From the Heart | Book of Mark

Follow Along with the Message

From the Heart
Mark 7:1-23

1. What are some ways you have in the past, or are presently focusing on the religious way of outside-in rather than the inside-out way of Jesus? What are some man-made rules or traditions that in retrospect nullified the word of God? Have you moved past these rules/traditions? How have these outside-in religious rules interfered with your relationship with Christ?

2. Isaiah 29:13 states: The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught." Do you find yourself at times going through the motions and claiming (either to yourself and/or others) to be close to God? As God's people, we are called to obedience and sincere worship. How can we give God glory and pure worship?

3. Matthew 7:21-23 states: "Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord", will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Jesus exposed people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with him. In what ways have you layed down man made, outside-in religion and focused on your relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

4. Outside-in religion can lead to pretention. Hypocrites = "pretender", "play actor". We are all capable of being hypocrites, of masking our true selves from God and others. What are some spiritual disciplines you can utilize to open your whole self to God?

5. Outside-in religion can lead to comparison. Luke 18:9-14 states: "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like the other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Discuss experiences when you have compared your faith to others or have been the recipient of such comparison. How did you move past this comparison in grace and humility?

6. Outside-in religion can lead to pride. It can lead to thinking that we can make ourselves clean. But prideful outside-in religion doesn't lead to God, it only leads to ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9 states: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." And 2 Corinthians 5:21 states: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Contemplate and discuss the gift of salvation and righteousness through faith in Christ.

7. Ezekiel 36:26-27 states: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Take a moment to thank God for His steadfast love, His never-ending mercies, and His gift of a new heart and Spirit within us.

Suggested Worship song: "Simple Gospel", United Pursuit
https://music.apple.com/us/album/simple-gospel-live/1026189753?i=1026190043

"Simple Gospel"
I want to know You, Lord
Like I know a friend
I want to know You, Lord

So I'm laying down all my religion
I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord
I'm laying down all my religion
I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord

I use to think that I could box you in
But I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord
I use to think that I could box you in
But I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord

So I'm laying down all my religion
I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord
I'm laying down all my religion
I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord

Lord, I've been told to be ashamed
Lord, I've been told I don't measure up
Lord, I've been told I'm not good enough
But You're here with me

I reach out and You find me in the dust
You say no amount of untruths can separate us

I will rejoice in the simple gospel
I will rejoice in You, Lord
I will rejoice in the simple gospel
I will rejoice in You, Lord