Power Point Show Pt.1 MP3 audio
Power Point Show Pt.2 MP3 audio
Scripture Reading: Luke 17:1-4
Do not be a Stumbling Block
Intro.
1. World is full of stumbling blocks (trap, snare, hindrance).
a. Impossible that none exist, Lk. 17:1. (Temptations and sins)
b. Woe to the one through whom the hindrance comes, 17:1 (2).
2. Jesus warns to help us not become stumbling blocks and lose our souls along with the souls of those who stumble.
PART I
I. TO AVOID BEING A STUMBLING BLOCK, 1 Cor. 10:32-33.
A. Remember that God wants Every Sinner to be Saved, Lk. 17:2 (1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:9). (See the value of one soul, 17:1)
1. We must never be a hindrance to someone’s salvation!
a. By character, words and conduct (Titus 2:4-8; 1 Pet. 2:11-12).
b. If we are, take heed of what Jesus’ warning! Lk. 17:2
2. By remembering God wants sinners to be saved, you help accomplish that by your words and deeds,
B. Mind the Things of God, Matt. 16:21-23.
1. An evil stumbling block minds the things of men.
2. Christian’s mind must be on things above:
a. Seek and set…heart and life is rearranged, Col. 3:1-2, 12-17.
b. Heart (mind) of humility, Phil. 2:5.
c. Mind of Christ to suffer rather than sin (lusts), 1 Pet. 4:1-2.
d. Live acc. to the Spirit…submit to law of God, Rom. 8:5-8 (cf. Peter in Matt. 16:22).
3. Then, I will make deliberate choices that help others cease sin instead of influencing to sin and encouraging them in sin.
a. Do not go along with them in their moral sins (1 Pet. 4:4).
b. Do not have fellowship with them because of their doctrinal error (2 Jno. 9-11).
C. Remove Every Hindrance, Matt. 18:8-9.
1. Exaggeration for effect: Do whatever it takes not to sin and not to be the cause of someone else’s sin!
2. May not be sinful, but it encourages someone who is weak in conscience to violate conscience, thus sinning, 1 Cor. 8:11-13.
3. Maybe it is a sinful attitude / conduct, Matt. 5:27-30.
a. “Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13:14).
b. Repent and return to God.
PART II
II. A SPECIFIC AND DIFFICULT STUMBLING BLOCK TO AVOID AND/OR REMOVE: AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ALWAYS FORGIVE OTHERS, Lk. 17:3-4.
A. Take Heed: Jesus Warns of the Difficulty of Forgiveness, 17:3.
1. Rebuke the brother who sins against us.
a. Easier to feel hurt and hold hatred in our heart, to gossip, to backbite or in other ways hinder that person’s success, Matt. 18:15.
b. Effort to convince sinner of sin (or he remains lost, 2 Tim. 4:2).
c. God rebukes us out of love (Heb. 12:6).
2. If the sinner repents, forgive him, 17:3.
a. Repent: Change of mind and conduct back to truth and righteousness, 2 Cor. 7:10; Acts 26:20, 18.
b. Tests our faith (cf. 17:5): To release the debt, to let go of the pain, the resentment, the doubt that the sinner and his sin has inflicted on us.
c. How can we do this? Only by following the example of Christ! Eph. 4:31-5:2 (kindness, tenderhearted love and sacrifice); Lk. 23:43; Heb. 12:3.
3. If I do not forgive the repentant sinner, then I am a stumbling block to him…I lose my soul!
a. Since God forgives repentant sinners, we must also do so or we are not following the example of Jesus.
b. Example: Failure to forgive the repentant fornicator would have cast him into the pit of overwhelming despair, 2 Cor. 2:6-7.
B. Do not Grow Weary in Doing Good: The Repetitive Nature of Forgiveness, 17:4.
1. Sometimes it is not the first sin/repentance that we have trouble forgiving, but the repeated sins against us that we struggle with.
a. Tempted to judge motives as insincere, to become bitter and withhold our forgiveness.
b. cf. God and Israel, Matt. 23:37 (“how often”); God and us.
2. We will be forgiven as we forgive others, Matt. 6:14-15.
3. We are stumbling blocks when we refuse to have a heart of forgiveness like Jesus had, Col. 3:12-13.
Conclusion
1. Being careful not to be a stumbling block not only shows you love your own soul, it also shows you love the souls of those who sin against you (your desire and goal is their salvation, Rom. 10:1).
2. Faith is needed to accomplish so great a task as this, Lk. 17:5.