Moral traps that draw people into wrongdoing

A short season of confusion with no moral danger

Human society is warned because these traps exist

Their arrival is described as unavoidable

The person who brings them about is also warned

The warning is limited to one nation or group

Carefully avoid becoming a cause of another person's sin

Assume temptation is inevitable, so your choices do not matter

Focus only on public sins, because private habits do not affect others

Say the right religious words, even if your actions still trip people up

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and have not always cared how my choices affect others. I turn from my sin and ask you to forgive me. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I confess you as Lord and Savior. Keep me from becoming a stumbling block, and lead me in your truth. Amen.

Turn From Stumbling Into Life

Lord, awaken your Church to the seriousness of sin. Where we have become careless, proud, or numb to the harm our lives can do, revive us. Make us a people who repent quickly, protect the weak, and walk so others are helped rather than tripped up, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Renew Your Church's Holy Fear

Father, keep my words, habits, and influence from becoming a trap for someone else. Give me wisdom before I speak, post, lead, or act. Help me choose what strengthens others and turns them toward what is good, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Keep Me From Becoming a Trap

Pray by naming one place where your choices affect other people, confess any careless pattern, ask God to show you what may cause harm, and ask for one clear change to make today.

Pray About Your Influence

Pray for people who have been tripped up by another person's words or actions: ask God to heal their hearts, steady their faith, and surround them with wise, gentle help, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For Those Hurt by Another's Choices

Thank You, Lord, that you warn us before harm spreads. Thank You for making sin's danger plain, for seeing those who are affected, and for giving us room to repent and turn back, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thank God for His Warning

οὐαὶ{oo-E###oo-EH###Woe} τῷ{TO###TOH###to the} κόσμῳ{KOS-mo###KOHS-moh###world} ἀπὸ{a-PO###ah-POH###because of} τῶν{TON###TOHN###the} σκανδάλων·{skan-DA-lon###skahn-DAH-lohn###stumbling blocks} ἀνάγκη{a-NANG-kee###ah-NANG-kee###it is necessary} ⸀γὰρ{GAR###GAHR###for} ἐλθεῖν{el-THEEN###ehl-THEEN###to come} τὰ{TA###TAH###the} σκάνδαλα,{SKAN-da-la###SKAHN-dah-lah###stumbling blocks} πλὴν{PLEEN###PLEEN###but} οὐαὶ{oo-E###oo-EH###Woe} τῷ{TO###TOH###to the} ⸀ἀνθρώπῳ{an-THRO-po###ahn-THROH-poh###man} διʼ{dee###dee###through} οὗ{HOO###HOO###whom} τὸ{TO###TOH###the} σκάνδαλον{SKAN-da-lon###SKAHN-dah-lohn###stumbling block} ἔρχεται.{ER-khe-te###EHR-kheh-teh###(It) comes}

Matthew 18:7 — Audio GuideTAB

More on this verse