I. FOUNDATION
Matthew 18:5 “Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me”
A. CHILD OF THE KING
1. NOT TALKING INFANT SALVATION
2. PICTURE OF CHILDLIKE FAITH
B. ONE WITH CHRIST
1. RECEIVING JESUS
2. TREATING JESUS
II. FAILURE
Matthew 18:6a “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble . . ”
A. STUMBLE BY MY INDUCING TO SIN
1. INDUCED TO SIN
2. GROW IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
B. STUMBLE BY MY MISUSING LIBERTY
1. LIBERTY v LICENSE?
2. RESTRICTING LIBERTY
C. STUMBLE BY MY EXAMPLE
1. WRONG CHOICES/LIFESTYLE
2. CHRISTLIKENESS
D. STUMBLE BY MY PROVOKING
1. ANGER AND REBELLION
2. EMULATE CHRIST
III. FINDINGS
A. PENALTY
Matthew 18:6b-7 “It would be better for him to have a great millstone turned by a donkey fastened around his neck and be sunk in the depth of the sea.”
1. MISTREAT CHRISTIAN = MISTREAT CHRIST
2. JUDGMENT COMING
B. PUNISHMENT
Matthew 18:7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes.”
1. CRY OF PITY
2. CRY FOR JUDGMENT
IV. FINALITY
Matthew 18:8-9 “And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame rather than having two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.”
A. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. CAUSING OTHERS TO SIN?
2. PROBLEMS
B. OBVIOUS LESSON
1. TREATING OTHER BELIEVERS AS WE WOULD TREAT JESUS
2. GODLY LIVING FOR ALL