Transforming Offenses into Opportunities for Growth
Summary
Life is full of moments that trip us up—offenses, scandals, and situations that threaten to knock us off course. As we seek to draw closer to God, it’s easy to feel discouraged by our stumbles, especially when we’re striving for excellence. But God calls us not just to get up after we fall, but to respond quickly and wisely, learning from each misstep. The journey of faith isn’t about never falling; it’s about how we respond, recover, and grow through the process.
Scripture teaches that Jesus himself is both the cornerstone and the rock of offense. The Greek word “skandalon” reveals that offenses are like triggers to traps—unique to each of us, designed to expose what’s really in our hearts. When we encounter these stumbling blocks, our response matters. Are we quick to take offense, or do we pause to consider what God might be teaching us? Offenses often reveal our need for deeper connection—with God, with others, and even with ourselves. Correction without connection leads to rejection, so it’s vital to examine our relationships and motives when we feel hurt or misunderstood.
Offenses also come with a power dynamic and emotional weight. Stress, adrenaline, and sharpened memories can distort our perspective, making us focus only on our pain. But God gives us these memories not to keep us trapped, but to help us navigate life more wisely. We must learn to process offenses at different levels—recognizing the trigger, choosing our response, and refusing to let anger or resentment take root. Holding onto offenses can harm our health and our spiritual walk, but letting go frees us to experience God’s grace and healing.
Ultimately, God uses the rock of offense to elevate us, not to destroy us. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, called out of darkness into marvelous light. The very things that trip us up can become stepping stones to greater maturity and faith if we allow God to work in us. Whether we need to forgive, seek reconciliation, or simply let go, God invites us to stop tripping and start soaring—rocketed by His love and purpose.
Key Takeaways
- Offenses are opportunities for growth, not just obstacles. When we stumble, it’s a chance to examine our hearts and ask what God is teaching us through the experience. Rather than being defined by our falls, we can be refined by them, learning to respond with humility and grace. [01:26]
- The “rock of offense” is both a stumbling block and a cornerstone. Jesus challenges our assumptions and exposes our weaknesses, not to shame us, but to build us up on a firmer foundation. The very things that offend or unsettle us may be the tools God uses to shape our character and faith. [05:10]
- Our response to offense is a choice, not a foregone conclusion. There are levels to being “tripped up”—from the initial trigger to the escalation of emotion. We can choose to pause, seek perspective, and respond in a way that honors God, rather than reacting out of hurt or anger. [15:40]
- Holding onto offense damages both body and soul. Chronic resentment, anger, or anxiety can manifest as physical illness and spiritual stagnation. Letting go is not just about forgiving others, but about freeing ourselves to walk in health, peace, and purpose. [20:55]
- God calls us to be “rocketed” by offense—to rise above, not be weighed down. The memories of our stumbles are meant to help us navigate future challenges, not to keep us trapped in the past. As a chosen people, we are invited to let go, embrace our identity in Christ, and move forward in obedience and freedom. [28:49]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The Challenge of Getting Close to God
[01:26] - Responding to Being Tripped Up
[02:16] - Pursuing Excellence and Quick Recovery
[03:30] - Letting Go of Malice and Offense
[05:10] - The Rock of Offense: Skandalon
[07:00] - Offense as a Trigger and Trap
[09:15] - Correction Without Connection
[11:30] - Jesus’ Offense and Cultural Scandal
[13:45] - Navigating Offense in Relationships
[15:40] - The Emotional Dynamics of Offense
[18:20] - The Power of Memory and Perspective
[20:55] - The Health Impact of Holding Offense
[23:10] - Levels of Tripping and Recovery
[25:30] - The Barber Shop Parable
[28:49] - Letting Go and Embracing the Cornerstone
[32:17] - Prayer and Invitation to Respond
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Stop Tripping – Turning Offense into Opportunity
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### Bible Reading
1 Peter 2:6-9 (ESV)
> 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
> 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
> 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
> 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Peter 2:6-8, what two roles does Jesus play in the lives of people—both for those who believe and those who do not?
