Better A Millstone Ii

Dakota Community Church

May 3, 2009

Better a Millstone II

Luke 17:1-10

Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ’I repent,’ forgive him."

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ’Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ’Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ’Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ’We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ "

Quick Review:

A.) Sin happens

Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come…

i. Can you name anything that happens that “causes” you to sin?

ii. Have you ever been the tempter?

"Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Last week I mentioned a concept that is growing in popularity these days that everyone will be saved, that there is no eternal consequence for sin, and certainly there is no hell. We looked at the parable of the rich man and Lazarus as an example of Christ’s teaching on the subject:

Luke 16:19-31 (Rich man & Beggar)

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

I wanted to add a few actual passages this week for you to look at on this subject.

Matthew 25:11-12 (Ten Virgins)

"Later the others also came.’Sir! Sir!’ they said. ’Open the door for us!’

"But he replied, ’I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

Matthew 25:30 (Talents)

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:41, 46 (Sheep & Goats)

"Then he will say to those on his left, ’Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Matthew 24:50-51 (Day of the Lord)

The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:30 (Wheat & Tares)

Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ "

Matthew 13:48-50 (Fish in the Net)

When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 22:11-13 (Wedding Banquet)

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ’Friend,’ he asked, ’how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.

"Then the king told the attendants, ’Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 23:33 (Seven Woes)

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?