Grace and freedom fit together hand-in-glove. When we find our identity in God’s grace, we experience the freedom to be precisely who God made us to be. When we learn to live and give grace to each other, we are able set others free too. This freedom in grace never comes easy. We can learn from the experience of early Roman believers how grace inspires unity out of diversity. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Read Romans 14:1-12 and if possible Romans 14:1-15:15. How would you describe the two main groups at odds with one another at the Roman church and what were some of the questions and issues that divided them? What are some issues Christians disagree about today? 2. How many specific commands can you identify in Romans 14:1-12? What are those commands? 3. How would you summarize Paul’s main concern and how he instructs the Roman Christians to treat one another? 4. What did you hear this weekend that inspired you, challenged you, or sparked disagreement or further consideration? 5. Consider essential, important, and non-essential/not very important beliefs and practices. To visualize these distinctions, try drawing a concentric circle with three parts representing these three categories beginning with “essential” in the smallest, inner core of circles. Write out some of your beliefs and faith practices under these three headings. Here’s a working definition for your categories. Essential: necessary in order to be a Christian Important: problematic and upsetting to experience disagreement Non-essential/Not Very Important: disagreement is not concerning in this area Evaluate your lists. If you have many or most of your beliefs and practices in the essential category, then you may easily disregard, judge, and be dismissive of others. If you have almost nothing in your essential and important categories, then you may be in danger of failing to maintain a minimum of belief and practice. 6. How do you think we should respond to Christians and to non-Christians who disagree with beliefs and practices in our different categories? How does our response affect the perspectives of unbelievers on Christians? What might it look like to give a little more grace to those who disagree with you?