Causing to Sin – Mark 9:42-50

What are the more glamorous sins we often accommodate?

Bible Reading

Mark 9:42-50

42  “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.

43  “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched–

44  “where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

45  “And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-

46  “where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

47  “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire–

48  “where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

49  “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

50  “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

(NKJ)

 

Food for Thought

1.   What are your favourite seasonings?

2.   What is pleasant and unpleasant about salt?

3.   What do you believe are the marks of maturity?

 

Bible Study

4.   What behaviour does Jesus condemn? (9:42)

5.   How would you characterise Jesus attitude towards sin? (9:43-47)

6.   What does this passage teach us about the kingdom of God? (9:43-47)

7.   Why does Jesus use extreme examples in this context? (9:43-48)

8.   What does Jesus mean when he says “everyone will be seasoned with fire?” (9:49)

9.   When Jesus talks about “salt,” to what exactly is he referring? (9:50)

10. Why is “saltiness” necessary in a believer’s life? (9:50)

11. How do Jesus’ final words relate to the rest of the passage? (9:50)

 

Kingdom Dynamics

12. Who are the “little ones” in our society?

13. What do our hands, feet and eyes represent?

14. How can a person’s hand, foot, or eye cause him to sin?

15. How do you think a believer can cause others to sin?

16. In what way is causing another person to sin worse than sinning yourself?

17. What should be our attitude toward sin?

18. What are the more glamorous sins we often accommodate?

19. How do you plan to apply the principles Jesus teaches about avoiding sin?

20. What specific steps can a believer take to avoid sin?

21. What can we do as a group in Healing Wings to apply these principles?

22. How can this passage motivate us to share our faith with unbelievers?

23. What do you need to do to add some “salt” to your witness?

24. What can we do to create peace among believers?

 

Practical Christianity

25. What concrete action can you take this week to avoid a sin you have struggled with in the recent past?

26. What can you do this week to make your witness for Christ clearer to the unbelievers around you?