November 26, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 28:16–20
Theme: Simple Obedience to Jesus’ Commission
Passage: Matthew 28:16–20
Jesus’ Great Commission to His Followers:
1. Jesus’ plan comes to followers who ...
a. Respond (16),
b. Worship (17a),
c. Yet, Doubt (17b).
2. Jesus’ plan calls His followers to make disciples of the nations.
a. Why?
Jesus possesses complete authority over everything (18).
b. How? (19–20a)
i. Get started (19a).
ii. Call people to follow (19b).
iii. Teach them to obey Christ’s commands (20a).
c. What about ...?
Jesus will empower you to the very end (20b).
Main Idea: Christ followers make followers of Christ.
Application Questions:
· As a follower, where are you doubtful or weakest in following Christ? What step can you take this week to begin to address this?
· What does it mean that Christ has “been given all authority in heaven and on earth?” How does this impact your life and decision-making?
· Is Christ’s plan optional for each of his followers? Why do many Christians not involve themselves in His plan to make disciples?
· With the gifts and abilities Christ has given you, how are you helping (how can you help) others follow Christ? If you are not involved helping others follow Christ, what can you do to get started?
November 19, 2023
November 19, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 26:47–57
Passage: Matthew 26:47–57
Theme: Simple Obedience and Violence
Realities of Following Christ:
· Betrayal
· Violence done against Christ
· Injustice
Command: “Put your sword back in its place”: There is no place for violence in Christ’s Kingdom Community (51).
Reasons for Non-Violent Response:
1. Violence destroys the violent (52).
2. Violent response betrays trust in God’s ability to protect (53).
3. Violent retaliation misses God’s greater purposes for His suffering Servants(s) (54).
Main Idea: Christ followers should respond to betrayal, violence, and injustice by displaying Christ through their nonviolent actions.
Application Questions:
· Why is it that even as believers we are drawn toward violence and violent responses when wronged? What might this indicate about violence and us?
· Are there occasions when Christians should respond with violence or act violently? Provide NT examples or teaching.
· How does the cross bring about justice for the Christ follower as well as the one who rejects Christ? (See 1 Peter 2:18–25)
· How should we apply Jesus’ teaching here to believers regarding self-defense and military service?
· What are you doing to counter injustice by displaying Christ through loving actions?
November 12, 2023
November 12, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 26:31–46
Passage: Matthew 26:31–46
Theme: Simple Obedience and Failure
No matter our intestinal fortitude and spiritual resolve, we will fail on our desire to perfectly follow Christ.
Why?
1. Distraction from readiness
2. Lack of prayer
3. Weakness of Flesh
Good News:
1. God knows this.
2. He sent his Son to experience this and overcome it for us.
Commands: Look to Christ’s example:
1. Remain watchful for Christ (38)
2. Persist in prayer (41)
3. Join Jesus in facing the tests God has allowed in your life (46)
Main Idea: Christ followers overcome temptation, opposition, suffering, and even their own failures by repeatedly returning to Christ.
Application Questions:
· What are the ways or areas in which you think of yourself as a spiritual failure as a Christ follower?
· Which reason for failure to follow Christ do you struggle with the most? How do you plan with and through the power of the Holy Spirit in you to address this?
· How do (or can) you persist in prayer? What steps do you need to take to create a space for prayer in your daily routine?
· How can you help create a culture of readiness and prayer with the believers in your life?
· The next time you fail or begin thinking that you are failing in your following Christ, what are you going to do to counter those thoughts? What actions are you going to take to return to Christ?
November 5, 2023
November 5, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 26:26–30
With His statements at the Last Supper, Jesus declared He is the ...
1. Passover Lamb
2. Sacrifice for Sins
3. Atonement for All
4. Returning King
If this is what you believe,
1. Participate
2. Emulate
Main Idea: Christ Followers partake to testify Jesus is Lord of their lives.
Application Questions:
· From this passage, what challenged you concerning your partaking in the Lord’s Supper? What can you do to address this in your life?
· Why was the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross necessary? Couldn’t He simply have come as King and God forgiven us without Christ’s death?
· How can we participate in this afresh and proclaim His death each time we gather to partake?
· What is the Spirit burdening you to emulate about Christ this week? How are you going to obey?
October 29, 2023
October 29, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 24, Matthew 25
Theme: Simple Obedience Toward Christ’s Return
Passage: Matthew 24–25
In a broad reading of these chapters, Jesus provides us with two directives:
1. Read the signs of the times carefully (24:1–31)
a. Signs will characterize this age and intensify before Christ returns.
i. Tumultuous times: false messiahs; wars; various tribulations; persecution
ii. Apostasy within the church
iii. Spread of the Gospel
iv. Jewish Upheaval
b. Signs should motivate readiness not prediction.
2. Ready yourself for Christ’s return (24:32–25:46)
a. Why?
i. We live in these tumultuous times.
ii. It will happen imminently.
b. How?
i. Do the Lord’s work rather than living selfishly (45–51)
ii. Have your life and priorities in order (25:1–13)
iii. Use the gifts God has given you to serve for Him (25:14–30)
iv. Support your fellow Christ-followers in need (25:31–46)
Main Idea: Christ followers listen to Christ’s words by devoting themselves to kingdom work.
