The Offences And The Offender

✦ The Offences and the Offender ✦

Text: John 16:1–4
Theme: Warnings about what might cause us to be offended or become the offender

🌿 Opening Thought

In John 16:1–4, Jesus warns His disciples about what they will face in connection with John 15, where He spoke of the world’s hatred for God, His Word, and His messengers. These warnings are “hard sayings” (cf. John 6:60–66) that caused some to be offended and walk no more with Him.

📖 To “offend” means more than disapproval—it means to stumble, to fall away, or to desert the One you once followed.

  • Psalm 119:165 – “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

  • John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

➡️ If you love Christ, you will have great peace, and nothing will cause you to stumble. Falling away comes when we leave our first love (Rev. 2:4–5).

I. 🔥 Put You Out

A. Don’t Be Put Out

  • Don’t let your shine be put out (Luke 8:16; Rev. 2:5)

  • Don’t let your stewardship be put out (Luke 16:4; 1 Cor. 4:2)

  • Don’t let your sight be put out (Samson, Zedekiah; Rev. 3:17)

B. Don’t Put Others Out

  • Don’t put out others’ shine, stewardship, or sight (John 12:42–43; John 9:34)

  • Romans 14:13 – Don’t be a stumblingblock to your brother.

💡 Illustration: A lighthouse keeper who neglected his lamp caused ships to crash on the rocks. In the same way, when we let our light go out, others may stumble.
📜 Quote (19th c.): “It is not only what we do, but what we neglect to do, that leaves others in darkness.” – J.C. Ryle
✍️ Application: Keep your flame burning bright—don’t let sin or discouragement put it out, and don’t snuff out another’s.

II. 📉 Put You Down

A. Don’t Be Put Down

  • Don’t let religious criticism put you down

  • Don’t let the ridicule of the world put you down

B. Don’t Put Others Down

  • Don’t use religion to put others down (James 1:26–27)

  • Don’t use ridicule to put others down (1 Cor. 8:1–13)

💡 Illustration: A young David was mocked by his brothers when he stepped forward to fight Goliath, but their words did not stop him from standing in faith.

📜 Quote (20th c.): “People who belittle others are only trying to make themselves feel bigger.” – Bernard Meltzer

📖 Bible Verse: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” – Ephesians 4:29

✍️ Application: The world may try to put you down with ridicule, but stand tall in Christ. And let your words lift others up, not tear them down.

III. 🚪 Put You Away

A. Don’t Be Put Away

  • Don’t let sin put you away from Christ

  • Don’t let shame put you away from Christ

  • Don’t let suffering put you away from Christ

B. Don’t Put Others Away

  • Matthew 18:6–7 – “It were better…that a millstone were hanged about his neck…”

  • Don’t let your sin, shame, or suffering push others away from Christ.

💡 Illustration: Demas, who once served with Paul, loved this present world and walked away. His choice discouraged others and stood as a warning for the church.
📜 Quote (19th c.): “Backsliding generally first begins in the closet, by neglect of private prayer.” – Charles Spurgeon
✍️ Application: Guard your walk so you don’t drift from Christ—and live carefully so your fall doesn’t drive others away.

🕊 Closing Thought

Offences will surely come (Luke 17:1).
But woe to the one who causes them.
👉 You may stumble—but don’t be the cause of another’s fall.

Jeffrey smith