In this message Pastor Trenton Dorner teaches from Mark 9:42-50. The greatest threat to our spiritual lives in our day is ourselves and we must vigilantly guard against causing other followers of Jesus to sin and ruthlessly remove anything that causes us to sin. That is what we explore in this sermon.
Sermon Notes
The Gospel of Mark
The Greatest Threat // Mark 9:42-50
What is the greatest threat to our spiritual lives in our day?
Satan?
The World?
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” -Mark 9:42-50
What is the greatest threat to our spiritual lives in our day?
Us.
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” -James 1:14
“For the desire of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” -Galatians 5:17
We Must Vigilantly Guard Against Causing Other Followers of Jesus to Sin.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” -Mark 9:42
“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!” -Matthew 18:7
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” -James 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16
We Must Ruthlessly Remove Anything that Causes us to Sin.
“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” -Mark 9:43-48
“The problem with taking Jesus’ words literally here is that bodily mutilation does not go far enough in controlling sin. Sin is more a matter of the heart than of any particular limb or organ, and if I cut off my right hand, my left is still ready to sin. If I completely dismember my body, I can still sin in my mind and in my heart.” -David Guzik
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules.” -Ezekiel 36:26-27
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” -Romans 8:13
We Must Sacrifice and Suffer Now in Order to be Pleasing to God and to be at Peace with Others.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” -Mark 9:49-50
Sacrificing now to enjoy life is better than ease now with death later.