Application Questions:
· Why are so many believers enamored with reading the signs of the times to predict Christ’s return?
· What is your emotional and cognitive response to the signs Jesus mentions in 24:4–28? Which signs excite you? Which frighten you? What should these signs do in our lives?
· In looking at your life and what it is producing, how would others assess your readiness for Christ’s return? Which individual(s) in the stories Jesus told are you most like?
· How do you need to ready yourself for Christ’s return this week? Which priorities and actions need to change in your life? What are you going to do about it?
October 22, 2023
October 22, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 23:1–12
Theme: Simple Obedience and Christian Service
Passage: Matthew 23:1–12
From Jesus’ teaching concerning the Pharisees, we are challenged with two commands:
1. Align your actions with right doctrine (1–7).
Watch out for these inconsistencies:
a. Saying one thing but doing another (3b).
b. Calling others to a high standard but being unwilling to help (4).
c. Doing right actions to be noticed by others (5–7).
2. Serve as a servant (8–12).
How?
a. ... by recognizing your place in the family (8–10)
i. We are all equally siblings ...
ii. under the authority of our Heavenly Father ...
iii. following the teaching of Jesus.
b. ... by humbling yourself to perform the role God has for you (11–12).
Main Idea: Christ followers set aside self-promotion to glorify God by serving one another.
Application Questions:
· Which of the three inconsistencies to watch out for do you struggle with the most? How so? How is this passage calling you to repent?
· In what ways does this passage help us recognize Christian hypocrisy, especially in ourselves? Should a believer still teach or call others to actions and behaviors they themselves struggle doing? Why and how?
· When Jesus tells us not to call ourselves or others teacher, father, or instructor, what is he calling us to do in practical terms?
· How can we humble ourselves as Jesus calls us to at the end of this passage?
October 15, 2023
October 15, 2023 • Pastor Josh Kee • Matthew 19:13–15
Matthew 19:16-30 Sermon Information
Series: Simple Obedience
Title: “Simple Obedience with Wealth”
The rich man (16-22)
The man’s request (16) - “What good thing must I do?”
Contrasted with “little children” (19:14)
Reveals a diminished understanding of righteousness and goodness (16, 20)
Jesus’ response (17-19)
Jesus challenges his understanding of goodness by pointing to the Law – only God is good (17)
Goodness = Moral Perfection (5:48)
The man’s reply (20) – Looks beyond God’s Law
Jesus’ command (21) – “Go”, “sell”, “give”, “come and follow”
Jesus is more concerned with devotion than possession
Jesus confronts the man’s true treasure and calls him to exchange it for greater treasure
The man’s response (22) – “he went away sorrowful”
The man proves that he loves his wealth more than the kingdom (eternal life)
All he possesses is unable to satisfy his longing for blessing
Jesus’ warning (23-26)
The danger of wealth (23-24)
Entrance into God’s Kingdom requires forsaking all other gods
Wealth is perceived as blessing, but often proves to be a curse (24)
The disciples’ confusion (25)
The disciples held the common belief that wealth was evidence of God’s favor
This man was “righteous” according to the Law (externally) but was devoted to a false god
Jesus points to humanity’s hope for salvation (26)
No one can be saved apart from God’s grace
Only God’s grace changes our hearts to love him more than money
Turn from every other god and follow Christ
The Reward for following Jesus (27-30)
Peter’s concern (27)
Jesus’ promise to the disciples (28)
Jesus’ promise to all who follow him (29)
The reversal of status in God’s kingdom (30)
“There are more excellent things than the things of this world. There be things that the eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor the soul conceived; and these be the joys of heaven. Is not this desperate folly, to venture the loss of the best things, of the most transcendent things, that are above the capacity of the greatest reaches of the world? Will I lose all for petty poor things that are within my own reach?” (Richard Sibbes, A Glance of Heaven)
Main Point:
God’s grace in Christ transforms our hearts to love him more than wealth. The treasures of earth cannot compare to the treasure of eternal life and the Kingdom of God.
The Christian life is, at its core, a life of giving up lesser treasures, that are destined to perish, for greater and enduring treasure. It is fundamentally a life of faith – preparing for a world we cannot see, but believe exists by the Word of God.
Only grace received from the fullness of Jesus can change our hearts so we love the things of God more than the things of the world.
Discussion Questions:
What was wrong with the rich man’s understanding of righteousness and goodness?
Why is wealth such a hindrance to the kingdom of God? How are you tempted to be preoccupied with wealth?
What is the difference between possession of wealth and devotion to wealth? How do you discern the difference?
How does God’s grace enable us to gain or lose wealth without having our hope and joy disrupted?
How’s does Jesus’ promise in 19:29-30 transform our relationship with money and possessions? Why can you have joy in giving up the worlds treasures? Does this mark your life?
Is there any area regarding money where you need to confess and repent of preoccupation with wealth?
