The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
\nOctober 2, 2016
\nLuke 17:1-10<\/p>\n
Jesus said to his disciples:\u00a0 \u201cThings that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.\u00a0 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.\u00a0 So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him.\u00a0\u00a0 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, \u2018I repent,\u2019 forgive him.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”\u00a0 He replied, \u201cIf you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, \u2018Be uprooted and planted in the sea,\u2019 and it will obey you.\u00a0 Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep.\u00a0 Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, \u2018Come along now and sit down to eat\u2019?\u00a0 Would he not rather say, \u2018Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink\u2019?\u00a0 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?\u00a0 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, \u2018We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 (NIV1984)<\/p>\n Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n One of the things that I have grown to both appreciate and admire about the Bible is that this Book is filled with \u201creal\u201d people.\u00a0 What I mean by that is this:\u00a0 whether it\u2019s Moses or Matthew, Aaron or Andrew, Miriam or Mary these are people to whom you and I can easily relate!\u00a0 They all have their good days and they all have their not so good days.\u00a0 They each have their own individual strengths and they each have their own individual weaknesses.\u00a0 Even the great \u201cHeroes of Faith\u201d listed for us in Hebrews chapter 11 \u2014 men such as Abraham and David, women such as Sarah and Rahab\u2014 are never put on pedestals so high that we have no choice but to say, \u201cI could never be like them.\u201d\u00a0 The people we read about in the Bible are \u201creal\u201d people\u2014 people who were no different from you and me.<\/p>\n The portion of Scripture that we have before us this morning gives us yet another example of that reality.\u00a0 As Jesus gets closer and closer to the cross, as both the culmination and the conclusion of Jesus\u2019 ministry here on this earth draws near, the Son of God teaches His disciples truths that \u201cchallenge\u201d their faith, truths that require their faith to grow and mature.<\/p>\n Since these same truths \u201cchallenge\u201d our faith, since these same truths require our faith to grow and to mature, our sermon theme for today is taken directly from our text.\u00a0 This morning let\u2019s see that:\u00a0 As Disciples of Jesus\u2014 We Cry \u201cIncrease Our Faith!\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 There are two things we need to do today.\u00a0 First let\u2019s see what causes Jesus\u2019 disciples to cry out, \u201cIncrease our faith!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Then let\u2019s see how our Savior responds to this heartfelt cry for help.<\/p>\n What causes Jesus\u2019 disciples, including us, to cry out, \u201cIncrease our faith!\u201d<\/em>?\u00a0 Jesus answers that question from two different yet intertwined perspectives.\u00a0 The first perspective is found in the opening three verses of our text.\u00a0 Luke writes, \u201cJesus said to his disciples, \u2018Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.\u00a0 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.\u00a0 So watch yourselves.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The Greek word which is translated here as \u201cthings that cause people to sin\u201d<\/em> is the word \u201cskandalon.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This word very literally refers to a \u201ctrigger\u201d in a trap.\u00a0 Think of a stick that is used to hold a trap open.\u00a0 Some kind of bait would be placed on that stick to entice an animal into the trap.\u00a0 Once the animal took the bait the trap was sprung and the animal was either caught or killed.\u00a0 Because of the presence of sin in this world and because each and every human being is sinful Jesus says that \u201cskandalon\u201d<\/em> are \u201cbound to happen.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 In other words, it is impossible for us as sinful human beings to completely avoid causing \u201cskandalon.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 It is impossible for us as sinful human beings to completely avoid setting a trap that causes someone else to sin.\u00a0 Whether it is the actions of our life or the words that we allow to come out of our mouth or the attitudes that we display, the sin that lives inside of us guarantees that sooner or later, in one way or another we will cause someone else to sin.<\/p>\n Does this mean that we are to simply accept that reality, shrug our shoulders, say \u201cOh well,\u201d and just move on?