Sermon Tone Analysis

I. A Small Matter of Faith

Introduction:

Tightrope Walker

There was a tightrope walker, who did incredible aerial feats.

All over Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary heights.

Then he had succeeding acts; he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the tightrope, blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow.

An American promoter read about this in the papers and wrote a letter to the tightrope walker, saying, “Tightrope, I don’t believe you can do it, but I’m willing to make you an offer.

For a very substantial sum of money, besides all your transportation fees, I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls.”

Now, Tightrope wrote back, “Sir, although I’ve never been to America and seen the Falls, I’d love to come.”

Well, after a lot of promotion and setting the whole thing up, many people came to see the event.

Tightrope was to start on the Canadian side and come to the American side.

Drums roll, and he comes across the rope which is suspended over the treacherous part of the falls—blindfolded!!

And he makes it across easily.

The crowds go wild, and he comes to the promoter and says, “Well, Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?”

“Well of course I do.

I mean, I just saw you do it.”

“No,” said Tightrope, “do you really believe I can do it?”

“Well of course I do, you just did it.”

“No, no, no,” said Tightrope, “do you believe I can do it?”

“Yes,” said Mr. Promoter, “I believe you can do it.”

“Good,” said Tightrope, “then you get in the wheelbarrow.”

The word believe, in Greek means “to live by.”

This is a nice story …makes you ask, how often do we say that we believe Christ can do it, but refuse to get in the wheelbarrow?

Source unknown

Faith is grossly misunderstood.

In today’s passage, Jesus helps to put faith into perspective for all believers.

It is not something we need more of, it is just something we need to act upon.

Pray

Have you ever thought you needed something and then found out you had it all along?

That is the way it is with faith.

We make it so complex, but it really isn’t.

It is very simple and we will see that in today’s passage as we look at “A Small Matter of Faith.”

Jesus is teaching his disciples about stewardship.

He uses the parable of the shrewd household manager to help them see that where men of the world use their funds wisely to provide for their earthly kingdoms, as believers we should use our funds wisely to build God’s kingdom.

In the course of this conversation, we find the Pharisees listening in and scoffing at Jesus.

The Pharisees are lovers of money and they are critical of Jesus teachings on money, to which Jesus tells the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

A very disturbing story revealing the eternal future they face if they do not put their faith in Jesus.

Jesus then turns back to His disciples and continues His teaching.

This passage seems confusing and disconnected unless you look at it as an ongoing discussion of the former.

Look with me at .

A. Do not become a stumbling block to those of weaker faith.

(Luke 17:1-3a)

To better understand the connection in this passage, allow me to paint the scene for you.

Jesus is teaching the disciples about wise use of their finances.

The Pharisees are on the out skirts of the group and begun making fun of what Jesus is saying.

Jesus addresses their short comings regarding the law and money.

Jesus then shares the story of poor Lazarus and the rich man (who represents the Pharisees).

After Jesus finishes the story, the Pharisees walk off in anger.

The disciples then start making fun of the Pharisees.

Jesus is now turning to them rebuking them for their attitude and cautioning them that their behavior is in appropriate.

There are many things that become a stumbling block hindering people from putting their faith in Jesus.

For the Pharisees, money is one of them.

However, just as their failure to believe puts them in jeopardy of hell, so does an unloving attitude that prevents others from believing.

The disciples unloving attitude towards the Pharisees was a stumbling block of sin for themselves and put them in an even worse jeopardy of hell.

As believers they are called to love others and be inclusive, not to judge and be exclusive.

The “little ones” Jesus is talking about are the Pharisees or anyone else who allows sin to create a stumbling block preventing them from taking the step of faith in God.

The unbelieving do not know better, but the believer should know better.

Such ungracious attitude goes against all that Jesus is teaching them.

So they must be on their guard against such poor attitudes.

We see Paul reflecting on Jesus teaching here in on not causing others to stumble.

John addresses it in the reverse and our need to not stumble ourselves.

Jesus then continues.

Instead of judging the Pharisees, the disciples should...

Instead of judging the Pharisees, the disciples should...

B. Be forgiving ()

Luke 17:3-4

The Pharisees were fellow brothers; Jews.

They should know the truth.

They anguished retorts were difficult to ignore, however, instead of anger and hate, the disciples should speak the truth to their fellow brothers of Judaism.

It may be in doing so, one of these would respond by repenting.

If this happens, we should be ready to forgive.

E

I believe the word “rebuke” gives us a wrong concept here.

We tend to see it in a negative, and angry way.

However, the word really means...

21.

He straitly charged (ἐπιτιμήσας).

The word implies an emphatic, solemn charge; its meaning being, strictly, to lay a penalty upon one, and thence, to charge under penalty.

This can be done in a loving manner that is beneficial to us which Paul addresses in .

Hopefully, our proper attitude will help them to have a change of heart and repent, but if it does not, Jesus tells us we must continue to forgive no matter what.

This is difficult to do, but we need to remember that this is not just for their benefit, but for ours also.

If they do not repent and they continue to sin against us, we need to be prepared to forgive them each and every time.

The disciples, upon hearing all this began to be concerned that they could not do all that Jesus was asking.

They know that these things are hard to do.

So they literally cry out to Jesus asking Him to increase their faith so they can do these things.

Jesus then explains that...

C. We always have enough faith ()

All it requires is a mustard seed!

If you have never seen a mustard seed, it is really small.

I would say it is about the same size as a sesame seed, which we may be more familiar with.

What makes the mustard seed so relevant is its capacity to grow.

From this tiny seed grows a large plant that bushes out taking up a lot of space.

It will then spread and overtake other plants easily.

Here is where we get things wrong.

We ask for more faith thinking that to achieve what Jesus is saying we need more because it is dependent on us and the amount of faith we have.

This is incorrect.

We must remember that it is not us, but Christ in us that makes the difference.

The power in faith is God’s not ours.

All we need is a small amount of faith in God, then His power works to accomplish what needs to be done.

Faith Illustration - water, white vinegar, baking soda.

Baking soda=faith