Believers who are young, vulnerable, or easily shaken in faith

People already strong enough to ignore any harm

Only outsiders who have never trusted Jesus

Leaders whose job is to correct everyone else

To have a huge grinding stone tied to his neck and be drowned in the sea's depths

To be corrected, restored, and sent back as usual

To lose respect for a while and then move on

To be isolated until the offense is forgotten

Something tied around the offender's neck

Treat newer or weaker believers with careful respect so your influence helps rather than harms them

Speak and act however you want, because strong believers should know how to handle it

Assume harm only matters if you meant to hurt someone

Focus only on your own growth and leave others to sort themselves out

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and I need your mercy. I turn from my sin and from every way I have hurt others or led them astray. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I confess you as my Lord and trust you to make me new. Teach me to walk in your care and to become a person who protects, not harms. Amen.

Receive the Savior Who Guards the Weak

Lord, awaken your Church to the weight of caring for the vulnerable. Where we have been careless, make us gentle; where we have been proud, make us humble; where we have ignored the weak, make us attentive and protective. Renew in us a shepherd's heart that keeps others from stumbling, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Revive a Shepherd's Heart in Your Church

Name one person or moment where your words, tone, or example may have hurt a vulnerable believer. Tell God the truth about it, ask for forgiveness, and ask him for the humility to repair what you can.

Pray Over Any Harm You Fear You Have Caused

Pray for: careful speech before you speak or post; wisdom in how you use your freedom; humility when you are around newer believers; a heart that protects rather than pressures.

Guard My Words and Example

Thank God for Jesus' tenderness toward people who are easily harmed, for any time he has kept you from becoming a stumbling block, and for the people who have protected your faith.

Thanks for Caring About the Weak

Lord, shape me into someone whose words, choices, and habits strengthen others in the faith. Keep me from carelessness, selfishness, and pride. Give me a patient, protective love for the weak and the new, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Make Me a Careful Blessing

Ὃς{HOS###HOHS###whoever} δʼ{de###deh###but} ἂν{AN###AHN###(∅)} σκανδαλίσῃ{skan-da-LI-see###skahn-dah-LEE-see###cause to stumble} ἕνα{HE-na###HEH-nah###one} τῶν{TON###TOHN###of the} μικρῶν{mi-KRON###mih-KROHN###little ones} τούτων{TOO-ton###TOO-tohn###these} τῶν{TON###TOHN###who} πιστευόντων{pis-tev-ON-ton###pees-tehv-OHN-tohn###believe} εἰς{ees###ees###in} ἐμέ,{e-ME###eh-MEH###me} συμφέρει{seem-FE-ree###seem-FEH-ree###it is better} αὐτῷ{af-TO###ahf-TOH###for him} ἵνα{HI-na###HEE-nah###that} κρεμασθῇ{kre-mas-THEE###kreh-mahs-THEE###be hung} μύλος{MEE-los###MEE-lohs###millstone} ὀνικὸς{o-ni-KOS###oh-nih-KOHS###donkey} ⸀εἰς{ees###ees###around} τὸν{TON###TOHN###the} τράχηλον{TRA-khee-lon###TRAH-khee-lohn###neck} αὐτοῦ{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###his} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} καταποντισθῇ{ka-ta-pon-ti-STHEE###kah-tah-pohn-tee-STHEE###be drowned} ἐν{en###ehn###in} τῷ{TO###TOH###the} πελάγει{pe-LA-yee###peh-LAH-yee###depth} τῆς{TEES###TEES###of the} θαλάσσης.{tha-LA-sees###thah-LAH-sees###sea}

Matthew 18:6 — LiteralTAB

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