21DP4 What to do if the Truth Offends

Summary Overview

The Problem:Jesus told us not to offend, but he himself offended. When is it ok to offend?

The Solution (Big Idea): Jesus’ Mission Was to Reach People, Not to Offend Them

1. If a direct stumbling block to faith is being presented then it is worth the offense.

Jesus didn’t mind offending those causing a direct stumbling block to faith.

Jesus’ offenses were mostly directed toward self-righteous religious people.

Jesus didn’t mind offending religious leaders who were causing people to stumble.

(except Nicodemus who was wanting to learn. )

2. If it isn’t a direct stumbling block to faith it wasn’t worth the offense.

Jesus is adamant about brother/sister unity because that is the vehicle by which gospel truth travels. (they will know us by our love)

Jesus didn’t exercise his right to not pay taxes because it had nothing to do with the Gospel and risked offense.

Paul gets dogmatic about circumcision only when it hinders the Gospel. He has Timothy circumcised when the lack will hinder Gospel.

Challenge / CTA: Ask self what is worth offending others with.

Pray over Word

I thank you, Father, that your word has the power to change my life.t I'm a hearer of the word and a doer of the word and I'll never be the same after today. In Jesus name Amen

SERIES SETUP (2min)

[WHY THE SERIES]

Matthew 24:10, 12-13 (NKJV)

Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

because the end is near

Mark 16:15

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

how will they know to listen to us?

John 13:35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Love is how we will change the world.

Love is the foundation for how the Kingdom of God exercises its authority of truth.

Love is the vehicle by which God’s truth is effectively proclaimed.

this is why he was so adamant that

We must use love to protect unity from both sides.

THE PROBLEM (8min)

[STORY POINTING TO PROBLEM]

so does that mean we have to walk on egg shells with everyone.

saw people in hallways joking, “if i’ve every done anything to offend, i’m sorry” lol

which brings us to our next challenge in this series....

So far we’ve been focusing on us Christians not taking offense or offending each other, because inside the body of Christ our ....

Today we are going to switch Gears...

What if the Gospel offends?

It seems like we have a moral delima.... a conflict in the scripture...

Matt 18:7 (NKJV)

Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

vs

Matthew 15:12-14

Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

Matthew 15:12-14

He replied, “... Leave them; they are blind guides.”

[STATE PROBLEM]

Jesus told us to not offend,

but he himself offended.

We know that Jesus was never wrong so How do we square these two?

How do we make sure to not compromise the truth and at the same time not offend.

Whats the difference?

[RELATE EXAMPLES TO GROUPS EXAMPLES]

...because we’ve all been in situations where you saw something wrong and wanted to point it out even though it may offend.

Spouses who...

Friends

Work

School

Society

[TRANS2 SOLUTION]

We are going to study some interactions of Jesus and Paul as they navigate this issue of truth vs offense

THE SOLUTION (15min)

sometimes we focus so much on how He loved people that we forget that part of loving people is being truthful, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Jesus’ ministry was at times confrontational and offensive.

He always adjusted His approach according to His audience.

He refused to condemn the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1-12),

but issued “woes” to the scribes, Pharisees, and teachers of the Law (Matthew 23).

Jesus’ confrontation targeted the Self-Righteous

Read the Gospels and you’ll find it a virtually unbreakable rule.

His hometown: “Who does this guy think he is, telling us how to live? We saw him grow up; he’s just Joseph and Mary’s son. He doesn’t have any right to tell us what to do!”);

and many others but He mainly focused on the Religious Leaders

Jesus didn’t mind offending religious leaders who were causing people to stumble.

Jesus comforted the weary, healed the sick, brought good news to the poor, taught the truth unflinchingly, and corrected sinners gently, taught the teachable.

But He really laid into the proud, smug, hypocritical religionists. Called them...

children of the devil, children of hell, whitewashed tombs, a brood of vipers, and more.

[ADDRESS UNSAVED]

(If you are un-churched and have a problem with self-righteous religious people, you would like Jesus.)

So why did He offend them the way He did?

Because they had God all figured out.

had all the answers

had the seats of honor because of it.

They were proud.

I pray often that God will protect me from falling into that same category. I don’t want Jesus taking aim at me as He did with them.

Yes, He offended some people, but He targeted that offense very specifically, and He almost never did it in a sermon.

But there was one religious leader he didn’t treat that way.

In this account is a key to why Jesus was careful to not offend one religious leaders like he did the others.

John 3:1–8

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Sanedrin

These are the group that Jesus tends to offend with the truth because they are doing things that directly make people stumble in finding God.

John 3:1–8

He came to Jesus at night...

avoid being seen with him

Probably waking Jesus up. They would light a lamp or maybe go outside and start a fire.

Nick starts to ask questions. Good questions.

John 3:1–8

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.

Calls him “Rabbi” - sign of respect.

From the context here we can see that he’s not trying to trap Jesus but trying to learn and understand

The Pharisees knew Jesus was from God.

So Jesus give him the secret.

John 3:1–8

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

If you are not a Jesus follower, this is where we get the term “born again”

It is a term Jesus used as an example so we could understand what it means to die to your old self, and be “reborn” with a brand new life.

Continuing in his quest to learn, Nick continues to take Jesus, seriously although maybe a little to literally because this illustration from Jesus seriously confuses him.

John 3:1–8

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

at this point Jesus appreciates the unusually humble spirit searching for the from one of the religious leaders who usually are trying to trap him.

This one is searching fro truth.

Jesus spends some time not offending him, but reaching out to him.

And in that conversation late at night, by fire light Jesus tell Nick arguably the most famous verse from the bible.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

even if you are not a jesus follower you’ve probably heard that verse, But do we know what Jesus said next?

