Stumbling Around
Today's Three-minute Bible Study
Print, Study and Apply
Title: Stumbling Around ------------------- Date: 6/16/2003
Keywords:
"millstone" "stumble"
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to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual
temptation.
Passage: Mark 9:42*
[Jesus speaking] "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
Questions
1. In the context of today's passage, who is a "little one?"
2. In the context of today's passage, what does it mean "to stumble?"
3. Are there Christians you know personally who are stumbling around in their faith?
4. Why might this be so?
5. Are you one of them?
Practical help
It is not normally the wicked who have the best shot at causing me to stumble because I don't expect them to represent God. The ones who shake my faith the most are the "believers" who live like the world. When a Christian's light has grown dim and his saltiness has gone flat, he has become a spiritual hazard to others. If you are coasting in your walk with God, I pray this passage opens your eyes.
It's pretty clear from the tone of this verse that Jesus does not desire those who have put their faith in Him to ever stumble spiritually. Keep in mind that if it wasn't a big deal to Him, He would not have painted such a graphic picture describing a terrible level of punishment one might prefer over what he or she should expect from a holy and righteous God whose children have been harmed.
To grow in faith we need people who do not trip us up by how they live their lives or what they teach us about God that isn't true. This obviously goes for how we live our lives as well.
You can know two things about those of us who write these eXXit studies. First, we are sinners saved by grace and understand the struggle of pornography personally. You are with fellow travelers when it comes to temptations. Secondly, we can testify to God's goodness in enabling us to walk free of pornography's grip. Following Jesus isn't just a good idea, like buying insurance. He is life itself and the only source for real life and peace in this world. We have taken Jesus' invitation to find rest for our souls and we invite you to do so as well (Matthew 11:28).
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*Scripture taken from the New King James Version (NKJV), © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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