\u00a0 God forbid!\u00a0 We need to take to heart Jesus\u2019 warning, \u201cBut woe to that person through whom they come.\u00a0 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.\u00a0 So watch yourselves.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Since causing someone else to sin is such a serious offense in God\u2019s eyes it brings with it serious consequences from God\u2019s hand.\u00a0 So as disciples of Jesus we need to \u201cwatch\u201d<\/em> ourselves.\u00a0 We need to \u201cpay close attention to\u201d<\/em> how we live our life, to how we treat other people, to how we talk about other people, to the example that we set\u2014 especially for the \u201clittle ones.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 We don\u2019t want to be the one who teaches little Joey\u2014 either by word or by example\u2014 that it is not important to go to church and that serving our Lord by serving in His church is a dreary obligation at best.\u00a0 We don\u2019t want to be the one who teaches little Sally\u2014 either by word or by example\u2014 that it\u2019s okay to complain about people behind their back just as long as you smile and try to be friendly to them when you see them face-to-face.\u00a0 As disciples of Jesus we need to \u201cpay close attention to\u201d<\/em> the example that we set for others\u2014 especially for the \u201clittle ones.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n When we take these words of our Savior to heart, is it difficult for us to understand why we join with Jesus\u2019 disciples here in our text and cry out to our Lord, \u201cIncrease our faith!\u201d<\/em>?\u00a0 I don\u2019t think so!<\/p>\n From the perspective of being the one who causes someone else to sin Jesus then moves on to a second perspective.\u00a0 It is a perspective that focuses our attention on someone else who has sinned.\u00a0 It is a perspective that focuses our attention on someone who has sinned against us.\u00a0 Jesus says, \u201cIf your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.\u00a0 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says \u2018I repent,\u2019 forgive him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n I have found that \u201crebuking\u201d<\/em> someone when they have sinned against God and \u201cforgiving\u201d<\/em> someone when they have sinned against us are oftentimes the two most difficult things for disciples of Jesus to do.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 That\u2019s an easy question to answer.\u00a0 Think back to the last time that you had personal firsthand knowledge that a fellow Christian had sinned against God.\u00a0 Did you \u201crebuke\u201d<\/em> them?\u00a0 Did you follow the command that Jesus gives to us in Matthew 18 when He says, \u201cgo and show him his fault, just between the two of you\u201d<\/em>?\u00a0 (Matthew 18:15)\u00a0 Or, did you simply stay silent and look the other way because you didn\u2019t want to hear them say something like, \u201cMind your own business!\u201d or, \u201cWho are you <\/strong>to be telling me <\/strong>that what I am doing is wrong?\u201d or maybe even something like, \u201cWho made you God?\u201d<\/p>\n Now, think of the last time someone sinned against you and then came back and said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d\u00a0 Did you automatically remember how much the Son of God willingly suffered as He died on the cross to secure forgiveness for all of the sins that you have committed against Him?\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross)\u00a0 Or, did you withhold forgiveness because their sin \u201churt\u201d you \u201ctoo much\u201d?\u00a0 Did you automatically remember how your dear Lord and Savior graciously invites you to receive His holy Supper to personally assure you that all of your sins are completely forgiven\u2014 even though you sin against Him multiple times each and every day?\u00a0 Or, did you refuse to forgive that person because they have sinned against you \u201ctoo many times\u201d?<\/p>\n When we take these words of our Savior to heart, is it difficult for us to understand why we join with Jesus\u2019 disciples here in our text and cry out to our Lord, \u201cIncrease our faith!\u201d<\/em>?\u00a0 I don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n How does Jesus respond to this heartfelt cry from His disciples?\u00a0 He responds in two ways.\u00a0 First, look at verse six of our text.\u00a0 Jesus says, \u201cIf you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, \u2018Be uprooted and planted in the sea,\u2019 and it will obey you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As Jesus\u2019 disciples listened to what their Lord was telling them they wanted to do what Jesus had told them to do.