The Rock of Offense

We expose false doctrine , reveal fulfilled prophecy and shine light on the demonic deception of these last days , but we also stand firm on the hope of Christ's return , the call to holiness and the urgency of true salvation . It's time to renew your mind , for the time is now . Let's go , boys . Hey , welcome back to Renewed Mindsets .

I'm Rick and I'm so glad you're here . This isn't the podcast for the comfortable Christian . This is where we confront deception , expose darkness and call the church back to the narrow road . Today's message isn't going to sit well with everyone , and that's exactly the point . Today's message isn't going to sit well with everyone , and that's exactly the point .

We're talking about Jesus , the rock of offense , the one people want to follow until he speaks , the one they claim to love , until he calls out their sin . The Jesus who doesn't fit into the American church's soft gospel or cultural friendly faith . Let me say this very plainly If your version of Jesus never offends the flesh , it's not the real Jesus .

Let's just jump in with some scripture . Romans 9.33 says as it is written behold , I lay in Zion , a stumbling stone and a rock of offense , and whoever believes on him will not be put to shame . And then the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone . That's from Psalm 118 , 22 . Jesus wasn't crucified for being nice .

He was crucified because his message confronted religious pride , it exposed sin and it threatened the systems of power . He offended yeah , he offended the Pharisees with his holiness . He offended the Romans with his authority . He offended the sinners with his call to repentance . And he even offended his disciples with his suffering . He wasn't killed for healing .

He was killed for truth . In Matthew 13 , 57, . Even in his hometown they took offense at him . Why ? Because he didn't fit their expectations . Because

truth disrupts comfort , because light exposes what's hiding in the dark . And here's the part we need to say loudly , clearly and without apology . The American church has replaced Jesus the king with Jesus the mascot . This Americanized Jesus loves everybody , but never tells them to change . He accepts sin as identity .

He tells you to follow your heart instead of crucify your flesh . He gives you blessing without repentance . He promises you favor while you're still living in rebellion . It's more about your platform than your purity . Jesus in the American church is more interested in your happiness than your holiness .

This Jesus has been mass produced in churches that care more about audience size than altar calls , more about relatability than in righteousness , more about crowd retention than repentance . But this false Jesus is a trap , and those who believe in him are being led straight to a deception that feels good but it ends in destruction . That's a fancy way of saying .

Those that believe in him are being led straight into hell for eternity . They'll gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear . That's 2 Timothy 4.3 . That's the American church . You can believe in Jesus .

You can attend church , you can post scriptures online and still be offended by the real Christ when he exposes your idols .

Now here's why people still stumble over him . He confronts your sin , not in general , but yours . He doesn't affirm what the culture celebrates . He calls it rebellion . He demands obedience . Why do you call me Lord , lord , and not do what I say ? That's Luke 6.46 . The real Jesus doesn't want just your Sunday , he wants your life .

The real Jesus exposes fake faith . A lot of people are offended because Jesus tears down everything we've built without him . Shallow Christianity compromised leadership . Hallow Christianity compromised leadership . Celebrity pastors who preach self over surrender . The real Jesus draws lines . He who is not with me is against me . Matthew 12 , 30 .

Jesus didn't come to unify all opinions . He came to divide truth from lies ,

light from darkness , sheep from goats . So let me ask you something directly when was the last time Jesus offended you ? If you can't remember , then maybe you've silenced his voice , or you've chosen the feel-good version of Jesus , or you've surrounded yourself with a preacher or preachers from online who are afraid to offend you .

Yeah , I say that preachers online , because a lot of people that are in church that have a pastor are listening to false preachers on YouTube . Those messages are good with a little g . Those messages make you feel good . Those messages make you shout . Those messages aren't truth . A lot of times . The truth is Jesus doesn't change .

If he offended religious hypocrites and half-hearted followers 2,000 years ago , he's still going to offend hearts today , but the offense is love . He wounds us to heal us . He breaks the pride to restore the soul . He tears down so he can build something holy .

