Threats to Gospel Community

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Woe to those who tempt, faith like a mustard seed, serve out of duty not to be noticed

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Open your bibles to . Today we are going to look at the importance of community. Would you say that community matters? Do we need relationships with one another in order to make it through this life?

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 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. 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.”

Increase Our Faith

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Unworthy Servants

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ”

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Open your bibles to . Today we are going to look at the importance of community. Would you say that community matters? Do we need relationships with one another in order to make it through this life?
A month ago we had a family at our campus go through a very tramatizing ordeal. Their daughter had been experiencing flu-like symptoms for a couple days and just wasn’t improving. So on January 21 they took her to the ER where things began to get worse quickly. What they thought was the flu turned out to be type-1 diabetes. And her condition became very serious. Unfortunately the mom had her 3 other kids with her as the dad was working in Fort Wayne for the day. So she reached out to her small group leader and she came to get her kids. Meanwhile another member in her small group was working at the hospital and was able to come be with the mom. This same member reached out to me and I made my way to the hospital. On the way I called Nikki and told her what was happening and to have her pray. She informed me of a member in our small group who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child as well. So I called and left a message with her knowing she could care for the mom in a way I couldn’t. As soon as she got the message she came to the hospital and spent time there along with a couple other small group members. Eventually she was transferred over to Memorial in South Bend where Zach was able to reach out as well as pastor Nathan from the Granger campus.
Maines’ daughter story??
Let me ask you: do you think community mattered for this young family? Absolutely. What a picture of our Gospel community coming together. And I am sure we would all agree community matters.
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But with that understanding we must also realize there are real threats to our Gospel community, especially for us as we are just starting out. We are transitioning from a campus to a plant in the next several months and the devil HATES what we are doing here. He wants to do everything he can to destroy what we are trying to build.
Each of us has a responsibility to care for this community and I want to turn your attention to verse 3. This I believe is the central idea of this passage: “PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES!”
Key phrase of this passage is in v.. 3- PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES
In order to protect our Gospel Community everyone must Keep watch over their own lives. Beware. Be on guard. Be alert of. There is a warning for us here. And if we aren’t careful, the consequences could be devastating.
If you have noticed over the last several weeks, Jesus has been talking to large crowds of people. And within the crowd he’s directed his words towards 2 main groups: one of them being the pharisees. Last week Jesus warned them of the reality of hell. He used a parable about a rich man who failed to understand this and found himself pleading for a resurrected Lazarus to appear to his family to warn them. But they already had everything they needed to know in what Moses and the prophets already said.
Before that Jesus spent a lot of time calling out their sin and pride, their self-justification & love of money. He expressed his care for them and how he would have taken them under their wings if they were just willing.
[PAUSE]
But their hearts were set on the kingdom of this world.
There was another group of people he was talking with and the tone with them is very different: the disciples. These guys are unimpressive. Fishermen, tax collectors. People who were looked down upon by the pharisees, yet Jesus has deep compassion and care for them. And as he calls out the sins of the pharisees, he instructs the disciples in how to go about living for a kingdom not of this world.
And so once again in chapter 17 his attention is turned to them.
And Jesus want them to be watchful of their lives, to build a community built on different principles than the pharisees. He wants them to protect their community. There are things threatening theirs and I believe we would do well to lean in so as to learn how we can strengthen ours.
The first threat to Gospel Community is...
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The Threat of Stumbling Blocks

Look at verse 1.

Temptations to sin- v. 1-4

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 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. 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.”

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

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More literal translation- It’s impossible for temptations not to happen. “Sure” means impossible in the Greek.
Temptations to sin are stumbling blocks that lead people to sin. They are traps that are laid. Offenses that lead people astray. The literal translation is this: It impossible for stumbling blocks not to come.
4998 σκάνδαλον (skandalon), ου (ou), τό (to): n.neu.; ≡ Str 4625; TDNT 7.339—1. LN 6.25 trap (), for another interp, see last entry; 2. LN 88.306 sin, stumbling-block, obstacle; that which causes to sin (); 3. LN 25.181 offense, an obstacle which offends, implying resulting opposition (; )
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Temptations to sin are stumbling blocks that lead people to sin. They are traps that are laid. Offenses that lead people astray. The literal translation is this: It impossible for stumbling blocks not to come.
No one is free from temptation. A reality for all of us is that there will be stumbling blocks in our paths.
BUT that is no excuse to be the one who causes others to stumble. Jesus gives us a stern warning if we are the ones who cause someone else to sin.
450 ἀνένδεκτος (anendektos), ον (on): adj.; ≡ Str 418—LN 71.5 impossible, formally, not impossible to come = bound to happen (+)
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Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
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3590 μή (mē): pt.; ≡ Str 3361 & 3378—1. LN 69.3 not; marker that negates a statement (Mt 12:30; Mk 16:18 v.r.); 2. LN 69.15 marker of a question, expecting the answer, “no.” (Lk 22:35); 3. LN 89.62 so that not, lest; marker of negative purpose (Ac 27:42); 4. LN 89.131 εἰ μή (ei mē), except that (Mt 5:13)