\u00a0 But when they looked inside of themselves, they didn\u2019t think that they were up to the task.\u00a0 So what does Jesus do?\u00a0 He turns their focus outward and upward.\u00a0 \u201cJust use the faith the Lord your God has given to you!\u201d Jesus says to His disciples, \u201cThat faith is capable of doing far more than you think!\u201d\u00a0 And then, to help His disciples realize just how powerful even a tiny amount of faith is, to help His disciples understand that even the smallest amount of faith empowers them to do amazing things Jesus gives His disciples a picture that they would not easily forget, \u201cIf you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, \u2018Be uprooted and planted in the sea,\u2019 and it will obey you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As disciples of Jesus we are never to look at something Jesus tells us to do and say, \u201cI can\u2019t do that.\u00a0 My faith is just too weak.\u201d\u00a0 In the context of this portion of Scripture that means that when it comes to \u201cpaying close attention to\u201d<\/em> the way that we live our life so that we don\u2019t cause anyone to sin\u2014 especially the \u201clittle ones,\u201d<\/em> when it comes to \u201crebuking\u201d<\/em> someone who has sinned against God, when it comes to forgiving someone who has sinned against us and then says \u201cI repent,\u201d<\/em> we can\u2019t say, \u201cSorry.\u00a0 I can\u2019t do that.\u201d\u00a0 If we have any faith at all\u2014 even if it is as tiny as a mustard seed\u2014 we can lift up our eyes to the One who has given us that faith, trust that He will be with us to help us and then do what He commands us.<\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 second response to His disciples\u2019 heartfelt request, \u201cIncrease our faith!\u201d<\/em> is found in verses 7-10 of our text.\u00a0 Jesus says, \u201cSuppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep.\u00a0 Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, \u2018Come along now and sit down to eat\u2019?\u00a0 Would he not rather say, \u2018Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink\u2019?\u00a0 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?\u00a0 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, \u2018We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As disciples of Jesus we need to remember that we are His \u201cservants.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 We are \u201cslaves\u201d<\/em> of the Lord who \u201cbought\u201d<\/em> us back from the power of sin, death and the devil\u2014 not with gold or silver but with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.\u00a0 (See 1 Peter 1:18, 19)\u00a0 We don\u2019t get to decide which of Jesus\u2019 commands we will obey and which of Jesus\u2019 commands we can simply ignore.\u00a0 We serve Him who first served us.\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross)\u00a0 We give our life to the One who first gave His life for us.\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross).\u00a0 That\u2019s why doing what Jesus commands us to do is a joy and not a burden!\u00a0 He has done so <\/strong>much for<\/strong> us, He has given so <\/strong>much to <\/strong>us\u2014 forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation\u2014 that even if, even if we were to go beyond what Jesus commands us we would still have to humbly confess, \u201cWe are unworthy servants.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe apostles said to the Lord, \u2018Increase our faith!\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This cry reveals to us that Jesus\u2019 apostles were real people.\u00a0 They were no different than you and me.\u00a0 When the Son of God taught them truths that \u201cchallenged\u201d their faith, when He taught them truths that required their faith to grow and mature, the apostles realized that on their own they weren\u2019t up to the task.\u00a0 They needed <\/strong>Jesus to help them\u2014 and He did!<\/p>\n My prayer this morning, my friends, is that you and I will learn from the example that Jesus\u2019 apostles give to us here in our text.\u00a0 Whenever we are confronted by something in the Bible that \u201cchallenges\u201d our faith, whenever a command that our Savior has given to us requires our faith to grow and mature, may God grant that we will listen to our God as He speaks to us through His holy Word, thank our God as He strengthens us through His holy Supper\u2014 all the while continually crying out to our God, \u201cIncrease our faith!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost October 2, 2016 Luke 17:1-10 Jesus said to his disciples:\u00a0 \u201cThings that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.\u00a0 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of 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