Offenses Series

The Great Commission

Part 19 – Offences

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –

“Seminary Students will be preaching”

May 18th – Lynnette Higgins

May 25th – Walker Spriggs

June 1th – Deacon Kurt Ulman

June 8th – Grace Steadman

June 15th – Lori Ulman

WHERE WE ARE AT

† Disciples argue about who is Greatest?

† Jesus speaks to them about offences and followers.

SCRIPTURE READING

Mark 9:42-50

42 "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, where the fire never goes out. {44 ’their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’} 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into Gehenna. {46 ’their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’} 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where ’their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

INTRODUCTION

Who is the greatest?

The Disciples argued this on the road to Capernaum.

Jesus corrected them by telling them that whoever wants to be first, MUST be last.

Like a child, they must believe and follow God.

And whoever receives one of these children, is really receiving Jesus. And whoever receives Jesus is really receiving God.

So we must be like children, having full faith and trust in our Father in heaven.

And we must not forbid those who do things in the name of Jesus.

Jesus said, if they are not against us (speaking or teaching anything that contradicts the Word of God) then they are for us. And we should receive them as such.

Whoever gives you even a cup of water because you belong to me, and it is done in my name, they will not lose their reward.

It is about receiving the children of God, and helping them.

But just as God rewards those who do even the smallest help for children of God, He also addresses those who do the smallest offense to the children of God.

I. ANYONE WHO OFFENDS ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHO BELIEVES IN ME.

a. 42 "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

Jesus makes it clear about how He feels about anyone attacking a child of God.

i. It is not hard to imagine how someone can cause you to sin.

1. They could draw you into gossip.

2. They could cause anger or strife, envy, or worse…

ii. But we too, can be the cause of others stumbling.

1. We represent the Kingdom,

a. In how we talk

b. In how we live

c. In how we respond to situations

d. In how we treat sinners

e. In everything we do, everywhere we go, and everything we say.

iii. Jesus said it is better for them (who attack a child of God’s) if they tie a millstone around their neck and cast themselves into the sea.

1. Just as the smallest help toward a child of God is rewarded, the smallest offense against a child of God is also addressed.

2. Our Father in heaven is protective of us, because we are His children.

Others may offend us, we may offend other followers, we can even cause ourselves to sin, and are warned by Jesus as well.

II. REMOVE THE OFFENSE FROM YOUR LIFE.

a. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, where the fire never goes out. {44 ’their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’}

Their Worm… Their (autos) Greek word meaning the worm of those who are in Gehenna.

b. Do not allow yourself to be placed in a position of opposing those who are truly of God.

c. Like the Apostles telling the man to stop casting out demons on the name of Jesus simply because he wasn’t one of the 12.