What he tells him would have special meaning to Nick, because he may have come assuming that Jesus would condemn him because of who he was.

John 3:17

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Nick, i didn’t come to condemn you, to offend you, but to save you.

Jesus didn’t pull his punch. He spoke the truth. But he spoke it very differently to this one with a Humble heart.

[STATE SOLUTION / BOTTOM LINE]

Jesus’ Mission Was to Reach People, Not to Offend Them

Back in hometown Nazereth

Luke 4:18

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,”

Is the truth that might offend in direct opposition to the Gospel itself?

Jesus chose to give up his rights in order to not offend people.

Matt 17:24-27

... the collectors ...came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

Evidently Jesus was supernaturally listening in or one of the other disciples told him but when Peter came home, Jesus spoke to him first...

Matt 17:24-27

“What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.

Jesus explains that He was the Lord and owner of the temple, and therefore it was not for Him to pay the tax. The point was that the temple was God’s house. As the Son of God, Jesus was exempt from the temple tax. It was Jesus’ right to not pay the tax...

Matt 17:24-27

“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.””

He chose to pay the tax in order not to offend those who would not understand his actions if he did not pay the tax. He did not stand up for His rights. But to avoid offending the consciences of those who have not experienced this exemption, he pays the tax regardless.

If it had been a stumbling block to the Gospel being preached, Jesus would not have paid the tax and intentionally offended people.

Even though he had the right to not pay, he is so smart in how the handles this.

He simultaneously proves once again that He is the Son of God though the miracle of provision and manages at the same time to not offend those who would not understand if he exercised his right not not pay.

It was unfair and the temple didn’t need it. It was a matter of moral indifference to Him, but e was willing to pay rather than offend.

In nonmoral matters, Jesus respected the consciences of others, and didn’t do anything that would cause offense.

Jesus' point here sets an example later followed by Paul over and over.

There was a cultural issue with eating meat sacrificed to idols.

Paul knew that it was fine but it would be a stumbling block to the faith of others. (the Gospel)

1Cor 8:9

“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Cor 8:12-13

When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”

Paul’s point is clear. there are times when we should sacrifice our own rights or privileges for the sake of the gospel.

There were other times when Paul didn’t stand up for his rights to not offend.

Paul knew that circumcision was not required for salvation. In fact he said

Gal 5:12

“As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!”

He said this in the context of people in the church being told that they had to keep the old Jewish laws in order to be a follower of Christ. So paul established the truth and was extremely bold about the truth to those who were in danger of falling away.

But then when He wanted to recruit a young man, Timothy, into ministry and take him with him to minister he made an interesting choice.

Acts 16:3

“Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”

Paul knew that although circumcision was not a requirement for salvation, that if Timothy, a known Greek (who they would know was not traditionally circumcised) would be a hurdle for them at that point in their faith walk.

he also knew that bringing an uncircumcised Greek into Jewish communities would be offensive so he chose to have him circumcised.

Paul was not so dogmatic with the truth that he hindered the Gospel.

Paul is offensive when circumcision hinders peoples faith. (the Gospel).

Paul was respectful of Jews traditions when trying to win them to the faith.

Does your need to be right overshadow your mandate to reach people?

What is worth more, your right to be right or that they would know we are his disciples because of our unity… our love for one another?

If it isn’t a direct stumbling block to faith it isn’t worth the offense.

we can all draw indirect stumbling blocks to faith.

[APPLY TO GROUPS (EXAMPLES)]

THE CHALLENGE (5 min)

[Short term Challenge / Call to Action:]

Nick didn’t leave his job as a religious leader.

In the cover of night he sneaks out of wherever Jesus was staying and slipped back to his house and into his bed to ponder this amazing conversation.

And later, from his position, he would later defend Jesus to the chief priests and Pharisees.

And even later after Jesus’ death he would provide the spices and aloe to prepare his body for burial.

And even after his death, Jewish history tells of a man named named Nicodemus ben Gorion, a wealthy first-century member of the Sanhedrin who lost his status and fortune later in life.

Some believe this to be the Nicodemus of the Gospels and that his losses were because at Jesus’ death he conversion to Christianity leaving the sanhedrin.

Jesus’ Mission Was to Reach People, Not to Offend Them

Never compromise the Truth of the Gospel

If we compromise the truth to keep from offending people, then it doesn’t matter if they know we are his disciples because we never use that love to deliver the truth of the Good news

i’m not saying never tell the truth.

[Question]

Why are you delivering the truth you are delivering?

Love? Frustration? Justice? Reconciliation?

Do you have the same mission as jesus?

Constructive conflict only works if the reason you address them is for restoration. not to be right.

The only way to effectively change someone’s perception is through conviction and revelation by the Holy Spirit.

But that is His job not ours.

Our job is to proclaim truth in love and not get in the way by a lack of compassion and love as we deliver His truth.

Jesus’ Mission Was to Reach People, Not to Offend Them

[TRANSISITON] other side

Remember that Jesus didn’t typically just walk up to people and say, “You’re wrong!” Often, He pointed out others’ errors when they approached Him and asked for His advice or opinion. 

There were times he was concerned about offending others and cautioned us to not offend or walk in offense and unforgiveness.

When do we want to make sure we do not offend.

Psalm 139:23–24

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

[APPLY TO INDIVIDUALS / WHAT IF YOU DID]

[APPLY TO CONGREGATION / WHAT IF WE DID]

PRAYER & REFLECTION (2min)

[Specific prayer about application]

[Help us be doers of the word]

[What to reflect]

MISC PLACED

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[Make Disciple Makers]

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[GOSPEL]

[OBJECTIONS]