Strong Like Jesus

Romans · Romans 15 · October 11, 2026

Feeling weak? That might be exactly where Jesus makes you strong.

Strength training doesn’t just make us look good. It keeps us moving and living well for years. Spiritual strength works the same way, but it doesn’t look like the world’s idea of strength. In Romans 15, Paul picks up right where Romans 14 left off. Last week we learned how to “accept other believers who are weak in the faith” (Romans 14:1). This week he takes it a step further: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1).

That means we don’t just look out for ourselves. We use our strength to help others in their weakness, “to help others do what’s right and build them up in the Lord” (Romans 15:2), because even Christ didn’t live to please Himself.

Made to build, made to be strong

We are made to build. We were made to build our faith, God’s kingdom and each other. Jesus summed up the whole law as love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12:30–31), and the way we tangibly love God is by loving others. “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

We can be strong. Where are you strong: spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially? We can be strong when others are weak, and they can be strong when we are. And when we disagree, we remember that “we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies” (Ephesians 6:12). Our real fight is spiritual.

We can be strong because Jesus is strong. His strength broke the power of death and built a bridge between us and heaven. When Paul begged God to take away his “thorn in the flesh,” God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). As Paul said, “when I am weak, then I am strong.”

How to live like Jesus

Paul prays that God would give us “the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had” (Romans 15:5), the same phrase he uses in Philippians 2:5. So how do we live like Jesus? He told us Himself: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

1. Deny yourself: serve all you can. Though Jesus was God, He “took the humble position of a slave” (Philippians 2:7). He came “not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Every one of us is made to serve, whether at church, at a soup kitchen or at a local school.

2. Take up your cross: give all you can. Jesus gave everything, and the believers in Macedonia and Achaia gladly gave to those in need (Romans 15:26). You can’t out-give God. He wants more than your money, too. He wants your time and your heart.

3. Follow Jesus: bring all you can. Paul’s ambition was “to preach the good news where the name of Christ has never been heard” (Romans 15:20). “Preach” simply means to proclaim or tell, like the verse on our lobby wall: “Come and listen… let me tell you what the Lord has done for me” (Psalm 66:16). Follow those who are closer to Jesus than you, and reach back to bring others with you.

Some days it will be tough. When it is, “take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs” (Hebrews 12:12). Jesus is strong when we are weak.

Life Group questions

Getting to Know You

  1. Growing up, was there a character you wanted to be like/imitate (ie: super hero, sports player, cartoon character)?

Diggin’ Deeper

  1. When did you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? What changed when you became a Christ Follower?

Read Philippians 2:5-11

  1. How do you define being Christ-like?

Keepin’ It Real

Read Romans 15:5-6 and Matthew 16:24

  1. What would you be willing to lose or deny for Jesus?
  2. How can you proclaim the Good News in your family, work, community, this week?

Make this part of your prayer this week for others.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Scripture references

Romans 15:1–13 · Romans 15:20–28 · Romans 14:1 · Psalm 69:9 · Mark 12:30–31 · 1 Corinthians 10:31, 33 · Ephesians 6:10–12 · 2 Corinthians 12:8–10 · Romans 7:24–25 · Philippians 2:5–11 · 1 Corinthians 11:1 · Matthew 16:24–25 · Mark 10:43–45 · John 3:16 · Psalm 18:49 · Deuteronomy 32:43 · Psalm 117:1 · Isaiah 11:10 · Isaiah 52:15 · Mark 16:15 · Psalm 66:16 · Matthew 28:19–20 · Hebrews 12:12–13

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