Luke 17:1-4

1
Do not be a stumbling block

• Luke 171-4

2
Stumbling block

• skandalon (a scandal)
• occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing
  that offends (Strong)
• A trap, snare, hindrance
• any impediment placed in the way and causing one
  to stumble or fall (Thayer)

3
To avoid being a stumbling block 1 Cor.
1032-33

• Remember that God wants all sinners saved, Luke
  172 (1 Tim. 23-4 2 Pet. 39)
• We must never be a hindrance to someones
  salvation by our own sinful words, conduct or
  character, Titus 24-8 1 Peter 211-12

4
To avoid being a stumbling block 1 Cor.
1032-33

• Mind the things of God, Matt. 1621-23
• Christians mind must be on things above,
  Colossians 31-2, 12-17
• Heart (mind) of humility, Phil. 25
• Mind to suffer rather than sin, 1 Pet. 41-2
• Live acc. to the Spiritsubmit to law of God,
  Romans 85-8 (Peter in Matt. 1622)

5
To avoid being a stumbling block 1 Cor.
1032-33

• Remove every hindrance, Matt. 188-9
• Do whatever is necessary not to sin and not to
  cause another person to sin!
• Sinless act that encourages one to violate his
  conscience, 1 Cor. 811-13
• Sinful attitude or conduct, Matt. 527-30 (Rom.
  1314)
• Repent and return to God

6
One stumbling block to removeUnwillingness to
forgive, Luke 173-4

• Take heed Jesus warns of the difficulty of
  forgiveness, 173
• Rebuke the brother who sins against us
• Not the easy way (hurt, hold hatred, gossip,
  backbite and hinder) Matt. 1815
• Effort is to convince sinner of his sin and bring
  him to repentance, 2 Tim. 42
• God rebukes us out of love (Heb. 126)

7
One stumbling block to removeUnwillingness to
forgive, Luke 173-4

• Take heed If the sinner repents, forgive him,
  173
• Repent Change of mind and conduct, 2 Cor.
  710 Acts 2620, 18
• Tests our faith to release debt (175)
• How? Follow the example of Christ,
  Eph. 431-52 (Lk. 2334 Heb. 123)

8
One stumbling block to removeUnwillingness to
forgive, Luke 173-4

• Take heed If I do not forgive the repentant
  sinner I become a stumbling block to them and I
  lose my soul!
• God forgives repentant sinners
• Failure to forgive the repentant fornicator at
  Corinth could have cast him into a pit of
  overwhelming despair, 2 Cor. 26-7

9
One stumbling block to removeUnwillingness to
forgive, Luke 173-4

• Do not grow weary The repetitive nature of
  forgiveness, 174
• Tempted to judge motives, to become bitter and
  thus withhold our forgiveness
• cf. God and Israel, Matthew 2337 (how
  often) God and us
• We will be forgiven as we forgive others, Matt.
  614-15 (Col. 312-13)

10
Do not be a stumbling block!

• Shows you love the lost (Rom. 101)
• Shows you love the weak (1 Cor.
  1033)
• Shows you love your soul (Lk. 172)
• Faith is needed to keep from being a stumbling
  block (Lk. 175)