Sermon Audio: Don’t Be A Stumbling Block
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 17:1-6
Duration: 26:38
Size: 12.1 MB
Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Don’t Be A Stumbling Block
Luke 17:1-6
What I choose to do is my business!
First, be careful that you’re not a negative spiritual influence.
Our first responsibility is to make sure that we do not negatively influence other Christians in their walk with God.
Every one of us will influence other Christians so as Jesus said in verse 3, “So watch yourselves…”
Second, be willing to forgive those who have hurt you but have repented.
Closely linked to the responsibility of not causing others to stumble into sin is the responsibility to help them when they do fall.
By being willing to lovingly confront the person who sinned against you.
Jesus is clearly talking about personal hurts done to you by another Christian as the phrase; “sins against you” makes clear.
By extending forgiveness immediately to the person who hurt you, if they repent.
We need to recognize that forgiveness is as much for our benefit as it is for the offender,
By being ready to forgive repeated failures.
So regardless of the personal nature of the offense or even in the event of the repetition of the offense, if the other person repents, you are to forgive them.
The problem was not the size of their faith but their willingness to forgive.
By Recognizing that forgiveness is not a matter of ability but of willingness.
The disciples are right in understanding that the kind of forgiveness that Jesus is calling for cannot happen apart from a work of the Holy Spirit, but they are wrong in their understanding of the nature of faith.
- Be careful that you’re not a negative spiritual influence.
- Be forgiving of those who have hurt you but have repented.
- By Being willing to lovingly confront the person who sinned against you.
- By Extending forgiveness to those who have hurt you but have repented.
- By Being ready to forgive repeated failures.
- By Recognizing that forgiveness is not a matter of ability but of willingness.