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Sermon Notes

Offense - to entrap or trip up, a stumbling block, to cause a person to begin to
distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey.

“It is as if Jesus deliberately set himself against the background of the world's
religions in all their history and splendor, and demanded to be compared to
them and to have the verdict given" -Barclay

Matthew 16:13-23
1. Godʼs nature can overcome a lifestyle of offenses and sinfulness.
Vs. 17 “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

"If you know no more of Jesus than flesh and blood has revealed to you, it
has brought you no more blessing than the conjectures of their age brought
to the Pharisees and Sadducees, who remained an adulterous and
unbelieving generation." - Spurgeon

2. Offense comes when a desire is not fulfilled quick enough.
Vs. 20 “The He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that
He was Jesus the Christ.”
Proverbs 13:20-21

3. Offense comes when your ministry role gets changed.
Vs. 21 “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He
must… suffer…”

4. The fruit of offense is often heard in words of anger.
Vs. 22 “…began to rebuke Him, saying ʻFar be it from You, Lord; this shall
not happen to you!ʼ ”

5. Offense is the quickest way to start thinking contrary to Godʼs Word.
Vs. 23 “…you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Getting people to doubt the truthfulness and holiness of Godʼs nature is
one of the greatest works of Satan in this world. (Gen. 3:1)

Matthew 16:24-27
He will reward you for laying down your life and living without offense.

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Sermon Notes
One of the greatest Christian blessings is to live free from offense! Jesus
said “offenses will come,” but it is our choice to live with them.
Matt 11:1-6

Offense - to entrap or trip up, a stumbling block, to cause a person to
begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey

1. No relationship is exempt from potential offenses.
Vs. 3 “Are you the Coming One… ”
2. Offense is often the starting point for doubt and disloyalty.
Vs. 3 “…or do we look for another?”
3. Living without offense is only possible by experienced disciples.
Vs. 5 “The blind see and the lame walk; …and the poor have the gospel
preached to them.”
Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 35:5-6 & probably 29:18-19.
Johnʼs only OT quote from John 1:22-23 (famous quote) is Is 40:3!

“The blessedness of the unoffended." - Meyer

Only spiritual maturity can cause us to lead a life free from offense!
Phil 4:11-13
4. A Christianʼs strength is dependent upon a lifestyle free from
offenses.
Vs. 6 “…And blessed (happy) is he who is not offended because of Me.”

"Blessed is he who can be left in prison, can be silenced in his
testimony, can seem to be deserted of his Lord, and yet can shut out
every doubt. John speedily regained this blessedness, and fully
recovered his serenity."
- Spurgeon

Nehemiah 8:10

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Sermon Notes

Luke 4:14-19
1. Jesus brings the power of the Spirit into our everyday life.
Vs. 14 “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit…And
taught in their synagogues”
2. Only through the hands of Jesus can His Word become alive.
Vs. 17 “And He was handed the book of the Prophet Isaiah”

“This is a great satisfaction to us, that, whatever Christ said, he
had a warrant from heaven for; his doctrine was not his, but his
that sent him.” -Matthew Henry

John 20:19-22, 24-27
“Reach your finger here, and look at My hands.”
3. Jesus announces His divine nature and eternal power to
save.
Vs. 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because He has
anointed Me”
John 1:32-34 & 3:34, “the Spirit without measure.” Jesus is saying
I am God!
Isaiah 61:10

“He came to let the world know that the God whom they had
offended was willing to be reconciled to them.” – Matthew Henry

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