together: Open Scripture in a disagreement and submit together to what it says.
- Set a place: Intentionally welcome someone different from you—sit with them, listen to their story.
- Pray Rom. 15:13: Ask the Spirit to refill joy, peace, and hope where you feel drained.
What was temporary on a battlefield Christmas truce is meant to be permanent in Christ’s church: enemies made family, voices raised in one song, a unity the world can’t explain—only behold.
