How is Joseph a type of Christ? Read or listen to this chapter from Enduring Trials God’s Way to see a list of ways Joseph is a type of Jesus.

Table of ContentsJoseph’s Trials Were Supremely About ChristJoseph and Jesus Were Sent by Their FathersJoseph and Jesus Sought Their BrethrenJoseph and Jesus' Brothers Rejected Them and Plotted Their DeathsReuben Tried to Deliver Joseph, Like Pilate Tried to Deliver JesusJoseph and Jesus Were Stripped of Their TunicsJoseph and Jesus Found Themselves in the PitJoseph and Jesus' Brethren Were Indifferent Toward Their SufferingJoseph and Jesus Were "Resurrected" Out of the PitJoseph and Jesus Were Sold for the Price of SlavesJoseph and Jesus Were Taken to EgyptJoseph and Jesus Were Separated from Their BrethrenJoseph and Jesus Were Filled with the SpiritJoseph and Christ Were Exalted RulersJoseph and Christ Have Every Knee Bowed to ThemPeople Look to Joseph and Christ to Be SavedJoseph and Christ Offer the "Bread of Life"The Greatest Act of Evil God Meant for GoodWalking by FaithDiscussion Questions

When Abraham “sacrificed” Isaac, it was secondarily about an earthly father sacrificing his earthly son. Primarily it foreshadowed God the Father sacrificing His Son. When Job “saved” his friends, it was secondarily about Job and his friends. Primarily it foreshadowed Jesus saving His friends. Abraham and Job’s trials were supremely about Jesus. Similarly, our trials are secondarily about us. Supremely they are about Jesus—His glorification is the primary end intended by the Lord. John 11:3–4 records:

Therefore [Lazarus’s] sisters sent to [Jesus], saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Joseph’s Trials Were Supremely About Christ

Genesis 37 records Joseph being rejected by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and then captured by Midianites, but Genesis 37:2 says, “This is the history of Jacob.”

Why would a chapter about Joseph say it is Jacob's history? Jesus came from Jacob instead of Joseph, which puts the focus on Jacob, even though Joseph is discussed. The bigger picture in Genesis 37 is Joseph gets to Egypt. Twenty years later, his family moves to Egypt. Joseph’s brothers have enough descendants to become the twelve tribes of Israel. Fast-forward fifteen hundred years, and that nation produces a Savior.

Joseph serves as a type and shadow of our Savior. Whether Joseph understood it, everything that happened to him was only secondarily about him. Supremely, Joseph's life was about Jesus.

Joseph and Jesus Were Sent by Their Fathers

Then [Joseph’s] brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. And [Jacob] said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them."So he said to him, "Here I am."Then he said to him, ‘Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.’ So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.”

Genesis 37:12–14

Jacob sent Joseph to his brethren, like Jesus’ Father sent Him to His brethren, the Jews. In Matthew 15:24 Jesus said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Joseph and Jesus Sought Their Brethren

Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, "What are you seeking?"So he said, "I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks."And the man said, "They have departed from here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him.

Genesis 37:15–18

Notice the

repetition of “seeking.” Joseph was seeking his lost brethren, revealing the

heart of Christ in seeking His lost brethren:

Luke 17:3-4 ties forgiveness to repentance: "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him...and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” So, is repentance a condition for forgiveness, or should we forgive unconditionally? Unfortunately, scholars don’t agree. There are two groups:

One group says forgive unconditionally whether people repent or not. This is known as unconditional forgiveness.

Another group says forgive if people repent. This is known as conditional forgiveness. I am in this camp.

https://youtu.be/6SRLoujqDQA

Is repentance a condition for forgiveness, or should we forgive people unconditionally? Luke 17:3-4 says, "If he repents, forgive him."

Table of contentsRebuke sin to help produce repentanceAssociate forgiveness with a reconciled relationshipForgiveness doesn’t always mean the same relationshipWe should not forgive unconditionally before the person repentsAssociate unforgiveness with an unreconciled relationship versus mistreatmentIf we forgive unconditionally it can hinder repentance

Luke 17:3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and IF HE REPENTS, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I REPENT,’ YOU MUST FORGIVE HIM.”

