Millstones and Stumbling Blocks
January 23, 2005 - Mark 9:42-49
The lesson for today is Matthew 18:6-9. This study guide is from the parallel passage in the Gospel of Mark.
Open It
What are your favorite seasonings?
What is pleasant and unpleasant about salt?
What do you believe are the marks of maturity?
Explore It
To whom did Jesus refer when He spoke of "little ones"? (Mark 9:42)
What behavior did Jesus condemn? (Mark 9:42)
What figure of speech did Jesus use to show how serious His point was? (Mark 9:42-47)
What was Jesus' attitude toward sin? (Mark 9:43-47)
What does this passage teach about the kingdom of God? (Mark 9:43-47)
Why did Jesus use extreme examples in this context? (Mark 9:43-48)
How did Jesus use figurative language to get His message across? (Mark 9:43-48)
How did Jesus describe hell? (Mark 9:48-49)
What did Jesus mean when He said, "Everyone will be salted with fire"? (Mark 9:49)
Get It
Who are the "little ones" in our society?
What do our hands, feet, and eyes represent?
How can a person's hand, foot, or eye cause him or her to sin?
How do you think a Christian can cause others to sin?
In what ways is causing another person to sin worse than sinning yourself?
What should be our attitude toward sin?
How do you plan to apply to your life the principles Jesus taught about avoiding sin?
What specific steps can a Christian take to avoid sin?
What could a church do as a group to apply these principles?
How can this passage motivate us to share our faith with unbelievers?
Apply It
What concrete action can you take this week to avoid a sin that you have struggled with in the recent past?
What can you do this week to make your witness for Christ clearer to the unbelievers around you?
Notes
Mark 9:41-42: Luke 9:48 states, "He who is least among you all-he is the greatest." In Jesus' eyes, whoever welcomes a child welcomes Jesus; giving a cup of cold water to a person in need is the same as giving an offering to God. By contrast, harming others or failing to care for them is a sin, even if they are unimportant people in the world's eyes. It is possible for thoughtless, selfish people to gain a measure of worldly greatness, but lasting greatness is measured by God's standards. What do you use as your measure-personal achievement or unselfish service?
Mark 9:42: This caution against harming little ones in the faith applies both to what we do individually as teachers and examples and to what we allow to fester in our Christian fellowship. Our thoughts and actions must be motivated by love (1 Corinthians 13), and we must be careful about judging others (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 14:1-15:4). However, we also have a responsibility to confront flagrant sin within the church (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).
Mark 9:43ff: Jesus used startling language to stress the importance of cutting sin out of our lives. Painful discipline is required of his true followers. Giving up a relationship, job, or habit that is against God's will may seem just as painful as cutting off a hand. Our high goal, however, is worth any sacrifice; Christ is worth any possible loss. Nothing should stand in the way of faith. We must be ruthless in removing sins from our lives now in order to avoid being stuck with them for eternity. Make your choices from an eternal perspective.
Mark 9:48-49: With these strange words, Jesus pictured the serious and eternal consequences of sin. To the Jews, worms and fire represented both internal and external pain. What could be worse?