The Heart of Discipleship
Speaker: Tony Haines
Series: No Nonsense! - The Gospel of Mark
Scripture: Mark 7:5-23
Do we sometimes put traditions above Scripture?
Do we avoid buying a Sunday newspaper because it's something Christians shouldn't do? Do we follow some traditions in the Christian faith that may go counter to Scripture?
There’s nothing in the Bible about many things we do as Christians.
1) Nowhere in the Bible does it say that when somebody is baptised, they should be signed with a cross.
2) It's not in the Bible that people should wear robes or vestments when they're leading a service.
3) Dog collars are not mentioned anywhere in the New Testament.
Sinfulness comes from within us.
We are in the process of being changed.
The whole point of meeting together is that we want to grow closer to a sense of God in our lives, and being more like Jesus.
Having more love and forgiveness and concern for other people.
Our readiness to forgive each other.
To find that our hearts are slowly changing.
Us Christians are in the business of being transformed, not conformed by society.
The change of heart is a day-to-day process.
It’s not a flash in the pan.
The Examen
|
Thumb |
The good things that I'm thankful for (think ‘OK’) |
|
Pointy Finger |
Where can I point to God having
been at work in my life today? |
|
Tallest Finger |
What stands out as being
something which is important today? |
|
Ring Finger |
Where have I been my weakest today? |
|
Little Finger |
What small things might I try
to change in the future? |
Homegroup Questions
1. What peripheral, unimportant things can we Christians major on.
Are they a distraction from the main thing?
2. What things may be modern equivalents of 'Corban' (see transcript, page 3)?
Are we guilty?
3. How do you find watching the news affects your view of the world and humanity?
4. Discuss why you go to church, and/or belong to a Home-group?
5. Read
Romans 12:1-2
How might we go about fulfilling this?
6. Use the time to affirm each other
in the ways in which we are growing in the likeness of Jesus.
7. Consider using this image of a hand to review each day.