Matthew 21 . 44 says Whoever falls on this stone will be broken , but on whomever it falls , it will grind him to powder . That's it . That's the message You're either going to fall on the rock and be broken or it's going to fall on you in judgment . There's no neutral ground with Jesus . You can't casually like the gospel . You can't gently consider Christ .

You must surrender or stumble . You must repent or stumble . You must repent or rebel . You're either going to have to crucify your flesh or be ruled by it .

If what you've heard today offended you , good , you're not supposed to stay comfortable . Maybe God has shaken the foundation you've built your faith on . Maybe you've settled for a passive , people-pleasing Jesus who tolerates sin instead of destroys it . Maybe it's time to repent of who you thought he was and return to who he truly is .

Matthew 11.6 says Blessed is the one who is not offended by me . Turn to who he truly is . Matthew 11 , 6 says Jesus offends the proud , he disturbs the compromised , he exposes the counterfeit , but he saves the humble .

Let him offend you , let him confront your idols , let him burn away everything that doesn't belong in his kingdom , because the same rock that crushes is the rock that can carry you .

You can feel it , can't you ? That lump in your throat , that ache in your gut , that tightening in your chest , because deep down you know you've been playing it safe . You've been pretending You've been going to church , quoting scripture , singing the songs , but still clinging to the sin Jesus died to set you free from . You've been playing it safe .

You've made a version of Jesus that suits your lifestyle , instead of surrendering your lifestyle to suit your Savior , and now he's calling you out of that . Right now . No more excuses , no more middle ground , no more flirting with the fire while you're pretending you're walking in the light , because here's the truth .

You will either fall on the rock and be broken in mercy , or the rock will fall on you and you will be crushed under judgment . There's no third option . There's no loophole . There's no cozy Jesus who lets you live in rebellion because your heart is good . Your heart isn't good . It's broken , and Jesus didn't come to validate it . He came to transform it .

So here's your real altar call , not the one that you made when you were 16 and cried . This is the real one . Fall on the rock , let him break you , let him crush the pride , let him tear down the identity that you built without him .

Let him wreck the lies you've been living under , because he loves you too much to leave you deceived , too much to leave you in sin Too much to let you waste your calling on compromise . You need to cry out right now , right where you are , father , god , break what needs breaking , expose what we've hidden , uproot the comfort that we've clung to Lord .

We don't want a version of Jesus that makes us feel good . We want the real Jesus , the one who sets captives free , the one who offends us into holiness . Sets captives free . The one who offends us into holiness . The one who wounds so he can heal .

Tear down the idols , shatter the pride , burn away every excuse that you've made for your sin and let what's left be holy . You're still breathing . That means there's time , but don't mistake mercy for permission , don't confuse delay for approval .

This might be your last call , and if you're ready to stand on the rock , not stumble over him , then let the offense do its work . Repent , rise up , walk in truth and never bow to the world again .

Fall on the rock , let it hurt , let it heal you , let it save you , because if Jesus doesn't offend you now , you're not going to recognize him when he returns . The executive producer of Renewed Mindsets is Christy McCurry . That's all for today , but I'll be back with more unfiltered biblical truth and undeniable prophecy . The time to wake up is now .

If today's episode challenged you , don't keep it to yourself . Tell someone . Please Text them a link . Share the truth while there's still time . Visit renewedmindsetscom to stay connected and to listen to past episodes and check out our merch at renewedmindsetsstore . Jesus is coming soon . Stay watchful , stay holy , stay renewed Until next week . I'm Rick .

Be an encourager , not a discourager . I love you , see ya . The intro and outro music for the Renewed Mindsets podcast is Are you Ready ? By Floodgate from the album Are you Ready ? Copyright 2002, . From the album Are you Ready ? Copyright 2002 , offbeat Ministries Incorporated . Floodgate can be found on Apple Music and iTunes . Music used with permission .