Twice we are told to forgive our brother IF HE REPENTS. This begs the question: What if he doesn’t repent? In other words, is repentance a condition for forgiveness or should we forgive unconditionally?

I have been asked this question and I have wondered about it myself, so I was glad to have a week to work on this sermon and try to figure out the answer.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Before we answer this important question, we need to back up and get some momentum into it…and this brings us to lesson one…

Rebuke sin to help produce repentance

Repentance is one of the themes of verses three and four occurring two times. We are told to rebuke sin to help produce repentance. This is the desired outcome.

Because we want to see people repent, we should persuade versus condemn.

Let me explain the difference between the two…

We shouldn’t condemn people by saying:

I can’t imagine God ever forgiving you.

If God forgave someone like you it would make Him a bad God.

You are the worst person in the world.

I have never met anyone as sinful as you in my life.

This is what it means to condemn people.

Instead, we want to rebuke people in a way that persuades them to repent. We do this with God’s Word, because it revels the truth about sin.

Here are the five steps I recommend when rebuking sin, and I put them on your bulletin. Please look with me:

First, find verses addressing the sin.

Second, share the verses with the person. If possible, ask the person to read the verses aloud.

Third, ask the person to explain the verses: “What do you think these verses mean? What are they forbidding?”

Fourth, ask the person if they disobeyed the verses: “Have you done anything these verses forbid?”

Fifth, ask the person the proper response to disobeying God’s Word. Hopefully they will say repent, but if not, then you might have to give them that answer and tell them what it means to repent.

Persuading people to repent is little more than persuading them to see their sin the way God sees it.

Not that I have everything figured out or always pray the way I should, but if you have heard me pray for people under church discipline, I typically pray something like, “Help them see their sin the way You see it.”

Also, notice it says…

If your brother sins, rebuke him, and IF HE REPENTS.

The verse communicates that it is not a guarantee that people will repent.

This might seem discouraging, but it should be encouraging. God is letting you know you could do everything right and people still might not repent.

James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial," and James 5:11 says, "We count as blessed those who have persevered." Read or listen to this chapter of Enduring Trials God’s Way to learn why the one who perseveres under trial is blessed.

Table of contentsAccording to James 1:12 and 5:11 Blessed Is the One Who Perseveres Under TrialBlessed Is the One Who Perseveres Under Trial but There Must Be PerseveranceBlessed Is the One Who Perseveres Under Trial Because He Receives Eternal LifeA Persevering Saint Who Was BlessedJob Reveals Perseverance Does Not Mean PerfectionThe Difference between Stumbling and FallingPeter Stumbles, but RecoversJudas Fell Without RecoveringDiscussion QuestionsFootnotes

When I was experiencing a trial, this is part of a message one of my heroes, Dave Zumstein, sent me:

It may seem glorious to you to be a mighty man leading mighty men into battle. I think it is glorious to God to see a man quietly, but strongly, striving to fight the good fight amidst difficult times. When the call comes for difficult times, oh that we might be that type of man.

Dave knew I was an Army officer, so he drew upon something I could appreciate—the contrast between physical and spiritual warfare. Yes, from an earthly perspective, little is more impressive than courageously risking your life in battle. Although, from heaven’s perspective, little is more impressive than enduring trials in a God-honoring way. I try to remember the above quote during trials, hoping that by God’s grace, I might persevere in a way that pleases Him.

According to James 1:12 and 5:11 Blessed Is the One Who Perseveres Under Trial

To encourage us “when the call comes for difficult times,” James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial," and James 5:11 says, "blessed is the man who endures temptation." The Greek word for “endure” is hypomonē, which is the same word for “patience” in James 1:3 and 4: "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (hypomonē). But let patience (hypomonē) have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." Many Bibles translate “patience” as “perseverance” or “endurance.” This is fitting because patience allows believers to endure and enduring requires patience.

If the word “endure” makes you think of tolerating, think instead of the word “persevere” because James is not describing people putting up with trials. He is describing people who persevere during trials. They come through victoriously. They are triumphant and blessed as a result. Some of the blessings, such as maturity, occur in this life. Other blessings occur in the next life when we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

Blessed Is the One Who Perseveres Under Trial but There Must Be Perseverance

James 1:12 and 5:11 are past tense. Although the NKJV says, “who endure(s)” in both verses, other translations say, “persevered” (NIV), “endured” (NASB), and “remained steadfast” (ESV). All past tense. Why is that? These verses discuss when the trial is over. Even though James 1:2–4, 1:12, and 5:11 are similar, there is a significant difference:

James 1:2–4 discuss what is happening when trials take place—they produce patience, which produces maturity.

