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St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

215 N. 7th, Terre Haute, Indiana

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A Word: Lead with Love

Sermons · October 6, 2019

We want Jesus to teach us how to love like it takes a methodology or more faith than we have. Instead, Jesus shows how that misses the point.


Jesus and the teaching of uncommon forgiveness
Proper 22C
Luke 17:1-10

by the Rev. Drew Downs

Lead with Love
Photo by Leo Cardelli from Pexels

We jump into the story with the apostles shouting “Increase our faith!” It makes it all sound random. They’re clearly responding to something.

Remember Jesus is talking about discipleship, widening the circle, and seeing God’s love beyond human expectations. Hold onto that.

So after finishing that amazing parable from last week about a rich man separating himself from the poor, Jesus speaks directly to that sin. And how not to fall victim to it.

“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus teaches his followers not to be a stumbling block. I imagine the sneaky jerk hiding where someone won’t see him and throwing his body right in front of another person’s feet.

And when the person trips and falls, they jump up and laugh at them. Or judge them for tripping.

But Jesus continues…

 

The full text may be found here.

For a limited time, the audio may be found here.

Filed Under: Sermons Tagged With: discipleship, forgiveness, love, Luke 17:1-10, Proper 22C

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CONTACT

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
215 N. 7th St
Terre Haute, IN 47807

812-232-5165

officeadmin@ststephensth.org

ABOUT

St. Stephen’s is a sacramental community following Jesus’s Way of Love.

We worship on Sundays at 8 & 10.

AFFILIATIONS

St. Stephen’s is a member of The Episcopal Church and congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.

St. Stephen’s is a member of the Homeless Council of the Wabash Valley

PARKING

St. Stephen’s is across from Indiana State University. Nearby parking lots are run by ISU and are free after 5pm weekdays and are free all weekend long. 

Five marked spots in the lot directly behind the church are available during the week.

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