Love Lead Connect
Matthew 28:16-20 NMIV The Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 17:3-5 New International Version 3 So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them;and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

“It is NOT a question of whether we will be offended…… but what our response will be. OFFENSE”

· AN OFFENSE IS THE BAIT OF SATAN, to pull us the believers into his captivity.

  1. Offenses are inevitable.

Luke 17:1 Jesus is telling his disciples “It is impossible that no offense should come, but woe to him through whom they do come.

  1. Offenses are traps.

Skandalon= the trigger of a trap on which the bait is placed, the Bait Stick.

  1. The trap of offense opens the door of deception. Self Deception. Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
  2. Offenses are inevitable; CARRYING them is a choice.

**Escaping The Trap. Deconstruct The Fence of Offense **.

  1. Take inventory of current offenses and determine to deal with them. FREEDOM!

  2. Guard your freedom by recognizing the traps. · Proverbs 4:23 NLT 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. · Galatians 5:1 NIV. 5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

  3. Practice Pre-Forgiveness. · 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NLTAnd he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. · Romans 12:17-18 NLT 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

  4. Go to them.

· Matthew 18:15NLT “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.