Book of Mark | A Million Little Choices

Follow Along with the Message

1.) When we love God, then can we love others. Loving God is a daily pursuit and takes effort and intention. We live in a world that constantly and unapologetically demands our attention and focus. When we stray from our focus on the Lord, we become lost sheep. Are there distractions or temptations in your life that inhibit you from pursuing and building an intentional relationship with the Lord? Have you invited the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen you from distractions, leading you to a deeper relationship with God?

2.) Jesus says in John 15 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬

This verse, exemplified by the mouth of Jesus, reminds us of the need to always seek Him out in all that we do, including loving our neighbor. When we love our neighbors with a heart surrendered to the will of the Lord, then we are bearing the fruit of the spirit. If we try to do this on our own, we will surely fail because only God can change and transform our hearts into loving others. Jesus says “apart from me, you can do nothing.”

Are you receiving and thriving from the nourishment offered by Jesus, the Vine?

3.) Romans 13:8
 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are permanently in debt to Christ for the love and grace he has poured out on us. The only way we can even begin repaying this debt is by showing the same kind of love to others, because Christ’s love will be infinitely greater than ours. We will always have the responsibility as Christ’s disciples to keep repaying that love to others with help from the Spirit.

How can you display Christ’s love to others in your daily practices and in the places you go? What does that look like?

4.) Review Matthew 23: 1-5 and Mark 12:34.
Kristen mentioned that the outward love of God is different than inward love towards God (burnt offerings vs a heart felt love). In these passages, Jesus tells us that motive matters. In the world, love is often transactional and conditional. However, God‘s love is not. In fact, scripture tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8: 38-39). How can you display God’s unconditional, non-transactional love towards others, even when that love is not reciprocated?

5.) Kristen spoke about how loving God is the sum of a million little daily decisions. Each hour, day, and week are comprised of micro-decisions that can add up to loving God. We often fall short on thinking of the Lord as much as He thinks about us. The good news is that His mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23). What are the little daily choices that you can make in honoring the greatest commandment? Are there some choices that you might be making as an outward display rather than an inward devotion?