Confession: The Heart of the Matter

Three Questions About Jesus You Have to Get Right

1. Do I understand the MAN ? (Mk 8:27-30)



2. Do I understand the PLAN ? (Mk 8:31-33)



3. Have I made him PERSONAL ? (Mk 8:29)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 8:22-33

1. In Mk 8:29, Jesus made the issue about Him personal ("Who do you say that I am?"). How would you explain to someone what it means to make Jesus "personal"?
    
2. Why did Jesus not want His disciples telling people He is the Christ?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

Unbelief: Missing the Point

1. Those committed to UNBELIEF can't commit to JESUS . (Mk 8:11-15)




2. Those committed to JESUS sometimes ACT like those committed to UNBELIEF . (Mk 8:16-21)

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 8:1-21

1. Jesus gave a warning in Mark 8:15: "Watch out; beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod". Restate this warning in your own words. What, exactly and specifically, are we to "watch out" for?
    
2. Why didn't Jesus just show the Pharisees a sign? Why was Jesus grieved that they wanted one? Compare this account to Matthew's version in Matthew 16:1-4.

Breakout Questions:
Are there any areas of hypocrisy or sensuality in your life? Pray against that leaven!

Compassion: Making the Difference

The Compassion of Jesus:

1. INVITES Me. (Mk 7:24-26)



2. HUMBLES Me. (Mk 7:27-30)



3. KNOWS Me. (Mk 7:31-35)



4. MOVES Me. (Mk 7:36-37)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 7:24-37

1. Romans 2:4 tells us it is God's kindness that is meant to lead us to repentance? How does God's kindness (compassion) lead us to repentance? What does that look like?
    
2. Share how the compassion of Jesus has impacted you.

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another. Each of you evaluate yourself: have I been genuinely fired up enough about the compassion of Jesus to naturally share Him with others? If not, how are you going to fan that flame?

The Priority of Trust

What does it mean to trust God?

• Are you a trusting person?

It means I trust that God has a PLAN !

• God is sovereign!


• God is infinite in wisdom!


• God is perfect in love!

1. I will trust God's TIMING in His plans. (Hg 2:21)


2. I will trust God's ABILITY to carry out His plans. (Hg 2:22)


3. I will trust how God will USE ME in His plans. (Hg 2:23)

Jeremiah 22:24-25 - "As I live, declares the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would tear you off and give you into the hand of those who seek your life, into the hand of those of whom you are afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans."

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Haggai 2:20-23

1. The Bible teaches that God chooses people­ for salvation (John 6:37) and for their
   good works (Ephesians 2:10). Does this comfort or confuse you? Why?
    
2. How do we know God’s promises are true? What is your assurance that God will fulfill
   His plans for you?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another!

The Priority of Holiness

Holiness:

Defined:

Aspects of:

Why I Must Make Holiness a Priority:

1. Holiness isn't CONTAGIOUS . (Hg 2:10-13)


2. Holiness is a HEART issue. (Hg 2:14)


3. Holiness is God's AGENDA. (Hg 2:15-17)


4. Holiness sees God at WORK. (Hg 2:18-19)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Parents! Encourage your children to take some notes on the sermon and discuss these questions this week. Make the concepts age appropriate for your children:
Read Haggai 2:10-19

1. Why do parents discipline their children? Why does God discipline us? How does God discipline us?
    
2. In Haggai 2:13-13, God warns that you can’t catch holiness but you can catch unholiness (explain that it is like a disease: you can catch a disease, but you can’t “catch” health). How can being around the wrong people affect us? (1 Corinthians 15:33)