StoneBridge Community Church
Interim Pastor Neal Nybo
Steven Covey is credited with saying, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Is there one main thing Christians should be passionate about? If so, what is it and how do we do it?
Mark 7:1-8 NIV
1. We must keep the main thing the main thing.
In all of our activities, let's be sure we stay focused on our clear purpose, our reason for existing.
2. The main thing for Christians is love.
There are many important and complicated issues facing Christians and our nation. When does addressing those issues become more important than loving one another?
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Growing up, was there a main thing in your house - like always be polite or finish all the food on your plate because there are children starving in the world?
2. Have you been to a place like Virginia City, where they don’t do the main thing anymore, but they are still doing lots of other things?
3. Would you agree based on Mark 12: 30, 31 and John 13:34, that Christianity’s main thing is to love God and love others?
4. What are some things Christians focus on that prevent the main thing from being the main thing?
5. What are some things Christians focus on that keep the main thing the main thing?
3. Don’t substitute tradition for love.
They challenged Jesus about a seemingly insignificant tradition and Jesus basically shakes his head and says, gentlemen (because religious leaders in that day were all men), gentlemen, your traditions are not the main thing. And, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
4. Stop avoiding cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance is the unpleasant emotion we feel when what we believe and how we act, contradict one another.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What are some traditions of the church, either our local church or the worldwide church?
2. How do those traditions demonstrate love?
3. How might they substitute for love rather than demonstrating it?
4. Explain cognitive dissonance.
5. Explain how people avoid it.
6. Can you see ways you avoid cognitive dissonance?
7. Can you see how wrestling with your own cognitive dissonance may allow you to grow and demonstrate love?
Next step:
What is one way you avoid cognitive dissonance? Think of something you can do this week to stop avoiding it and do that.