2. What does the Greek word “skandalon” mean, and how does it relate to the idea of offense or stumbling in the passage? [05:10]
3. In verse 9, what new identity does Peter say believers have, and what is the purpose of that identity?
4. The sermon mentions that “correction without connection leads to rejection.” What does this mean in the context of relationships and offense? [09:15]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God allows us to encounter stumbling blocks or offenses in our faith journey? How might these moments reveal what’s really in our hearts? [05:10]
2. The sermon says that “offenses are like triggers to traps—unique to each of us.” What does this suggest about the personal nature of offense and how we experience it? [07:00]
3. How does holding onto offense affect both our physical health and spiritual growth, according to the sermon? [20:55]
4. What does it mean that Jesus is both the “cornerstone” and the “rock of offense”? How can something that trips us up also be the foundation we build on? [05:10]
---
### Application Questions
1. Think about a recent time when you felt offended or tripped up by someone or something. How did you respond in the moment? Looking back, what could you have done differently to “respond quickly and wisely” as the sermon suggests? [01:26]
2. The sermon says, “Correction without connection leads to rejection.” Is there a relationship in your life where you’ve felt corrected but not connected? How did that affect your willingness to receive feedback or grow? [09:15]
3. When you’re hurt or offended, do you tend to hold onto it, or are you able to let it go? What are some practical steps you can take to process offense in a healthy way, rather than letting anger or resentment take root? [20:55]
4. The pastor talked about the “levels of tripping”—from the initial trigger to escalating emotions. What are some warning signs in your own life that you’re moving from a small offense to a bigger problem? How can you pause and choose a better response? [15:40]
5. The sermon challenges us to see offenses as opportunities for growth, not just obstacles. Can you share a time when something that offended or hurt you actually led to greater maturity or faith? What did you learn from that experience? [01:26]
6. The message says, “God uses the rock of offense to elevate us, not to destroy us.” What would it look like for you to be “rocketed” by offense this week—to rise above instead of being weighed down? [28:49]
7. Is there someone you need to forgive, seek reconciliation with, or simply let go of an offense against? What’s one step you can take this week to move toward freedom and healing in that relationship? [28:49]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for the courage to let go of offenses, to see stumbling blocks as opportunities for growth, and to embrace their identity as God’s chosen people—called out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone—Our Foundation and Offense
Jesus is both the foundation of our faith and the stone over which many stumble, challenging us to examine our response to Him and to the offenses we encounter in life. When we encounter moments that trip us up, it is not always because we are weak or unworthy, but because God is using these stumbling blocks to grow us, refine us, and draw us closer to Him. The cornerstone, though rejected by some, is precious to those who believe, and our willingness to trust in Christ determines whether we are built up or tripped up by life’s challenges. Letting go of malice, deceit, envy, and hypocrisy is essential to standing firm on this cornerstone, as God calls us to move from darkness into His marvelous light. [02:16]
1 Peter 2:6-9 (ESV)
For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Reflection: Where in your life do you find yourself stumbling over the same “stone”—and how might God be inviting you to see this as an opportunity for growth rather than defeat?
Day 2: Offense as a Trigger or Trap—Choosing Your Response
Offenses in life are inevitable, but each one is either a trigger to a trap or an impediment that causes us to fall; how we respond determines whether we are ensnared or elevated. Every person faces unique traps designed to catch them, and the key is to recognize that not every offense is meant to harm us—sometimes, it is God’s way of revealing areas where we need to grow. When you feel the sting of offense, pause and ask yourself about your connection to the situation, and whether your response is rooted in relationship and understanding. Correction without connection leads to rejection, so seek to understand before reacting, and remember that Jesus Himself was a rock of offense, not to harm, but to reveal truth and draw us closer to God. [05:10]
Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)
Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Reflection: Think of a recent offense—how can you pause today to consider your response, seeking understanding and connection before reacting?
Day 3: The Power of Memory—Learning from What Trips Us
God gives us memories of our stumbles not to shame us, but to help us navigate life more wisely and avoid repeating the same mistakes. When we fall over a stumbling block, it is easy to pick up the “rock” and carry it as a weapon against others or ourselves, but this only leads to greater harm and heaviness. Instead, God invites us to reflect on why we fell and how we can move forward, using our experiences as lessons rather than burdens. By bringing in trusted “witnesses” and seeking broader perspective, we can see beyond our own pain and learn to navigate around the obstacles that once tripped us up, growing in wisdom and grace. [13:45]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: What is one memory of a past stumble that you need to reframe as a lesson for growth, rather than a source of shame or resentment?
Day 4: Letting Go of Offense—For the Sake of Your Health and Salvation
Holding onto offense not only weighs down your spirit but can also impact your physical health and your walk with God; letting go is essential for true freedom and transformation. Chronic resentment, anger, and anxiety can manifest as illness, but God calls us to address offenses quickly and appropriately, sometimes with the person involved or with a mediator. The process of letting go is not about ignoring the pain, but about choosing to release it so that you can be healed and move forward. Jesus came to set us free, and as we let go of what trips us up, we make room for His grace, hope, and power to fill our lives. [28:49]
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Reflection: Who or what do you need to forgive or release today so that you can experience the freedom and healing Christ offers?
