How to Train Your Conscience, week 9b

Training One's Conscience (Romans 14-5)

Joe discusses the importance of being fully convinced in one's own mind about personal beliefs and practices, as referenced in Romans 14-5. He encourages individuals to ask themselves how they arrived at their convictions and whether there is biblical support for them, acknowledging that these may change over time due to growth in faith. He also addresses the concept of situational ethics, where actions may vary depending on the context, and the need to consider whether one's actions are edifying to others and aligned with glorifying God.

Influencing Others' Consciences

The discussion moves on to the idea of influencing or training others' consciences. It's important to examine the motives behind wanting to influence someone else and to ensure it's not an attempt to impose one's own convictions onto them. Joe stresses the significance of trusting God's progressive sanctification through the Christian community rather than taking sole responsibility for another's spiritual growth.

Differing Convictions Within the Church (Acts 15)

Finally, Joe touches upon the challenges when individual convictions differ from those of the church community, suggesting Acts 15 as a reference for further study on this issue. The session concludes with a prayer asking for guidance in bearing with one another's differences and maintaining unity within the church, centered around the gospel of Jesus Christ.