Stumbling into Grace: Embracing Mercy and Uplifting One Another

Mark 9:38-50

Introduction

Jesus’ words in Mark 9:38-50 are among the most jarring in the Gospels. He gives a stark warning: "If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck, and they were thrown into the sea" (Mark 9:42).

The imagery is harsh, and so are the consequences—an unquenchable fire for those who lead others astray.

What does this passage mean for us today?

In our pursuit of holiness, how do we ensure we are not placing stumbling blocks in front of others?

And how do we avoid creating an atmosphere where the fear of failure—or the fear of not meeting perfection—drives people away from God’s grace?

1. The Danger of Perfectionism in the Church

The most dangerous stumbling block we create for others is the burden of perfectionism. When we expect others—or even ourselves—to live up to impossible standards, we risk suffocating the grace that Jesus came to give us.

Jesus did not demand perfect adherence to religious traditions; instead, He embodied grace and invited others to walk with Him.

Jesus is serious about the harm caused by stumbling blocks. Yet, it’s important to note that His call is not about being perfect ourselves or expecting perfection from others.

Instead, it is a call to radical mercy. Jesus is warning us against leading people away from Him through our own self-righteousness. It is easy to weaponize faith, to use it as a tool of exclusion, but that’s never what Jesus intended. We are to make faith a path of inclusion, a place where even the most broken can find healing.

2. The Danger of Us vs Them

The passage begins with John reporting to Jesus: “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop because he was not one of us” (v. 38).

We see the disciples fall into an “us vs. them” mentality. They believed that because this person was not part of their immediate group, he had no right to perform works in Jesus’ name. But Jesus quickly rebukes this attitude.

The disciples were focused on their own group, assuming they only had the authority to act in Jesus’ name. But Jesus broadens their perspective, showing them that God's work cannot be confined to a particular group or denomination. The man casting out demons may not have been part of the Twelve, but he was still doing the work of the Kingdom.

This is important for us today when we think about the divisions between Christians too often, we fall into the trap of thinking “our way” is the only way, Sinatra’s mindset isn’t the right way.

We might be quick to criticize or even dismiss the faith of others because they worship differently or hold to certain theological traditions. But Jesus reminds us that God’s work is bigger than our human-made boundaries. Pause

3. The Danger of Straining at Gnats and Missing the Kingdom

The disciples’ complaint also exposes a legalistic mindset. Legalism arises when we become more focused on the rules or traditions that define "real" faith rather than the essence of the Gospel itself.

Jesus was warning the Pharisees about this exact thing in Matthew 23.

Legalism sneaks in when we think we have a monopoly on the truth. It can happen between denominations and within our church. We might judge how someone prays or participates, but we must ask: Is this judgment pointing them closer to Christ or placing a stumbling block in their way?

Matthew 7:1 NLT

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

Matthew 7:5 NLT

Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

We often say, “Do not judge others” or “Who are you to judge me?” These are not blanket statements to overlook wrong behavior. We must exercise church discipline and trust God to be the judge.

John 16:8

John 16:8 NLT

And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

The disciples were more concerned about his membership than the fact that he was doing God’s work—delivering people from demonic oppression in the name of Jesus.

Friends we must be cautious of this legalism in our Christian lives. It’s easy to focus on the external markers of faith: how someone prays, what style of worship they prefer, or which denomination they belong to. But Jesus challenges us to look deeper. If someone is working in His name, showing the fruits of the Spirit, we are not to stop them.

4. The Danger of our Actions

So, how do we cause others to stumble?

When we insist on our own rightness—our way of doing faith—we risk alienating others from the grace and love of God. When Christians belittle each other, we risk driving people away from the faith altogether. when we gossip about one another. Jesus is warning us to avoid putting stumbling blocks in the path of those seeking Him.

If we do cause someone to stumble, look at the consequence... this is serious when it comes to someone young in the faith. Don’t cause someone to lose their faith!

Cutting off Hands, Feet, and Eyes

Let me also address the three offenses that may offend the least of these.

Jesus speaks graphically about cutting off one’s hand, foot, or plucking out an eye if they cause you to sin. These parts represent how we engage with the world—what we do (hands), where we go (feet), and what we see or desire (eyes).

This language is not meant to be taken literally, but it underscores the urgency of removing anything from our lives that leads us away from God.

Jesus is calling us to radical action in removing sin from our lives. Even though these parts of the body are important, nothing is as important as maintaining one's spiritual health and relationship with God.

Jesus is urging us to take sin seriously, even when it involves sacrifices in our personal lives.

We don’t deal aggressively with our sins anymore because we’ve been deceived by grace. All because we live under grace we have not felt the wrath of god. And so some of you feel like you have a license to sin. Paul deals with that in Roman’s 6:1 encouraging us to stop sinning and viewing grace so cheaply.

you must cut it out completely!

The Call to Holiness

It is important to see that His call is not about being perfect ourselves or expecting perfection from others. Instead, it is a call to radical mercy. Jesus is warning us against leading people away from Him through our self-righteousness. It is easy to weaponize faith, to use it as a tool of exclusion, but that’s never what Jesus intended. Instead, we are to make faith a path of inclusion, where even the most broken can find healing.

We must be careful that in our pursuit of righteousness, we don't become stumbling blocks ourselves. This happens when we focus so much on the letter of the law that we forget the heart of the Gospel: GRACE. Jesus consistently modeled grace, showing mercy to tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners. He tore down the barriers that separated people from God.

Grace is the heartbeat of the Gospel, the foundation upon which everything rests. It allows us to acknowledge our failures without fear and calls us back to Jesus every time we stray. In our community, we can model this grace by offering mercy rather than judgment.

This doesn’t mean that grace lowers the bar of holiness or that its cheap grace. It means that when we do fall short—and we will—there is mercy waiting to catch us. Mercy invites us to stand again, to keep growing, and to keep walking this journey of faith together. Amen!

Conclusion: Be at Peace with One Another

Jesus says, “Everyone will be salted with fire” (Mark 9:49). Salt preserves and purifies, but it also seasons—it brings out the richness in what already exists.

Salt symbolizes the distinctiveness of Christian discipleship. Just as salt preserves and flavors food, followers of Christ are called to live lives that stand out for their holiness and grace. If we lose that distinctive "saltiness"—that is, if we become like the world or neglect to live out our faith—we lose our purpose and effectiveness.

Jesus ends this teaching with a call for peace and unity, saying, “Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

May we at Prospect Community Church create an environment of grace and mercy, where we invite this community to grow in their faith not out of fear of stumbling, but with the assurance that when they do stumble, there will be mercy. A church that reflects the heart of Jesus is one where people feel safe to bring their doubts, their mistakes, and their struggles—knowing they will be met with compassion, not condemnation.

As we go forth from this place today, let’s take stock of our hearts. Are there ways we’ve caused others to stumble? Are there traditions or attitudes we hold onto that might keep others from experiencing God’s grace?

And may we always remember: where there is stumbling, there is also grace; where there is fire, there is also mercy.

Amen.