James 1:12 and 5:11 discuss what happens when trials are over—there is a blessing for persevering.

Reflect on the account with Abraham. After he persevered, Genesis 22:15–17 says:

Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

Abraham was blessed after his trial was over. The same took place with Job: “And the Lord resto...

Jesus said, “If he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3-6). In Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving servant. Both passages teach the importance of forgiving because we’ve been forgiven. Christians should be the most forgiving people because we are the most forgiven people.

Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon Notes for If He Repents Forgive Him (Luke 17:3-6 and Matthew 18:21-35)Lesson One: Rebuking sin is a wisdom issue.Lesson Two: Christians should be the most difficult people to offend.Lesson Three: Rebuke sin to prevent bitterness.Lesson Four: If he repents forgive him an unlimited number of times.Lesson Five: Forgiveness is a matter of faith versus effort.Lesson Six: If he repents forgive him, because God forgave you.

https://youtu.be/WAkOXvWKQIM

Jesus said, “If he repents forgive him” (Luke 17:3-6). Christians are the most forgiving people, because we are the most forgiven people.

Family Worship Guide

Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions:

Day 1: Luke 17:3, Proverbs 10:12, 12:16, 19:11, James 5:20, 1 Peter 4:8, Ephesians 4:2—Why is rebuking sin a wisdom issue? What does it mean to overlook an offense? What does it mean that love covers a multitude of sins? How do we know whether to rebuke sin or overlook it? Biblically speaking, what is patience (hint: it doesn’t mean being good at waiting)?

Day 2: Hebrews 12:14-15, Luke 17:4-6, Matthew 17:20, 18:21-22—Why does rebuking sin help prevent bitterness? What are some of the dangers of bitterness? Why does the Bible talk about bitterness having a root? What did Jesus mean when He said that a little faith could move a tree or mountain? Why is forgiveness an issue of faith versus human effort?

Day 3: Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 18:26-32—What are some of the benefits of forgiving others, for us and the person we forgive? What is the primary reason we should forgive others? What made the wicked servant wicked?

Sermon Notes for If He Repents Forgive Him (Luke 17:3-6 and Matthew 18:21-35)

The title of this morning’s sermon is, “If He Repents Forgive Him”

On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse, and we find ourselves at Luke 17:3.

Let me give you an idea of where we have been, where we are going this morning, and where we are going next week.

Where we have been: last week we dealt with the beginning of the verse. In particular, the words pay attention to yourselves.

This morning we are going to deal with most of the rest of the verse: if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

I said most of the rest of this verse because next week we are going to deal with the repeated phrase if he repents. Notice it is in verse 3 and verse 4…

Luke 17:3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and IF HE REPENTS, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I REPENT,’ YOU MUST FORGIVE HIM.”

Twice we are told to forgive our brother if he repents. What question does this leave you with?

What if he doesn’t repent?

Next Sunday’s sermon is titled, “Is Repentance a Condition for Forgiveness, or Should We Forgive Unconditionally?”

For now, notice that even though the verse only says if your brother sins, we know from the context that it means if your brother sins against you.

Also, the parallel account in Matthew 18 says if your brother sins against you.

And this brings us to lesson one…

Lesson One: Rebuking sin is a wisdom issue.

Rebuking sin is a wisdom issue, versus a black and white issue, because there are verses encouraging us to rebuke sins against us, and there are verses encouraging us to overlook sins against us…

Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and IT IS HIS GLORY TO OVERLOOK AN OFFENSE.

The Amplified says, “It is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking r...

Hebrews 12:6 (quoting Proverbs 3:12) says, "God disciplines those he loves." Read or listen to this chapter of Enduring Trials God’s Way to learn why you can be encouraged by the bible verses about discipline.

