Ending Well

1. Matthew 18:7

   “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

• Offence : a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
• Offence : Stumbling block; thing that causes one to stumble

2. Types of offence

• Words that hurts
• Actions perceived as offensive
• Circumstances that cause us to have a negative view of God
• Injustices done on others – we take offence on behalf of others

3. Why offences stumble?

• They undermine; or perceived to undermine our personhood, our worth or value
• They remind us of past wounding buried, perhaps forgotten, but very much alive
• They portray a false image of who God really is

4. End the year well

• Deal with offences by forgiving the offenders, forgiving ourselves and asking God to forgive us for blaming Him (Psalm 73)
• Fix our eyes on God and surrender our offences into God’s just hands
• To end this part of our journey well, contributes towards ending our race well
  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim 4:7-8