Matthew 18:6…….Ready

Matthew 18:6…….Ready

18:6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone (Video https://youtu.be/othUyF4f3Ww ) hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Today it would be read like this “It would be better to face the electric chair” than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.)  (For Complete Expository Note See Book)

Extended Sermons

“Calls for getting rid of any inconstant ways of living that can cause others to sin and fall away from Christ.” → Charles Spurgeon said “Inconsistent professors are the greatest stumbling blocks to the spread of the cause of Christ. May we not be among that group by examining our hearts and actions, knowing that inconsistency can lead others astray. Every step we take has the potential to inspire or deter, to uplift or stumble. In this, we hold a profound responsibility—not only for our own integrity but for the spiritual paths of those around us.

 “Teaches as representatives of Christ we’re to be examples and role models for others.” ⇒ Will you self-reflect on your own Christian walk and ask.  How’s my example around my kids, or my friends, or my family, or my neighbors, or my church ? Do you see yourself living out Christ’s love and mercy? The reason why many people leave Christianity is due the failures and poor example of other Christians. They say if that’s Christianity then I don’t want anything to do with it. Or our lack of forgiveness, self-control, lust, greed can cause others to think maybe Jesus isn’t as loving, forgiving, and powerful as we claimed Him to be. If He can’t change them what hope is there for us! Our failures whether through anger, neglect, or hypocrisy—can create barriers that lead others away from the faith.

“Even today, .we can lead others to sin by our crude jokes, hurtful gossip, and dressing provocatively. We can lead others to sin by pressuring them to watch movies and play videos games we know their parents wouldn’t approve of. We can cause others to sin by griping and complaining, leading to a culture of discontent and negative attitudes. We can cause others to sin by our hard rules and legalism, leading them away from faith to works.” → It’s hard to calculate the amount of harm and damage that’s been done by insensitive, hurtful, hypocritical Christians in the church. A two-face pretend Christian who lives a double life can effect so many others. It does untold harm to the Church’s witness. It gives fuel to the scoffers and the cynics. It provides excuses for fence-sitters not to come to Christ. It pushes away the sincere inquirer who was seeking after the Lord. It discourages the Saints in a myriad of ways. There’s been many who have been so negatively influenced by immoral Christians, that their walk with Christ was profoundly wounded, if not completely destroyed. We know of children who grew up in physically and spiritually abusive Christian homes. Who want nothing to do with Christ. They lived with parents who are Christian in name only, hypocrites, pretend Christians. Eventually kids get wise and they see the sham and they want nothing to do with it. We see it in brazenly immoral young woman who dress seductively for the very purpose of somehow eliciting a lustful response from other men. We see it in superficial churches that are led by self-appointed worldly, immoral pastor. Sunday school teachers, youth leaders who lead little ones into sin and to error. Not just by what they teach, but most of the time, by what they leave out. Consider the atheist professor in our colleges and universities that do everything they possibly can to ridicule the beliefs of our children, causing them to deny, for example, God as creator. And of course, the most glaring example today of those who are causing especially our children to stumble is the woke LGBTQ agenda, where people indoctrinate young people to celebrate immoral practices that God abhors. Gay and Lesbian pastors,  drag queens, presenting Children’s Bible stories in worship services.

Additional Notes & Applications

Warns how its an enormous crime in God’s eyes to lead a believer into sin.

The Millstone Jesus is talking about were not the smaller household ones where you had a little rock and a bowl that people would use in their homes to grind grain. Whereas the Millstone used here was the type of Millstones used in communities in grinding up large queitites of flour. The Millstones was in the shape of a large round wheel, weighing several hundred pounds, that a donkey would turn on another heavy flat stone basin by going around in a circle. The grain would then be place in the basin and it would be ground into flour.

WAYS WE CAUSE OTHERS TO SIN & FALL

• By Direct Temptations: Sinful actions, practices, and behaviors in what we wear, how we talk, what we watch, what we listen to, etc.

• By Indirect Temptations: Choices, attitudes, hypocrisy, inconsistencies, double-standards, legalism, gossip, materialism, greed, pride, .

• BY Remaining Silent: Fear of prying, meddling, judging.

• By Counsel: Ungodly advise, instruction, false teaching.

• By Consenting: Approving, endorsing, permitting, encouraging, allowing.

• By Provoking: Attacking, insulting, criticizing, belittling, unfair expectations, fault-finding, promise-breaking

• BY Enabling: Defending, justifying, shielding, making excuses, creating safe places, cleaning up messes.

• By Praise or Flattery: Applauding, glorifying the wrong behavior, encouraging to repeat it.

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