The Avenue Church
Gospel of Mark 7:14-23 Our Heart Makes Us Unclean
The Gospel of Mark is an action packed account of the life and ministry of Jesus. As Christians, our entire lives are to be built around following Jesus, so how can we do that if we don't know how Jesus lived??? This verse-by-verse study of Mark will help each of us take our Next Steps towards Christ, no matter where we are starting from!
Locations & Times
The Avenue Church
3030 Thatcher Ave, Pueblo, CO 81005, USA
Sunday 5:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
1. A Huge Shift in Understanding “Clean”
The Original Sin was . . . EATING forbidden food!
The Original Sin was . . . EATING forbidden food!
A. Eating Was not Just About Consumption But Communion
The physical regulation of dietary laws was only a shadow of the spiritual reality of Communion with Jesus.
“Comm-union”
B. Eating Was Not Only About Consumption but also Companionship
2. The Heart of the Matter
Discussion Questions - Re-read our passage from this week (Mark 7:14-23) and then with your Growth Group, family, friends, etc. thoughtfully answer the following:
1. Have you ever been confronted with a drastic change of belief? Something that in the past you were certain was right (or wrong) and then did a total 180. . .
2. Do you believe that “all” things are permissible for a Christian? What are the limits / exclusions?
3. How does sharing a meal today still demonstrate companionship?
4. Religion deals with “sin management”, Relationship deals with Heart Desires. Describe how these two approaches have worked themselves out in your life.
5. What happens when our prayer changes from “God, help me not to do _______ anymore” to “God, help me to desire You more than__________?”
6. Practically speaking, how do we “guard our heart?”
7. What’s your next step in response to this message?
1. Have you ever been confronted with a drastic change of belief? Something that in the past you were certain was right (or wrong) and then did a total 180. . .
2. Do you believe that “all” things are permissible for a Christian? What are the limits / exclusions?
3. How does sharing a meal today still demonstrate companionship?
4. Religion deals with “sin management”, Relationship deals with Heart Desires. Describe how these two approaches have worked themselves out in your life.
5. What happens when our prayer changes from “God, help me not to do _______ anymore” to “God, help me to desire You more than__________?”
6. Practically speaking, how do we “guard our heart?”
7. What’s your next step in response to this message?
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https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Account/Invite/TheAvenueChurchTHIS IS WHAT THE HEART LOOKS LIKE by J.D. Greear
In this nine week series, J.D. Greear, the lead pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, teaches that this perception of a list of don'ts is completely wrong. "I want to show you that the Ten Commandments are not a path to bondage, but a path to freedom." God's commands are not to regulate our outward behavior. He gives them in order to shape our hearts. Learning to use the Commandments for freedom's sake will give us a wonderful glimpse of what our hearts look like.
https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Series/673THE GOSPEL-SHAPED HEART by John Piper
In this 53-minute session, John Piper, the founder of DesiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary, argues that, when the mind of a Christian serves the truth of God, the heart has the potential to follow through with a burning love for and worship of God. The gospel removes from our hearts the affections that plagued us with guilt and sorrow, and opens us up to receive the affections that the Holy Spirit brings.
https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Training/Post/View/162609Permanent Link to Full Sermon Notes (Google Drive)
The Gospel of Mark 7:14-23 Our Heart Makes Us Unclean
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YYfr0sILpNjL37IqsAbmxTjYY5HrT8VoxnjohcIKQ8E/edit?usp=sharing