Vantage Point: Pharisees (Mark 2:13-17; 3:1-6 and Phil 3:4-9)

Sunday, February 28th - Pastor Kyle Van Tine  

"Vantage Point: Pharisees" (Mark 2:13-17; 3:1-6 and Phil 3:4-9) 

Listen to "Vantage Point: Pharisees" by following this link

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 

What kind of religious traditions have you seen or experienced that actually go beyond the scriptures, or even contradict God’s Word?

Why is it easier to see disobedience in others instead of ourselves?

In what specific ways do you have a condemning and judgmental spirit towards others?

When you think of being a hypocrite, what does that mean to you? The Bible describes a time when Peter was hypocritical (Gal 2:11-13); share a time where you found yourself acting hypocritically. What is involved in the process of moving from honesty to hypocrisy?

What is the motivation behind times when you have behaved hypocritically? What are areas of hypocrisy in your life and how do you fight against hypocritical tendencies?

The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus’ popularity and threated by his growing influence. How have you experienced jealousy in your own life? What tends to provoke you to jealousy and why? When we live in ongoing jealousy and envy of others, what truths are we not believing about the Gospel?

In what areas of your life do you tend to find your value, significance and worthiness apart from the cross of Jesus?

How does the cross confront our self-righteousness?

How does the cross confront our hypocrisy?

How does the cross confront our jealousy?

Why do you think it was so hard for the Pharisees to see these qualities in themselves? Why is it so hard for us? As a group, if you were challenged to help a Pharisee recover, how would you help him/her? What advice and help would you offer? Of that advice, what do you need to apply to your own life?

We do what we want!

I've been thinking about the following statement; "We always do that which we most want to."

It's true, isn't it? The highest, deepest, strongest affections of our hearts really do control us. We never do anything, no matter how difficult, that ultimately isn't motivated by our strongest affections. At the core of all of our actions, even if it warrants momentary discomfort or displeasure, is a desire for infinite satisfaction.

When I sin, it's because I believe a the lie that twists my affections and causes me to commit divine treason by attempting to find satisfaction in those things which are only created as pointers, mirrors and shadows of the infinity beautifully, powerful, awe-inspiring, desire satisfying God almighty.

What I've learned is that when I don't pray humbly that God the Holy Spirit would change my heart so my deepest affections are to cherish and be satisfied in God. I begin to crossover into cruel, heartless, passionless, religiosity because I'm only operating on a knowledge level of what I "should" be doing while my affections or for sin. Without any deep abiding passion to delight in the law of God I will always ultimately sin because I do what I most want to. It's simple but I'm realizing the fuller significance of the difference in out comes between duty and delight.

Our life is constantly driven by desires seeking complete and infinite satisfaction. Join me in looking to Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith!