Sermon Discussion Guide
July 26th, 2010Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Holiness of God: Pure
How can impure/sinful people ever be connected with a pure/sinless God?
I can connect with a sinless God if I believe that He wants me.
I can connect with a sinless God if I am honest about who I am.
I can stay connected with a sinless God if I allow Him to “clothe” me in holiness.
I can stay connected with a sinless God if I go and tell others what Jesus has done for me.
1.) Read Mark 5:1-8. In what ways does this man’s outward condition reflect the condition of your inner soul (lived among the tombs; no one could bind him; the fetters he broke in pieces; night and day…always crying out; bruising himself with stones)? Why does he run to worship Jesus and at the same time accuse Jesus of tormenting him? Is there a way in which you do the same thing? How is it that Jesus demonstrates that He wants a relationship with this man? How has Jesus shown you that He wants a relationship with you?
2.) Read Habakkuk 1:13 and Psalm 51:1-3. Habakkuk, seeing the sin of others; and, David, seeing his own sin; both recognize the same thing: a holy God will not be in the presence of sin. Yet, God comes to us in Jesus. How can this be?
3.) Read Mark 5:9-13. Again the man does two contrary things: he is honest about the Legion of evil spirits within him, but he begs Jesus not to send them away. Why would he do that? Pastor Craig pointed out that after the man was honest, even though he begged Jesus not to cast the spirits out, Jesus did cast them out. What do you make of that? Pastor Craig stated that when you get honest with Jesus about who you are, the power of Jesus’ death on the Cross comes to you. Do you agree? Why, or why not?
4.) Read Ezekiel 16:1-6 and Revelation 3:17. Why is it so hard to recognize, and then be honest about, the true state of your soul?
5.) Read Mark 5:14-15 and Psalm 24:3-4. As Jesus and His disciples provide clothing for this man to wear, so the Lord will clothe us in goodness and righteousness. How do we put on the “clothing” He provides? Why is that we will not be able to remain in relationship with the Lord if we won’t put on that clothing of goodness and righteousness? Can you share a time when you refused to be done with some sin, and that refusal caused distance or brokenness in your relationship with the Lord?
6.) Read Mark 5:16-20 and Romans 10:9. Does it seem to soon for Jesus to insist that the man go and tell others what the Lord has done for him? Why, or why not? Why is it that we fall away from Jesus if we do not go and tell others about what He’s done for us?