Table of contentsDo Not Confuse Trials and God's DisciplineThree Reasons to Be Encouraged When Experiencing God's DisciplineFirst, When Disciplined Be Encouraged You Are God's ChildSecond, When Disciplined Be Encouraged You Are in God’s HandsThird, When Disciplined Be Encouraged by the Fruit that Can Be ProducedWho Benefits from God’s Discipline?Discussion Questions

You should expect trials, but when they take place, you do not have to wonder if you did something wrong! A woman wrote me about a miscarriage she experienced, asking if God was punishing her. It was heartbreaking. The miscarriage was painful enough without also having to wonder if it was her fault. It is tragic when people blame themselves for their trials.

It is also tragic when people experience trials and “friends” try to get them to blame themselves! Job’s friends come to mind. They started off well “[sitting] down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great” (Job 2:13). This demonstrates what to do when people are suffering. The “Ministry of Presence” requires being a good listener. I received a good piece of advice when I first became a pastor: “If you cannot improve on silence, do not.” Solomon said there is “A time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7b), and “He who has knowledge spares his words” (Proverbs 17:27a).

Unfortunately, Job’s friends did not follow these verses, and things went downhill after they opened their mouths. Eliphaz was the first to speak, and he summarized their argument in Job 4:7 when he asked, “Who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?” In other words, “When have bad things ever happened to good people?” Job’s friends wanted to convince him that since he suffered terribly, he must have sinned terribly.

As much as Job’s friends initially showed what to do when people suffer, they later also showed what not to do—lecture, preach, say things like, “This is happening because…” or worse, “God would not be doing this if you...” At the end of the book, God showed up and “said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right’” (Job 42:7). He was referring to their statements that people only suffer when they have done something wrong.

In Jesus’ day, people thought if something bad happened it must have been caused by sin. Two accounts reveal that even the disciples held this false belief, and both times they expressed it Jesus corrected them:

Pilate murdered some Galileans and a tower collapsed causing eighteen deaths. The disciples thought the people died because of their sinfulness, but Jesus said, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no…Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no” (Luke 13:2–5).

When the disciples saw a blind man they asked Jesus: “‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in Him’” (John 9:2–3).

God wants to reveal Himself through trials and use them for our good, but we do not have to wonder if we did something wrong. We learned that a trial does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing, but sometimes we do bring on our own suffering.

Do Not Confuse Trials and God's Discipline

What happens if we suffer because we did something wrong? That is not a trial. That is discipline. The Apostle Peter identifies two causes of suffering: “For i...

In Luke 17:3 Jesus said, “Pay attention to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” Paul said something similar about focusing on ourselves in Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on ourselves, lest we be tempted.” In Judges 20 we see the lessons God wanted eleven tribes to learn when confronting Benjamin and it helps us see what we should focus on when rebuking others.

Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: God must use sinners to rebuke sinners.Lesson Two: If your brother sins against you, rebuke him, but (Part One) be careful of pride.Lesson Two: If your brother sins against you, rebuke him, but (Part Two) with brokenness over your sin.Lesson Two: If your brother sins against you, rebuke him, but (Part Three) with gentleness.

https://youtu.be/nYaQPX_GfNQ

Jesus said, “Pay attention to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him” (Luke 17:3). Judges 20 teaches us what to focus on.

Family Worship Guide

Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions:

Day 1: 2 Chronicles 6:36, Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, Habakkuk 1:3-13, 2:16-17: Why does God use sinners to rebuke sinners? Can you think of biblical examples of people rebuking each other? Do you think they obeyed Luke 17:3 and Galatians 6:1? Why or why not?

Day 2: Matthew 7:3-5, Luke 17:3, Galatians 6:1, Judges 20:12-28: What temptation do we face when God leads us to rebuke people? Why did the eleven tribes keep losing against the tribe of Benjamin? Describe the changes that took place with the eleven tribes over the course of their defeats. What evidences do you see of their brokenness before God finally gave them victory?

Day 3: Judges 20:47-48, 21:2-3, James 1:20, Romans 2:4: What mistake did the eleven tribes make after God gave them victory over the tribe of Benjamin, and why do you think they made this mistake? What lesson can we learn from this regarding rebuking others? How does God lead us to repentance and what application does this have for us when we rebuke others?

Sermon Notes

The title of this morning’s sermon is, “If Your Brother Sins Against You, Rebuke Him, But…”

On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse, and we find ourselves at Luke 17:3, but you can stay in Judges 20 because it’s where we will be for most of the sermon.

I have four questions for you. The first question is a simple one…

Who is a sinner?

Everyone!

Listen to these verses:

2 Chronicles 6:36 There is no one who does not sin

Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I am clean from my sin”?

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who…never sins.

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.

Now here’s the second question…

If everyone is a sinner, who must God use to rebuke people in sin?

Other sinners!

And this brings us to lesson one…

Lesson One: God must use sinners to rebuke sinners.

Here’s the third question…

If God uses sinners to rebuke sinners, what is the difference between the rebuker and the person being rebuked?

Unrepentant sin.

They are both sinners, but the person being rebuked is in unrepentant sin and God wants to see repentance.

Think about the Old Testament when God used nations to rebuke other nations…

There were no sinless nations, so He had to use sinful nations to punish other sinful nations. Then He had to punish the sinful nation that punished the other nation because of that nation’s sins.

For example:

God used Assyria to conquer the northern kingdom of Israel.

Then God used Babylon to conquer Assyria and later Judah.

Then God used the Medes and Persians to conquer Babylon.

In John 16:33 Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart." Read or listen to this chapter of Enduring Trials God’s Way to learn what scripture talks about trials and tribulations.

Table of ContentsIn This World You Will Have Trouble, but Take Heart Because God Is SovereignIn This World You Will Have Trouble, So Be PreparedPrepare for Trials by Building During Times of PeaceImagine You're an Athlete or SoldierIn This World You Will Have Trouble, but Take Heart Because God Provides the Greater VictoryDeath Is Our Greatest EnemyThe Danger of Daily TrialsDiscussion Questions

https://youtu.be/27kNQNDk6eU

In John 16:33 Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart." Learn how to prepare for trials and suffering in this life.

In John 16:33 Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart." First Peter 4:12 says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you." The New Testament was primarily written in Greek, and the word for “strange” is xenizō. It means, “Surprised, astonished, or shocked.” We should not be surprised, astonished, or shocked by trials; instead, we should expect them. James 1:2 says, “when you fall into various trials…” versus “if you…” We will face trials, and this is a New Testament theme:

Acts 14:22a—“Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, [Paul said], ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”

1 Thessalonians 3:3—“No one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.”

Even though trials are part of the Christian life, we often question how they could happen to us. We might say, “Why would God let this take place?” We act surprised, astonished, or shocked, but based on Scripture we should say, “Since I know trials are part of the Christian life, how would God have me respond? How can I handle this in a way that glorifies Him?”

We should go through this life with the understanding that all Christians experience trials. People expecting the Christian life to be carefree are in for a shock. This is why it is terrible to tell people, “If you become a Christian, Jesus will make your life wonderful!” When they experience trials, there are only three possibilities:

They will be upset with you later, feeling as though you lied to them.

They will be angry with Jesus for not making their life perfect like you said He would.

They will think Christianity is untrue, telling themselves, “If Jesus were real, He would not have let this happen to me.”

Instead, we need to be honest about trials, encouraging others and ourselves to embrace what Jesus said to His disciples: “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart” (John 16:33).

In This World You Will Have Trouble, but Take Heart Because God Is Sovereign

Even though we should expect trials, we do not know when they will take place, which makes them unpredictable. James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” The words “fall into” communicate the unexpected nature of trials. The Greek word for “fall into,” or other translations say, “face,” “meet,” or “encounter,” is peripiptō. It only occurs three times in Scripture and each time it describes something that is unpredictable. The other two occurrences are:

Luke 10:30—“Jesus answered and said, ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among (peripiptō) thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.’”

Acts 27:41a—“Striking (peripiptō) a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground.”

It was unexpected when thieves robbed the man and when the boat crashed. Unpredictable is a great way to describe trials, but do not misunderstand the words “fall into” and think trials are accidents.

Romans 14:13 says, "Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." We should look at examples of stumbling blocks in the bible, so we can avoid putting them before others.

https://youtu.be/RmKPkzDyldo

What are examples of stumbling blocks in the bible? Romans 14:13 says, "Let us not put a stumbling block in the way of a brother."

Table of contentsTempting Others to Sin Is SinfulViolating Our Conscience Is SinThree Primary Ways We Stumble OthersFirst, We Put a Stumbling Block Before Others When We Encourage Them to Violate Their ConscienceSecond, We Put a Stumbling Block Before Others When We Encourage Them to SinThird, We Put a Stumbling Block Before Others When We Preach Christ

You have probably heard me say before that all sins are not the same, despite what some people say.

If I asked you what the worse sins are, what would you say?

Maybe idolatry, because it removes God from the throne He should occupy in our hearts?

Maybe murder, because it ends someone’s life, there’s no way to undo it, and the Bible says even causes the ground cries out for vengeance?

Maybe adultery, because it violates the most important earthly covenant we make?

The list could go on, but I’m guessing it would have to become pretty long before we would come up with the sin in this morning’s verses: the sin of stumbling others.

But based on what Jesus said should happen to people who commit this sin it should probably be toward the top of the list, because I can’t think of many things worse than being thrown into the sea with a huge weight tied around my neck.

So this morning, we are going to talk about the sin of putting stumbling blocks before others and look at examples in the Bible, so we can avoid committing this sin ourselves.

Tempting Others to Sin Is Sinful

Luke 17:1 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

The ESV says temptations to sin, but you can probably see a footnote that says it means, “Stumbling blocks.”

The NKJV translates this as “offenses,” and has a footnote that says it mean “stumbling blocks”

The NIV says “cause people to stumble”

The NASB says “stumbling blocks,” and has a footnote that says it means “temptations to sin”

The Amplified Bible says “stumbling blocks” and then amplifies it, “Temptations and traps set to lure one to sin.”

You get the idea that stumbling people, or putting a stumbling block before people, is tempting people to sin.

There are lots of words for sin in the Bible, such as transgress, trespass, abomination, and iniquity. All the words are meaningful because they describe different ways of sinning.

Stumbling is the sin of tempting someone to sin.

The Greek word for temptations to sin, or stumbling blocks, is skandalon (pronounced skon-duh-lon), related to our word scandal. It comes from the word for a bent stick that springs a trap or sets the bait.

This is fitting because stumbling is setting a trap for someone else.

Scripture often uses the language of walking or running to describe the Christian life. Picture that imagery.

Stumbling is when someone stumbles or trips another believer…not physically, but spiritually in their relationship with the Lord.

Jesus said temptations to sin are sure to come.

Temptation is inevitable because we live in a sinful fallen world, but don’t be the person who introduces temptation into someone else’s life.

How bad is it to do so?

Jesus provides one of the most unique and terrifying warnings in Scripture. Look at verse 2…

Luke 17:2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin (or stumble).

Just as Jesus is not talking about physically stumbling or tripping someone,

James 1:2 says you can "count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds," and 1 Peter 1:6 says, "you greatly rejoice [when] grieved by various trials." Read or listen to this chapter of Enduring Trials God's Way to see why you can consider it joy when you face trials.

Table of contentsCount It All Joy When You Face Trials Because of the Maturity ProducedPatience Allows for Maturity in All Areas of Our LivesPatience and Maturity Go Hand-In-HandYou Count It All Joy When You Face Trials Because God Is "Bringing You into the Deep End"Count It All Joy When You Face Trials Because Perspective Determines ResponseWhy Jesus Could Face the Cross with JoyDiscussion Questions

James 1:2 uses “joy” and “trials” in the same sentence. These words do not go together! Who experiences joy during trials? James even uses the word “all.” He does not say, “Count it some joy…” or “Find a little joy.” He says, “count it all joy.” As contrary as this sounds, it is a theme in Scripture to find joy in trials. Romans 5:3 says, “We glory in tribulations” and 1 Peter 1:6 says, “In this you greatly rejoice… [when] you have been grieved by trials.” You might be thinking: “The Bible does not make sense, because I definitely do not feel joy when I am going through a trial!”

The Bible makes complete sense, because it does not say to “feel” joy during trials. Instead, it says “count it all joy,” because we cannot go by the way we feel. Trials make us feel sorrow and pain, so we must evaluate them independently of our feelings. The word for “count” is hēgeomai, and it means, “To lead, go before, rule, command, have authority over.”4 Here are a few places it is used:

Matthew 2:6—“Bethlehem…out of you shall come a Ruler (hēgeomai) Who will shepherd My people Israel.”

Acts 7:10—“[Pharaoh] made [Moses] governor (hēgeomai) over Egypt.”

Hebrews 13:17—“Obey those who rule (hēgeomai) over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.”

James tells us to “count (hēgeomai) it all joy,” because we must “govern” and “rule” over trials. We must control the way we view them, versus being controlled by our feelings. We must make a mental judgment about trials by considering the way God wants to use them in our lives. Then we can face them with joy.

Count It All Joy When You Face Trials Because of the Maturity Produced

As of 2023 we have nine children and our oldest is fifteen. While we have enjoyed our children at all ages, we still want to see them mature. When they make decisions that disappoint us, we feel as though they are not maturing quickly enough. Consider how tragic it would be if children remained immature throughout their lives.

God is a Father and He also wants His children to mature. The author of Hebrews rebuked some of his readers who had been following Christ for some time, but had not matured:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food…Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God (Hebrews 5:12, 6:1).

Unlike these Hebrew readers, consider the believers in 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 who had matured significantly:

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.

The Thessalonians were a wonderful church. Paul applauded their growth, which he attributed to the trials they experienced. This is one reason we can find joy in trials—we know they are producing patience that leads to maturity. First Peter 5:10 says, “After you have suffered a little while,

God established male headship in the Bible at creation. Read or listen to this material from Your Marriage God’s Way to learn what it means that "the husband is head of the wife" (Ephesians 5:23 and 1 Corinthians 11:3).

Table of ContentsMale Headship Began at CreationGod's First Command Helped Establish Male HeadshipAdam Names the Animals and Eve Demonstrating Male HeadshipHistory's First SurgeryEgalitarianism Versus ComplementarianismEgalitarianism Is UnbiblicalComplementarianism Is BiblicalHusbands and Wives Are Better Together

Soon after I became a Christian in my early twenties, a pastor’s daughter told me what she wanted in a husband: a man who would be a spiritual leader and the head of their home. I knew nothing about the Bible, so everything she said sounded odd. I didn’t object until she talked about wives submitting to their husbands. That’s when I thought she had gone too far. Sadly, I vividly remember saying, “That is ridiculous! Men and women are equal. How could a husband have authority over his wife?”

I was shocked as I started reading the Bible and learning what it says about husbands and wives. Verses kept jumping out at me, supporting the pastor’s daughter's words. If you’re unfamiliar with the Bible’s teaching on marriage or believe, like I did, that husbands and wives have identical roles and responsibilities, you might be in for a shock, too.

God has a master design for marriage relationships with definite purposes and benefits. We live in a culture far removed from God’s plan for beauty and brilliance. While we as fallen people might initially chaff at the ideas of male headship and submission (as I did) and believe it means men and women aren’t equal (as I did) because we live in a society that insists everyone should be viewed identically, it’s important to recognize that in God’s eyes and according to His design, yes, husbands and wives have equal value (more on this in a moment), but they have different roles and responsibilities.

Let’s ease into the delicate subjects of headship and submission by considering that twice in the New Testament, the apostle Paul stated the headship of a husband:

“I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3).

“The husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23).

Male Headship Began at Creation

While these verses are found in the New Testament, that doesn’t mean a husband’s headship had its beginning under the New Covenant. Neither did his male headship begin in the Old Testament under the old covenant. Nor did it begin at the fall.

The husband’s headship begins at creation. This is important for us to know because if we think headship began after the fall, then this leadership becomes part of sin’s curse. But if we understand that the husband’s headship began at creation, we will see it as part of God’s natural, healthy, divine plan for husbands and wives.

Genesis 1:1 proclaims the incredible truth that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and the rest of the chapter gives a grand overview of all six days of creation. God created man and woman on the sixth day. Then, in Genesis 2:7-25, God zooms in on the creation of Adam and Eve because mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation. We are so familiar with the account that it is easy to miss the significance of some details. Therefore, let’s approach this passage as though we are reading it for the first time. It is in this account that God established male headship.

Because God created the animals in pairs, male and female, what would we expect Him to do with the creation of humankind? We would expect Him to create the first man and woman simultaneously, as a pair, male and female. But that is not what He did, and in creating man first and woman second, God revealed several essential details about His de...