Day 5: Soaring Above—Being Rocketed by the Offense
God’s desire is not for you to be continually tripped up, but to be “rocketed” above your offenses, using them as stepping stones to greater maturity and testimony. The difference between those who are tripped up and those who soar is obedience to God’s Word and a willingness to let Christ transform every stumbling block into a launching pad for growth. Even when you fail, your story is not over—God is present, offering you another chance to rise, to be changed, and to proclaim His excellencies. As you let go of what holds you back and embrace your identity as God’s chosen, you are empowered to soar above the offenses that once ensnared you, living as an overcomer in Christ. [32:17]
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Reflection: What would it look like for you to let God “rocket” you above your current offense or struggle—what step of obedience or surrender can you take today?
Quotes
So, as we delve into the Word today, I am always challenged and vexed by how do I get close to God? Because one of the things that is always apparent that I've started to notice is whenever I have to prepare to deliver the Word, there is just something that is going to trip me up, something that's going to take me off of the path that I'm on, and it's going to lead me to a place where I'm like, man, I don't know if I got it. I don't know if I can do this. Should I just go ahead and stream somebody else in and just level on the people at the service? Like, how should I do this? [00:00:00]
But God was like, listen, bro, I need you to do something key. I need you to stop tripping. Stop tripping. Stop tripping. Listen, so this week in pop culture, we saw two individuals who had gained some notoriety or elevated their platform but mishandled that position and found themselves falling because of their sexuality. [00:00:33] (29 seconds)
One of the things at Zion Church that we're starting to embody is a term called excellence. Excellence, excellence. And that's the ability to not only just fall down, but the ability to not just get up, but to respond quickly. [00:01:32] (16 seconds)
And as we delve into it, the Bible is sharing with us how when you show up before God, the goal is growth. And he says in order to stop tripping, you got to let go of some things. You got to let go of malice. You got to let go of deceit. You got to let go of envy. You got to let go of hypocrisy. Talk to him. Right, DB? Talk to him. Talk to him. So in verse 6, it says this, therefore, it is also contained in scripture, behold, I lay in Zion. Mmm. Good ground, good ground. He lays something in Zion, family. What did he lay? A chief cornerstone, elect, precious. [00:02:41] (43 seconds)
And he who believes on him will by no means be put to shame. Verse 7, therefore, to you who believe, there's some folks that don't believe, but I'm hoping you believe. To you who believe, he is precious. [00:03:24] (18 seconds)
I know you felt that. But to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become what? The chief cornerstone. I love that. Verse 8, not only was he the chief cornerstone, he is also this, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. We've been talking about them fences. What happens? They stumble. They stumble. They stumble, being disobedient to the word to which they were appointed. Verse 9, but you, I love this, when God put his butt on some stuff, but you are a chosen generation, but you are a royal priesthood. [00:03:42] (52 seconds)
So when I started to read that, what was encouraging was verse 8. And if we can get verse 8 back up again, there was something that stood out to me. And it's something that we've been working through, which is living without offenses. And shout out to our senior shepherd, Pastor Battle. Thank you for being here among us today. [00:04:47] (21 seconds)
And then in the spirit of continuity, I was like, man, I can't get, let this thing go. I just can't. And I was going to try, but you know, like for me, this is the opposite. Like there's sometimes the shoes you can't feel. I know I could, but I probably would be busting out of them. So I was like, you know what? I ain't even going to try to step into those shoes, but I definitely wanted to keep continuity with how do we manage the offenses that come into our life. And so as we're listening and learning from God about how to overcome offenses, I wanted to look at it from a different perspective or to reimagine it. And so in verse 8, where you see that rock of offense, it is amazing because it speaks to what we see in society right now. That word offense is the Greek word skandalon. [00:05:10] (50 seconds)
but at level three this is where intense emotion comes into play this is where you got anger resentment contempt sadness guilt that intenseness of i'm i'm tripped up and i'm i'm not letting this thing go i might actually use this thing on somebody so now the rock that that was supposed to get your attention you now carrying and can't wait i'm on ready let them say something this cornerstone about to be part of their corner head but just like there are levels to tripping there are levels [00:19:13] (49 seconds)
it caused folks to be creative but in a different way they were creative because they created their own reality it gave them strength because you will watch them literally pick up many fridges hop on a bike and then ride down the street but I want to introduce you guys to a different rock the rock the rock of salvation the one who will turn your dreams your creativity into reality the one who will give you the grace the strength to walk through the fire like you never could [00:30:42] (42 seconds)
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