Great Dangers Demand Great Dangers Demand Drastic Measures Drastic Measures

(Mark 9:38-48)(Mark 9:38-48)

UnityUnity• 3737 “Whoever welcomes one little child such as “Whoever welcomes one little child such as

this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me.” Him who sent Me.” 38 38 John said to Him, John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following prevent him because he was not following us.” (Mark 9:37-38)us.” (Mark 9:37-38)

UnityUnity• Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ

also accepted us to the glory of God. also accepted us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)(Romans 15:7)

• 39 39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. speak evil of Me. 40 40 For he who is not against For he who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:39-40)us is for us.” (Mark 9:39-40)

No NeutralityNo Neutrality• ““He who is not with Me is against Me; and he He who is not with Me is against Me; and he

who does not gather with Me scatters.” who does not gather with Me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30)(Matthew 12:30)

RewardsRewards• 41 41 “For whoever gives you a cup of water to “For whoever gives you a cup of water to

drink because of your name as followers of drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:38-41)reward.” (Mark 9:38-41)

Stumbling BlockStumbling Block• ““Whoever causes one of these little ones Whoever causes one of these little ones

who believe to stumble, it would be better who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” (Mark 9:42)sea.” (Mark 9:42)

• For God will bring every act to judgment, For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

MillstoneMillstone

Stumbling BlockStumbling Block• ““Whoever causes Whoever causes oneone of these little ones of these little ones

who believe to stumble, it would be better who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” (Mark 9:42)sea.” (Mark 9:42)

Drastic MeasuresDrastic Measures• 43 43 “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it

off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, into the unquenchable fire, 44 44 [where THEIR [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] (Mark 9:43-44)QUENCHED.] (Mark 9:43-44)

Drastic MeasuresDrastic Measures• 43 43 “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it

off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, into the unquenchable fire, 44 44 [where THEIR [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] QUENCHED.] 45 45 If your foot causes you to If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, cast into hell, 46 46 [where THEIR WORM DOES [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.]NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.]

Drastic MeasuresDrastic Measures• 47 47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it

out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, to be cast into hell, 48 48 where THEIR WORM where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. [Isaiah 66:24]” (Mark 9:43-48)QUENCHED. [Isaiah 66:24]” (Mark 9:43-48)

Drastic MeasuresDrastic Measures• ““If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it

off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire…” (Mark 9:43)into the unquenchable fire…” (Mark 9:43)

Drastic MeasuresDrastic Measures• 43 43 “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it

off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire… into the unquenchable fire… 45 45 If your foot If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell…two feet, to be cast into hell…

Drastic MeasuresDrastic Measures• 47 47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it

out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, to be cast into hell, 48 48 where THEIR WORM where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. [Isaiah 66:24]” (Mark 9:43-48)QUENCHED. [Isaiah 66:24]” (Mark 9:43-48)

Drastic MeasuresDrastic Measures

Action StepsAction Steps1. Take sin seriously1. Take sin seriously

2. Write down one sin or temptation you will 2. Write down one sin or temptation you will cut off this weekcut off this week

3. Remember that no sin is greater than the 3. Remember that no sin is greater than the SaviorSavior

4. Find ways to witness this week4. Find ways to witness this week

RescuedRescued• ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His For God so loved the world, that He gave His

one and only Son, that whoever believes in one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)(John 3:16)