October 7-11

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” – Mark 9:42 (ESV)

Watch Carefully How You Influence Others
Jesus takes our influence on others seriously—especially when it comes to young believers. The imagery He uses here is shocking—a millstone around your neck, thrown into the sea. Talk about a wake-up call! Why such strong language? Because leading others into sin is no joke. Whether it’s through our words, actions, or attitudes, we’re shaping the lives of those who look up to us.

Think about social media influencers today. Some use their platforms to promote positivity, while others spread harmful messages. We may not have millions of followers, but we influence those around us. Are we pushing them toward Christ or away from Him?

In 1903, the Wright brothers influenced the world with their groundbreaking flight. Their actions opened up the skies to mankind. Just like them, we need to influence others toward new heights in their faith, not crash them into the ground.

Reflection Questions:
Who in your life is looking to you for spiritual guidance, even if you’re unaware of it?
Are your actions or words leading others closer to or further from Christ?

Suggested Prayer:
Lord, help me be mindful of how I influence others. May my life point people toward You and not away from You. Give me the grace and wisdom to lead well. Amen.

“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.” – Mark 9:43-48 (ESV)

Deal Drastically with the Sin in Your Life
We often fail to consider the gradual, cumulative effect of sin in our lives. In Saint Louis in 1984, an unemployed cleaning woman noticed a few bees buzzing around the attic of her home. Since there were only a few, she made no effort to deal with them. Over the summer the bees continued to fly in and out of the attic vent while the woman remained unconcerned, unaware of the growing city of bees. The whole attic became a hive, and the ceiling of the second-floor bedroom finally caved in under the weight of hundreds of pounds of honey and thousands of angry bees. While the woman escaped serious injury, she was unable to repair the damage of her accumulated neglect. (Source Unknown).

 Sin works the same way. If we don’t deal with it when it’s small, it can grow and take over. Jesus’ words about cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye might make you flinch, but He’s making a powerful point: deal drastically with sin. No, He’s not telling you to self-mutilate, but He is calling you to take sin seriously. Don’t coddle it, don’t excuse it—cut it out.

Reflection Questions:
What sin in your life needs to be cut out today?
What practical steps can you take to deal drastically with that sin?

Suggested Prayer:
Father, show me the areas of sin in my life and help me to cut them out before they take root. Give me the strength to deal with sin seriously, just as You command. Amen.

“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” – Mark 9:49-50 (ESV)

Walk Faithfully with the Lord Each Day
Pastor Jim reminded us in the sermon that talking with the Lord daily is like being “salted with fire.” Salt preserves and flavors, and so should our faith. But what happens when salt loses its flavor? It becomes useless. Jesus is calling us to a life of faith that’s alive and active.

In the late 1700s, William Wilberforce fought tirelessly for the abolition of the British slave trade. He could have grown weary and lost his "salt," but he stayed faithful. His persistence and trust in God changed the world.

We, too, are called to walk faithfully with God, preserving our commitment and influencing others for good.

Reflection Questions:
Has your faith lost some of its “saltiness”? How can you renew your walk with God?
What steps can you take today to be more faithful in your relationship with Christ?

Suggested Prayer:
Lord, keep my faith alive and active. Help me to be faithful in my walk with You so that my life reflects Your love and truth every day. Amen.

“...where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-48 (ESV)
Hell is Real and Personal
Maturity is recognizing that the choices we make carry consequences. Pastor David Huss writes: “I had a good laugh at a story in the newspapers sometime back about a teacher who found a great way to make students pay for their crimes. Troublemakers at Riverside Brookfield High in Chicago are being forced to serve after-school sentences in the Frank Sinatra Detention Club. There, for 30 minutes, they must sit still- not talking, no homework, no snoozing- and listen to Mr. Sinatra croon songs. ‘The kids hate it. They’re miserable,’ reports teacher Bruce Janu, a Sinatra fan who devised the club as a way to make detention more fun for him, and less so for the kids. ‘It just got to where I couldn’t stand it,’ said one senior. ‘It's so boring.’ Janu isn’t totally heartless, though. He lets students sing along if they want- but nobody does.” (Davon Huss - Sermon Central)

Hell is a real and personal consequence of sin. Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat it: Hell is not just a metaphor or a temporary punishment. It's described as a place where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” This is eternal, personal torment for those who reject God. In modern times, people often dismiss the idea of hell, but Jesus made it clear it’s a reality. Many think hell isn’t real or won’t affect them. But the truth is, hell is real, and ignoring it won’t make it go away.

Reflection Questions:
How does your belief in the reality of hell impact the way you live?
What steps can you take to share the seriousness of sin and the hope of salvation with others?

Suggested Prayer:
Father, thank You for warning us about the reality of hell. Help me to take sin seriously and share the good news of salvation with those who need it most. Amen.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

Hell is Optional: The Good News
The words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true: One's philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. (Tim Kimmel, Little House on the Freeway)

Here’s the best news of all: Hell is optional and we get a choice! Jesus came to give us a way out. Through His sacrifice, we are offered eternal life instead of eternal punishment. All we have to do is choose to believe in Him.

Think of it like this: imagine being lost in a burning building, and suddenly a firefighter shows up, offering a way out. Would you refuse him? Of course not! Jesus is that firefighter. He’s offering us rescue, but we have to choose to follow Him.

Reflection Questions:
Have you accepted Jesus’ offer of salvation? If not, what’s holding you back?
Who in your life needs to hear about the saving grace of Jesus this week?

Suggested Prayer:
Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to offer me salvation and a way out of eternal separation from You. Help me to share this good news with others, and live in a way that reflects Your grace. Amen.