skandalon

Four Responses to a Hard Truth

Four Responses to a Hard Truth

The Gospel of John - Part 19 • 1/31/21

Key passage: John 6:60-71

Disdain

  • This teaching is hard to accept.

    • John 6:60

    • The hardness was in their hearts.

  • John 6:61 - Jesus, knowing that his disciples were grumbling asked them, “does this offend you?”.

    • skandalizō (Greek) - to trigger the trap. To cause someone to stumble or trip.

      • They felt trapped by this teaching.

Desertion

  • John 6:66 - From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.

  • John 6:67: So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”

Devotion

  • John 6:68 ...Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.

  • John 6:69: We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

    • ginōskō (Greek): to know experiential, in contrast to oida, which means to know intuitively or perceive.

Treachery

  • John 6:70: Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.”

    • The most negative thing said about Judas in the four gospels.

What is your response?



Just a Couple More Things...

Just a Couple More Things...

Dave Riddle - 3/08/20

Key Passage: Romans 16:17-23

Caution

  • Romans 16:17 - “Now I urge you brothers and sisters to watch out...”

    • “Urge”: parakaleō (παρακαλέω) - to admonish, exhort, entreat, beseech, or beg.

    • “Watch out”: skopeō (σκοπέω) - to take aim at (spy), to consider, take heed, mark.

  • Romans 16:17 - watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles...

    • Divisions, disunity...

    • Obstacles: skandalon (σκάνδαλον) - a trap, snare, any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall.

  • Romans 16:18 - ...such people do not serve our Lord but their own appetites.

    • Serve: douleuō (δουλεύω) - to be a slave, serve, do service

      • Slaves to their own desires

  • Romans 16:18 - ...they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.

    • Avoid: ekklinō (ἐκκλίνω) - to deviate; to shun or turn away from, to go out of the way, avoid. 

      • Separate yourselves from such people. 

Encouragement

  • Romans 16:20 - The God of peace will soon crush Satan.

    • Not just caution, but encouragement!

      • Victory is on the way!

    • Psalm 8:16 - everything is beneath God’s feet.

  • Romans 16:21-23 - greetings from Paul, and his entourage.

    • Timothy: Paul’s protege

    • Tertius: Paul’s administrative assistant.

    • Gaius: Paul’s host

    • A reminder that they are all in this together.