Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Jesus Hates Pedophilia

Bryan Schneider · June 3, 2023

Mark 9:42-50

sharonrpc.org/sermons/jesus-hates-pedophilia

Summary

Jesus fiercely defends children and warns that anyone who ensnares or harms a little one faces severe divine judgment.
The repeated language of causing someone to stumble joins the warning about little ones to Jesus' commands for radical removal of sin.
The sermon applies this passage especially to the sexual exploitation of children while acknowledging its wider call to remove every occasion of sin.
A child who has been abused is not at fault; responsibility belongs to the person who used power, secrecy, bribery, threats, or manipulation to cause harm.
Children should tell a safe adult when someone harms or frightens them, and adults and churches must listen, protect, and take disclosures seriously.
Radical repentance requires stopping harmful conduct, removing access and opportunity, telling the truth, accepting accountability, and involving civil authorities rather than concealing abuse.
Church unity must never become an excuse to protect offenders, silence victims, or hide abuse; the congregation is called to protect children with Christlike courage.

Do our church's actions demonstrate Jesus' welcome and protection of children, not merely state it in words?
Would a child in our care know which safe adults to tell if someone frightened, manipulated, or harmed them?
Are adults prepared to listen calmly, affirm that abuse is not the child's fault, and act to protect rather than investigate on their own?
Do any ministry practices give one adult unaccountable or inappropriate access to children?
Have secrecy, gifts, threats, spiritual authority, or concern for reputation ever been allowed to silence a disclosure?
What access, habit, relationship, or opportunity must be removed immediately as part of radical repentance?
Will we choose child safety, truthful reporting, and accountability even when doing so is painful for the congregation?

Little ones: Children whom Jesus welcomes, values, and commands his people to protect from spiritual and bodily harm.
Stumbling block: A trap or snare that entices, manipulates, or pushes another person toward sin and harm.
Safeguarding: Concrete practices of listening, protecting, limiting unsafe access, reporting concerns, and caring for those at risk.
Manipulation: The misuse of secrecy, gifts, threats, authority, or emotional pressure to control and silence a child.
Radical repentance: A decisive turning from sin to God that tells the truth, removes occasions for harm, and accepts real accountability.
Gehenna: Jesus' image of final judgment, named from the Valley of Hinnom and used to stress sin's deadly seriousness.