Sermon-2025-10-05.docx

of the Sermon:**

In “Grace That Circles the Globe,” Rev. Eric S. Corbin explores Jesus’ challenging call in Luke 17:1-6 to avoid causing others to stumble, to live attentively, and to forgive repeatedly—even when it feels impossible. The sermon unpacks the seriousness of spiritual harm, especially to those new or vulnerable in faith, and the responsibility we bear not to become stumbling blocks. Rev. Corbin highlights the radical nature of forgiveness, not as a one-time act but as a continual pattern that mirrors God’s own mercy. Drawing on stories of real-life forgiveness, including the Amish response to tragedy, he illustrates that forgiveness is not about excusing harm but about breaking cycles of resentment and revenge. Ultimately, the sermon points to the Table of Communion as the place where even mustard-seed faith is enough, and where believers around the world are united in grace that is stronger than bitterness or exclusion.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Weight of Spiritual Influence: Jesus’ warning about causing others to stumble is not just about personal morality but about the profound impact our actions have on the faith journeys of others, especially those who are vulnerable or new to belief. Our words and behaviors can either nurture trust or inflict wounds that last a lifetime. This calls us to handle each other’s faith with reverent care, recognizing that spiritual harm is real and often the reason many walk away from the church. We are invited to be people who make faith easier, not harder, for those around us.
• 2. Attentiveness in a Distracted World: “Watch yourselves,” Jesus says, reminding us that discipleship is not something we can do on autopilot. In a culture of constant distraction, it is easy to become careless and inadvertently hurt others. True attentiveness means living with an awareness that our lives are part of someone else’s picture of Christ, and that even small acts of thoughtlessness can become stumbling blocks. This is a call to intentionality and presence in our relationships and communities.
• 3. Forgiveness as a Continual Practice: Jesus’ command to forgive “seven times in a day” is not about keeping score but about embracing a rhythm of mercy that reflects God’s own heart. Forgiveness is not the same as excusing harm or avoiding confrontation; it involves naming the wrong and then choosing to release it. This continual forgiveness is not easy, especially when trust has been broken repeatedly, but it is the only way to break the cycle of resentment and revenge that can otherwise take root in our hearts.
• 4. Mustard-Seed Faith and the Power to Uproot: When the disciples ask for more faith, Jesus tells them that even faith as small as a mustard seed can uproot what seems immovable. The issue is not the quantity of faith, but the willingness to plant what we have in the soil of God’s grace. Even a flicker of trust can break deep patterns of bitterness and plant new possibilities of mercy and hope. Faith is not about having it all together, but about trusting God to do the impossible with what little we can offer.
• 5. The Table as a Global Witness to Grace: On World Communion Sunday, the Table becomes a powerful symbol of unity and grace that transcends borders, cultures, and divisions. Here, believers with all kinds of stories and struggles bring their mustard seeds of faith, and Christ meets them with welcome. The Table reminds us that grace is not reserved for the flawless, but for all who dare to trust—even faintly—that God’s love is wide enough for the whole world. As we rise from the Table, we are sent to live out this grace, uprooting bitterness and planting mercy wherever we go.

1. In Luke 17:1-2, what warning does Jesus give about causing others to stumble in their faith?
2. According to Jesus in verses 3-4, what should a disciple do when someone sins against them repeatedly?
3. How do the disciples respond to Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness, and what is Jesus’ answer to their request?
4. What does Jesus say even a mustard-seed-sized faith can accomplish?

1. Why does Jesus use such strong language about causing “little ones” to stumble? What does this reveal about how he views spiritual influence and responsibility?
2. The sermon mentions that “forgiveness is not the same as excusing harm or avoiding confrontation.” How does this understanding of forgiveness challenge common ideas about what it means to forgive?
3. When the disciples ask for more faith, Jesus tells them that even a small amount is enough. What does this suggest about the nature of faith and how it works in the life of a believer?
4. The Table of Communion is described as a place where believers with “mustard-seed faith” are welcomed. How does this image shape our understanding of who belongs at the Table and what grace looks like in community?

1. Think about a time when you may have discouraged someone who was new or vulnerable in their faith—maybe through a careless word, a judgmental attitude, or by not making space for their questions. What would it look like to handle others’ faith with “reverent care” this week?
2. The sermon challenges us to “watch ourselves” and not live on autopilot. What are some distractions or habits in your daily life that make it easy to be careless with others? What is one practical step you could take to be more attentive and present in your relationships?
3. Is there someone in your life who has hurt you repeatedly, or someone you find it hard to forgive? What would it mean to practice “continual forgiveness” with them—not by excusing the harm, but by choosing to release resentment? What is one step you could take toward that this week?
4. The story of the Amish community’s forgiveness after tragedy shows that forgiveness is a choice made again and again, not a one-time event. Are there old wounds or cycles of resentment in your life that need to be broken? What would it look like to begin that process, even if it feels impossible?
5. Jesus says that even a tiny bit of faith can uproot what seems immovable. Is there a situation in your life—maybe a relationship, a habit, or a hurt—that feels too deep-rooted to change? How might you offer your “mustard-seed faith” to God in that area?
6. On World Communion Sunday, we remember that the Table is wide enough for the whole world. Are there people or groups you find it hard to imagine sharing the Table with? What might it look like to extend grace and welcome beyond your comfort zone?
7. After receiving grace at the Table, the sermon calls us to “rise and plant mercy wherever we go.” What is one specific way you can show mercy or forgiveness in your family, workplace, or community this week?