Jesus loves the little children.

A culture in crisis: A biblical exegesis of Luke 17

Luke 17:1–2 NKJV

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

The primary types of abuse.

A. Physical Abuse

B. Psychological Abuse

Verbal, emotional, etc.

C. Neglect

D. Spiritual Abuse

In this passage there are two types of children that are possible.

I. The Physical Children

U.S.A.

• Between 100,000 – 300,000 children are at risk of being victimized by domestic minor sex

trafficking (DMST) in the United States every year. (Shared Hope International).

• The average age of entry into the commercial sex market for children is between 12 and 14

years old. (Shared Hope International).

• 1 in 6 reported endangered runaways are believed to be victims of child sex trafficking.

(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children).

The size of the commercial sex economy in major U.S. cities ranges from an estimated $39.9

million to $290 million per year. (Urban Institute)

Georgia

Atlanta was named by the FBI as one of 14 US cities with the highest rate of children used in sex trafficking.

In Georgia, 12,400 men purchase sex with young women in any given month.

Approximately 100 adolescent females are sexually exploited each night in Georgia.

In Georgia, adolescent females controlled by the child sex trafficking trade are sexually exploited by an adult male on an average of three times per night.

• More than 91% of domestic minor sex trafficking victims in Georgia were enrolled in school at

the time of their exploitation. (Georgia Cares).

• More than 50% of victims are recruited by friends and family. (Georgia Cares).

• Approximately 7,200 men purchase sex from a minor every month in Georgia, accounting for

8,700 sex acts. (The Schapiro Group).

II. The Spiritual Children

Just as we are guilty for allowing the abuse of children, we also carry a level of responsibility for the neglect of spiritual children.

III. The Stumbling Block of Offense.

Skandalon- Where we get the word scandal.

Matthew 18:1–7 NKJV

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

IV. The Punishment for Offense

Weight of the offence.

Destruction.

V. The Price for Offense.

I. The harm to a child.

II. The wrath of God. Matthew says, Woe to him by whom the offence comes. The other mention of this woe is against the one who betrays Jesus.

Matthew 25:41–45 NKJV

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’