Sermon Notes on Luke 17:1-10, Third Sunday before Lent
1. Verses 1-10 of Luke 17 are a unit. These verses are not a
series of unrelated thoughts. The verses are related to
each other.
2. These verses give us examples of sins which are common to
all people. Without the help of God people cannot overcome
these sins. These sins are: a) Being an offense to other
people. This means to cause other people to sin by giving
the impression that it is permissible to sin and to live in
it; b) Failure to point out the sins of others so that they
might repent; c) Failure to forgive other people when they
sin repeatedly against us; d) Expecting thanks from God even
when we don't do our duty as we ought to do it.
3. To say to a sycamore tree: "Be rooted up and be planted in
the sea" is a miracle. Jesus is not speaking about
charismatic faith, a faith to heal peoples' diseases or to
raise the dead. He is speaking of the faith which all
people need to be children of God and to live as God wants
them to live.
4. Natural man is spiritually blind, spiritually dead and
spiritually an enemy of God. There is nothing more hopeless
than the condition of natural man. What is even worse,
natural man denies this. To become a Christian means to
realize this lost condition.
5. This text was not addressed to unbelievers. It was
addressed to the disciples, verse 1, to the apostles, verse
5. They are the same group of people. The disciples, the
apostles, needed to be reminded of their lost condition.
The flesh of the Christian tempts him to think that now,
since he has become a Christian, he is better than other
people. It is dangerous for Christians to think that way.
6. When a Christian reads verse 1 he should say: "Oh Lord, I
have caused others to sin. I deserve your condemnation. I
deserve to have a millstone tied around my neck and to be
drowned in the sea." When he reads verses 3 and 4 he should
say: "Oh Lord, I have failed to rebuke my brother when he
sinned. Because of that he has not repented. And I did not
forgive him. When he sinned against me many times in the
day and said: `I'm sorry' I failed to forgive him. Have
mercy on me, an unmerciful servant." When he hears verses
7-10 perhaps he says: "I'm better than that slave. I've
worked hard all day for my master. The least he could do is
to thank me for working so hard. I deserve more than some
of my fellowmen. They don't work as hard as I do."
7. Why did the disciples say what they did in verse 5: "Lord,
increase our faith"? Because the Law of God convicted them
of giving offense, of failing to call peoples' attention to
their sins, of failing to forgive fellowmen their sins when
they confessed them.
8. Some people come to church loaded down with a guilty
conscience. Their sins make them weary. They simply need
absolution, the forgiveness of sins. Other people come to
church feeling proud of themselves, proud like the Pharisee
who said: "God I thank Thee that I am not like other
people." They need to be convicted.
9. How is faith like a mustard seed? A mustard seed is very
small but it is a genuine seed. True faith may be small but
if it is genuine it looks only to Christ Who takes away the
sin of the world, to Christ who came not to be served but to
serve, to give His life's ransom for many.
10. To love my fellowman heartily is my constant duty before
God. I must take great care not to cause him to sin. I
must rebuke him when he sins and then forgive him. No
matter how often he sins against me, if he confesses his sin
I must forgive him.
11. "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life
which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of
God who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20.
Sermon Outlines on Luke 17:1-10, Third Sunday before Lent
Theme: THE NEED FOR GENUINE FAITH
Introduction: Jesus Once said: "Without Me you can do nothing."
John 15:5. Paul said (Romans 5:6): "For when we
were still without strength, in due time Christ
died for the ungodly." Without our Savior we are
ungodly and have no strength. No wonder that our
text speaks of our need for genuine faith.
Christian faith is like a mustard seed. If it is
genuine, although it is small, it can do mighty
things, not because of us but because of Christ.
I. GENUINE FAITH IN CHRIST FORGIVES US OUR SINS
We sin much every day. Even Christians sin despite their
best efforts. Romans 7:15. Forgiveness of sins is a
miracle. It is like telling a tree to be uprooted and to be
planted in the sea. That's where Christ our Savior and
Substitute steps in. A man is justified by faith (in
Christ) without the deeds of the Law. Romans 3:28. The
whole Bible proclaims forgiveness of sins through Jesus
Christ to everyone who believes it. Acts 10:43. I cannot
rid myself of my sin. I cannot give myself a quiet
conscience. But Jesus says: "Son, be of good cheer. Your
sins are forgiven." Matthew 9:2. And Paul says: "By grace
you are saved through faith." Ephesians 2:10. Receiving
forgiveness of sins is a miracle which God offers to all
people. We say: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."
Mark 9:24. "He that believes and is baptized, shall be
saved." Mark 16:16.
II. GENUINE FAITH IN CHRIST FIGHTS SIN
Our text is addressed to believers, not unbelievers. It is
addressed to the disciples and apostles. Our text does not
tell Christians how good they are. It speaks of their sins.
Offenses are bound to happen. That means occasions on which
even Christians might give other people the impression that
it is alright to sin. That is dangerous. Furthermore, our
text speaks about rebuking our brother when he sins and
forgiving him, no matter how often, when he confesses his
sin. Christians often fail to warn other Christians about
their sins. Christians often fail to forgive their fellow
Christians when they confess their sins. They are often
like the unmerciful servant who refused to forgive. Matthew
18:23-35. Our text also speaks of the arrogance of our
sinful flesh which expects God to thank us although we are
nothing but unprofitable servants. God owes me nothing, not
even mercy. But faith in Christ fights the good fight of
faith. I Timothy 6:12; II Timothy 4:7. The Christian
resists the devil steadfastly by faith in Christ. I Peter
5:9. The shield of faith can quench the fiery arrows of
Satan. Ephesians 6:16. Genuine faith in Christ fights
against giving offense. Genuine faith is concerned about
the brother's repentance and forgiveness. Genuine faith
thanks God for all gifts rather than expecting thanks from
God.
III. GENUINE FAITH IN CHRIST PRODUCES GOOD WORKS
Producing good works is like telling a tree to be uprooted
and to be planted in the sea. They are miracles, gifts of
God. God prepares the good works for the believer so that
he can produce them. Ephesians 2:10. Without faith in
Christ it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6. With
David the Christian prays: "Lead me, O Lord, in Your
righteousness." Psalm 5:8. Jesus is the Vine. Christians
are His branches. The Father cleanses the branches so that
they bear more fruit. The person who abides in Christ bears
much fruit. John 15:1-5.
Conclusion: Like the disciples, we realize our sins and
sinfulness. We cry: "Lord, increase our faith."
He answers: "If you have genuine faith you would
do mighty things." What are those mighty things?
Confessing our sins, listening to the pastor who
forgives our sins, and fighting the good fight of
faith. That is the cure for giving offense,
failing to rebuke our brother, failing to forgive
our brother often and arrogantly asking God to
thank us. God be merciful to me, a sinner!
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