Better Off Dead

Luke 17:1-4

Temptations:  σκανδαλον skandalon; a trap-stick, snare, stumbling block…  Any person or thing by which one is (entrapped) drawn into error or sin.

BIG IDEA:

 I would be better off dead than to lead a Christian into temptation.

1.  I pray I never lead someone to sin by directly enticing them.

Genesis 3:17, And to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your Life.

1st Kings 14:16, And He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and made Israel to sin.

Revelation 2:20, But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing My servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

2.  I pray I never lead someone to sin by indirectly provoking them.

Ephesians 6:4, Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

1st Corinthians 7:5, Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Galatians 6:1, Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

3.  I pray I never lead someone to sin by setting a sinful example.

1st Kings 11:2, You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.

Galatians 2:11-13, But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

1st Corinthians 8:9, But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

2nd Timothy 2:24-26, For the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

NEXT STEP:

• Encourage people to a growing faith
  
• Lead others into joy and praise
  
• Intentionally set examples of holy living