Offensive Jesus Series

WARNING: This Sermon Contains Material That May Overcome Offense Series

Based on John Benere’s book, The Bait of Satan

Offensive Jesus

Oct. 7, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction

A One time a church member came to me with some things that troubled him at our church & the direction the church was going under my leadership.

1 After 20 minutes to air his offense, I had an opportunity to respond

a I started quoting Scripture & was immediately told, "If you’re going to start using the Bible we’re done talking. You study/ know the Bible more than I do."

b My soul screamed, "This is the Church, the Bible is our handbook/manual, if its teachings don’t match with our traditions, then our traditions are what is in need of changing."

B Following Jesus, leading of the Holy Spirit, means there will be opportunities to offend people.

1 Peter was writing to the early church, who were following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

a The Jews had rejected a relationship with Jesus by relying on the regulation of the Law.

aa They were going to earn their salvation by following their traditions, regulations, rules, laws.

bb You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me ...John 5:39 (NASB)

b Jesus became "a stone of stumbling and a rock of OFFENSE" to those who wanted to hold on to their ideas of how church is supposed to be.

2 We picture Jesus as a shepherd carrying the lamb or holding the children (not the whole picture).

a Table-turning, name-calling (Pharisees: serpents, brood of vipers), harsh (let the dead bury their dead), Jesus who offended.

b Sometimes Jesus just got up in the grill of peoples’ souls.

aa Pharisees You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 8 ’THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 9 ’BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ " 10 After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, "Hear and understand. 11 "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." 12 Then the disciples came* and said* to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?" 13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Matt 15:7-13 (NASB)

bb Hometown Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." Matt 13:55-57 (NASB) Jesus didn’t shut up, spoke the truth

cc Family For not even His brothers were believing in Him. John 7:5 (NASB) Jesus was rejected by those closest to Him.

dd Disciples (ie. staff) Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?" 61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble? 66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. John 6:60-61,66 (NASB)

c Jesus was not seeking the approval of the Pharisees, His hometown, family, staff, or close friends...He wanted to fulfill the Father’s plan whether anyone else approved or not.

C Jesus offended John the Baptist. The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. 19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?" 20 When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ’Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’ " Luke 7:18-20 (NASB) John’s in prison.

1 Why does John ask if Jesus was the Messiah? (He above all should know)

a John prepared the way: "Behold, the Lamb of God..." "The One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit..." "Decrease", dove, what’s up?

b John prepared the way (preached, taught, center of things, not married, accused of being demon-possessed)-imprisoned.

aa Few guests or visits, many former friends now following Jesus.

bb Stories of Jesus’ ministry, miracles.

cc John begins to take offense: "The Man I did so much for has not even come to visit me. If He’s the Messiah, why doesn’t He get me out of jail?"