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Woe: It is as horrible thing to be the offender. How dreadful for the one who causes one of these little ones to sin!
Look at verse 2

4026 οὐαί (ouai), ἡ (hē): n.fem. [BAGD, GD, Thayer mostly as interjection]; ≡ DBLHebr 208, 2098; Str 3759—LN 22.9 horror, how dreadful!; (most versions) Woe; Alas! (REB, NEB, NJB); as a noun in BAGD/GD 1Co 9:16; Rev 9:12; 11:14a; (as an interjection in BAGD) Mt 23:13ff passim; Mk 13:17; 14:21; Lk 6:24–26; 11:42–52 passim; 22:22; Jude 11; Rev 8:13; 18:10, 16, 19

Little ones not to be thought of in terms of age, although that could be true. Rather this is more referring to new believers. Consider other places Jesus uses this terminology.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
The Holy Bible: English Standard
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“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

4668 προσέχω (prosechō): vb.; ≡ Str 4337—1. LN 27.59 be alert for, watch out, be on guard, beware (Mt 6:1); 2. LN 30.35 consider carefully, implying agreement (Ac 8:6); 3. LN 31.47 continue to believe, hold firmly to a belief (1Ti 1:4; 1Ti 6:3 v.r. NA26); 4. LN 68.19 continue to give oneself to, devote, apply oneself (Heb 7:13)

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5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

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Matthew 18:5-6

Pay Attention:
We aren’t sure exactly the fate of these but we know that it would be better to have a millstone tied around their neck and tossed in the sea than to cause a young believer to sin.
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A millstone was a large stone used to grind things like flour and it would was done by animal. So this is no small stone. If this around your neck there is no getting loose.
Jesus is clearly wanting to get the attention of the disciples. There is no room for followers of Christ to lead others away from him.
And If we are going to be a Gospel community that thrives, a community that makes a difference to those around us, then we will must steer clear to the best of our ability from putting stumbling blocks in the path of each other.
So the question we have to ask ourselves is what stumbling blocks are we susceptible in placing down before one another?
[PAUSE]
There are a couple that come to mind right away:
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The Threat of Indifference

legalism- we are only accepted by God under perfect obedience to him. Like the pharisees. It places heavy burdens on one another that don’t need to be placed. But there’s another ditch we want to stay out of.

4668 προσέχω (prosechō): vb.; ≡ Str 4337—1. LN 27.59 be alert for, watch out, be on guard, beware (Mt 6:1); 2. LN 30.35 consider carefully, implying agreement (Ac 8:6); 3. LN 31.47 continue to believe, hold firmly to a belief (1Ti 1:4; 1Ti 6:3 v.r. NA26); 4. LN 68.19 continue to give oneself to, devote, apply oneself (Heb 7:13)

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licentiousness- because we are accepted by God we can live however we please.
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Both of these can be detrimental to the faith of others.
Are there other areas you can think of that you’ve led people to sin?
Temptations to sin are unavoidable but woe to those who cause others to stumble. Beware of the threat of stumbling blocks.
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[PAUSE]
Better to have a millstone tied around your next
Here’s the 2nd threat...

The Threat of Indifference

The Threat of Indifference

Look at verse 3.
If your brother sins, rebuke him
What happens when we encounter a brother or sister in Christ caught in sin?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles
We rebuke them. We go to them expressing strong disapproval. We warn them of the danger that awaits them if they continue. We call them out. We refuse to remain indifferent to those who are going astray.
Rebuke:
Rebuke:
Rebuke:

2203 ἐπιτιμάω (epitimaō): vb.; ≡ Str 2008; TDNT 2.623—1. LN 33.419 rebuke, denounce, express strong disapproval (Mt 16:22); 2. LN 33.331 command, give a warning implying a threat (Lk 8:24; Mt 16:20 v.r.)

