Discussion Questions for sermon series Letters to the Church Part 3

God’s Church started as a radical, spiritually intimate gathering of believers that ultimately changed history. Yet millions today are content to be mere observers at church.  But God is waking up His people—people who will risk anything and sacrifice everything to be the dynamic, world-changing Church of the Bible. In this series we are going to be asking, “What does God want for His Church?”

​

1.  Read Mark 7: 1-13  Notice that the Pharisees were forcing people to wash their hands before they ate.  But God never told people they needed to do this. Make some observations about Jesus’ response to the Pharisees.  Why was He so upset? What words did He repeat? What seems to be the focus in His strong rebuke of the Pharisees?

2. Are we giving God what He is asking for?  In question #1 hand washing is not bad but the problem is it became a higher priority than what God asked for.  We need to be devoted to what pleases God and what He commands in Scripture - not our desire or tradition. What are some examples of Commands (not optional) and Traditions (optional)

3. Define the word “devoted”

4. The early church was devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread and praying.  Are we more devoted to Christian books and sermons or the Word of God? There is nothing that can replace the reading of the word of God.  Hebrew 4:12 tells us “ The word of God is living and active. When we read Scripture it acts on us in a way no other words can. Are we reading enough Scripture?

5. Are we more devoted to programming or to the people of our church?  

6. Looking at yourself and at your church, are you devoted to the word of God?  To the breaking of bread? To fellowship? To prayer?

7. Ask yourself, where am I falling short in taking God’s commands seriously?  Ask God what He wants you to do about what you have discovered?

Pray