If you are like me, this isn’t something that comes natural to you. How many peacemakers do we have hear? How many of you just want peace and for everyone to get along? You hate conflict? That’s me.
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But what good does it do if we watch people turning their backs to the ways of God only to look the other way?
Of course there is a danger here. This isn’t a license to call out one another EVERY time we see each other sin. We aren’t called to go on witch hunts. That’s not what this is about.
But are we observing patterns in others that will lead to serious problems if not addressed will lead them away from the Lord? Then we are called to go to our brother or sister and call them out for it.
What is our goal in that? What is our motivation to rebuke? [PAUSE]
It’s to restore them to Christ. If you saw someone you loved on the road not paying attention to the semi truck about to run them over how would you respond?
Oh I hate being confrontational. I think I will just let it go. I’m sure they will just get out of the way. I don’t want them to be mad at me for confronting them.
Illustration about being confronted
Is there someone in your life you have put off rebuking out of fear of what they will think? What do you need to do this week to make it right?
On the other side of the coin how do you respond when someone confronts you? Do you have ears to hear? Are you receptive in hearing you aren’t quite measuring up and are in danger of straying off the straight and narrow path?

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I see myself as God sees me—a sinner. There is no escaping the truth: “No one is righteous, not even one” (). In response to my sin, the cross has criticized and judged me more intensely, deeply, pervasively, and truly than anyone else ever could. This knowledge permits us to say to all other criticism of us: “This is just a fraction of it.” -ALFRED J. POIRIER

For us to be a strong Gospel Community we must fight against the threat of indifference and love each other enough to protect one another from getting too far off track.
But there’s another threat linked to this one that is extremely dangerous and yet one that is very challenging to guard against.
Look at the 2nd part of v. 3-4.
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The Threat of Unforgiveness

A strong Gospel Community is one built on forgiveness. After all isn’t this foundational to our faith?
3566 μετανοέω (metanoeō): vb.; ≡ Str 3340; TDNT 4.975—LN 41.52 repent, to change one’s life, based on complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; passim; 9:20; 16:9)
Is not our salvation built on the forgiving blood of Jesus Christ on the cross? We are free in him because of His forgiveness. So when our brothers and sisters repent we are ready to forgive.
So what does it mean to repent?
Repent: 3566 μετανοέω (metanoeō): vb.; ≡ Str 3340; TDNT 4.975—LN 41.52 repent, to change one’s life, based on complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; passim; 9
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Repentance: to change one’s life, based on complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness.

But what if someone sins against me 7 times in a single day? I’m suppose to forgive them? [PAUSE]
Jesus says yes.
But you don’t know what I’ve been through! How can you expect me to do that?? [PAUSE]
You are right. I don’t know. [PAUSE]
But Christ does. He had the whole world turn their backs on him, including His Father. He bore the wrath of His Father for the sins of all those who would ever believe. But here’s the big difference between us and Christ. He was completely innocent of ANY wrong doing. Yet he took on the punishment due to us.
In light of that how can we not forgive? Check out what the rest of Scripture has to say on forgiveness.

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Forgiveness is foundational for our Gospel Community. But what does it mean AND not mean to forgive?
It doesn’t mean we act like nothing happened. It does mean we choose not to keep bringing it up against them.
It doesn’t mean we have to be trust them blindly. It does mean we don’t assume the worst.
It doesn’t mean we are a doormat. It does mean we can put up boundaries.
It doesn’t mean we can forgive with conditions. It does mean we forgive completely.
It doesn’t mean we can gossip. It does mean we can ask others to hold us accountable.
How are you doing with forgiveness? Anyone coming to your mind you need to forgive?
Maybe you are on the other side of the coin. You’ve wronged others and you need to ask forgiveness.
Either way write those names down and do what God is calling you to do today.
A strong Gospel Community is one that forgives. Apart from that we will crumble and fall. BUT if we will be known as a forgiving community, the limits of how God can use us are through the roof. May God keep us humble.
Threat #4. Look at verse 5-6.
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The Threat of Complacency

After the disciples hear of the dangers of being a stumbling block, after the call to rebuke and forgive one another, they can’t help but ask for more faith.
v.5-6

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

How can they possibly do all that Jesus was asking them to do? Do you feel overwhelmed with all this? I certainly do! And so I say along with the disciples. INCREASE MY FAITH!
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So what exactly are they asking? They are saying, “Give me a stronger confidence and reliance upon you!” If we are going to love as you’ve called us to love, if we are going to lovingly rebuke and forgive one another, if we are going to protect this Gospel Community, we need to trust you more!
The disciples aren’t complacent with where they stand in their faith. They want more of it. They need a deeper trust in Christ, a stronger reliance on him.
And Jesus responds in an interesting way. v. 6
Jesus said in the mustard seed is the smallest of seeds. It’s very small. Check it out.
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And faith like a mustard seed can allow you to say to the mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the seed and it would happen!
Now mulberry tree were known for their vast root system and they could last for 500 years. They would have been looked at as immovable. And if something could move it that would be a mighty act.
So what was Jesus saying here? Does he really mean this tree would literally move? I don’t think that’s his point. Rather, what he’s saying is even the smallest amount of faith can make a big difference. But here’s the thing. It’s not the size of your faith that’s important. Rather it’s the object of your faith that matters. Tim Keller says it this way:
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“It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you. Strong faith in a weak branch is fatally inferior to weak faith in a strong branch.” -Tim Keller

If our faith is rooted in Christ, then the power on display will be great. In we see that Christ is able to do exceeding abundantly above ALL we ask or think.
So where are you at with your faith? Have you grown comfortable where you are at? Complacent? You’ve been good enough?
And WHAT are you putting your faith in? Is it in Christ or something else? Remember it’s not about the size of your faith but about the OBJECT of your faith. We must all be on the lookout for the threat of complacency.
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[PAUSE]
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We see the last threat is in verses 7-10
Our Gospel Community needs to be aware of...
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The Threat of Recognition

v. 7-10

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ”

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A servant at his place of occupation doesn’t work, do what he is suppose to do and then stick around waiting to be praised for it.
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And as believers in Christ we do not do as we are commanded looking to be recognized for it.
We are not serving so as to receive the praise of man.
But why is that the case? Everyone likes some encouragement right? What’s the danger in wanting to be seen?
[PAUSE]
If our service to the Lord is done out of wanting to be noticed, that’s a reflection that we have forgotten how salvation came to us in the first place.
says
We aren’t saved out of our good works. It by grace apart from works. Why? So that no one can boast. Seeking out recognition is a form of boasting, looking for a pat on the back. Listen to what else Paul says
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The good works we do were laid out for us by God that we should walk in them.
We didn’t save ourselves. We don’t even do good works on our own accord.
Everything we do we are to do for the Glory of God ALONE.
I can remember as a kid having to wash dishes. I HATED washing dishes. We didn’t have an automatic dishwasher growing up. Who else grew up that way? It was the worst chore of all time. Can I get an amen? There was a particular day I still remember when I got it in my mind I was going to wash the dishes without being asked. Wasn’t that amazing of me? I know. I know. You’re impressed. I kid you not I was right in the middle of washing the dishes when my mom called. Guess what she asked me to do? Wash the dishes. I was so mad! Here I was being a good son and my mom ruined it for me. I no longer wanted to wash dishes because now I wouldn’t be recognized for my amazing service.
Do we serve looking for praise? Or do we serve simply to do what we are suppose to do?
Isn’t that what happens to us when we live for praise? We find ourselves demanding recognition and when we don’t get it we complain. WE get an attitude. We start looking around and comparing ourselves to what others are doing.
I think we are especially susceptible as a new plant. Typically in church 20% of the people do 80% of the work. And I know many of you are juggling a lot. It could be tempting for some of you to question why you are doing so much while others are idling by.
[PAUSE]
That’s a threat to our community. And what Jesus wants us to understand is that ultimately we don’t work for man. We don’t serve for others to take notice. We don’t serve to gain a platform. WE serve ALL for the glory of Christ alone. We want others to take notice of our good works and glorify our father in heaven.
How’s your pride? Are you tempted to seek recognition in all the things you are doing? This is a major threat to our Gospel community.
[PAUSE]
Doesn’t protecting our community really come down to humility? Isn’t that what this passage is all about?
It all starts with paying attention to ourselves. As you think about these different threats how are you doing?
What areas has God revealed to you today in your life that may threaten our community? What steps can you take this week to help build up this church God has placed you in?
Maybe for you it has to do with temptations you are putting in the way of others. Maybe its the fact we are indifferent to the ongoing sin of those around us. We would rather not offend than help a brother or sister draw closer to Christ.
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Or is there someone in your life you need to forgive? You’ve been holding on to bitterness and God is calling you to lay it down. Neil Anderson said forgiveness is setting the captive free and then realizing your the captive.
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[PAUSE]
Maybe you grown complacent. You haven’t been in the Word much lately. Time with the Father has been sporadic at best. You need to cry out I need more faith!
Or maybe you are seeking praise for your good deeds.
Each of these are threats to our church. Praise be to God who opens our eyes to where we fall short and has already paid the price for our sins. May God strengthen our church and make us a place where the Gospel is not only proclaimed in Word but in deed as well. Let’s pray.
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