October 8, 2023
October 8, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 19:13–15
Theme: Simple Obedience toward Children
Passage: Matthew 19:13–15
Two truths from the initial interaction of the people involved:
1. Parental desire for children to come to Jesus is well-founded (13a).
2. Mature believers’ frustrated dismissal of children is misguided (13b).
Jesus’ Commands:
1. Invitation: Let children come to Jesus (14a).
2. Rebuke: Do not hinder them from coming to Jesus (14b).
Reason: Children possess heaven’s kingdom.
Main Idea: Like their Savior and King, Christ’s followers joyfully welcome children as members of their community so that heaven’s kingdom is reflected in God’s family on earth.
Application Questions:
· How does Jesus’ use of children here and in 18:1–10 represent us in our relationship to God? What can we learn from children about ourselves and how we relate to God?
· How and why do we neglect the importance of children in our church community, worship, and discipleship?
· What dangers do we face as a church if we hinder children from being an essential part of our family?
· How does the kingdom of heaven belong to God’s children now? What can you do to display that kingdom in your church and life today?
· What aspects of childhood do you need to remember and have reinstituted in your relationship to your Heavenly Father?
October 1, 2023
October 1, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 19:3–12
Theme: Simple Obedience in Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness
Passage: Matthew 19:3–12
This passage contains two commands that should govern our approach to marriage:
1. Command: No one should tear apart what God has created in marriage (4–6).
a. God has designed the complementarity of male and female (4).
b. God has declared marriage to be a lifelong relationship between the husband and wife (5–6).
c. God has made allowance for divorce because of our sinfulness (7–9).
2. Command: The one who believes they are called to celibacy must pursue God’s kingdom purposes.
Main Idea: From beginning to end, Christ followers glorify God by pursuing his creative and kingdom purposes.
· In our failure and frustration, God is glorified when we turn to Christ.
· In our marriages, God is glorified when we mirror Christ through our relationship with our spouse.
· In our singleness, God is glorified when we entrust our future to the pursuit of His purposes.
Application Questions:
What are some difficulties that you have with what Christ said in this passage? Why do Christians find what Jesus clearly says in this text so difficult to obey in our lives and churches today?
What implications are we to draw from God’s creation of male, female, and marriage (4–6)?
How can the gospel bring hope when we fail or experience frustration in these matters?
How are we to mirror Christ in our relationship with our spouse (cf. Ephesians 5: 22–33)?
If you are single, what is this passage calling you to do?
September 24, 2023
September 24, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 18:10–35
Theme: Simple Obedience and Family Relationships, Pt. 2: Reconciliation, Discipline, and Forgiveness
Passage: Matthew 18:10–35
Command: Exercise humility by caring for each one of your siblings (10).
· Theological Basis (10–14: “The Wandering Sheep”):
1. Each believer is watched over by your heavenly Father (10).
2. Your Heavenly Father desires to rescue His wandering sheep (12–14).
· Ecclesiastical Practice (15–20: “The Sinning Sibling”):
1. Church Discipline (15–17)
a. Personal Confrontation (15)
i. to regain your sibling
ii. if that doesn’t result in repentance ...
b. Leadership Involvement (16)
c. Corporate Confrontation (17)
d. Removal from membership (17b)
2. Heavenly Authority (18): Jesus authorizes His church to declare through membership who are truly God’s children.
3. Christ’s Presence (19–20): Jesus promises His divine presence through this process.
· Individual Forgiveness (21–35: “The Unforgiving Servant”): We must forgive the repentant because we have received the forgiveness of our gracious and merciful Father.
Main Idea: Christ followers reflect God’s reconciling forgiveness with their spiritual siblings.
Application Questions:
· Why do we struggle with forgiveness as pursued and prescribed in this passage? What specifically do you find difficult in pursuing forgiveness with a spiritual brother or sister?
· How does the practice of church discipline in this passage shape your understanding of church membership?
· What do you learn about the heart of God for His sheep/children from this passage? How is this changing how you view your spiritual siblings?
· What is this passage calling you to specifically do this week regarding forgiveness of your spiritual siblings?
September 17, 2023
September 17, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 18:1–9
Theme: Simple Obedience and Family Relationships Pt. 1
Passage: Matthew 18:1–9
Two truths concerning God’s response to the treatment of His children.
1. God elevates the one who exhibits childlike faith (1–5).
How to exhibit childlike faith:
a. Humble yourself.
b. Welcome brothers and sisters.
2. God severely judges the one who leads others to sin (6–7).
a. The fallen world
b. The person that spiritually harms
Command: Take extreme measures to avoid causing others to sin (8–9).
Main Idea: Christ’s followers need to lower self to pursue the growth of their spiritual siblings.
Application Questions:
· In what ways are you tempted to pursue greatness? Why is this a problem?
· What attributes of children do you think Jesus’ was wanting us to emulate?
· What should Jesus’ command to humble yourself (lower yourself) call you to do in your life presently?
· What extreme measures is this passage impressing on you to do pursue in your actions toward your spiritual brothers and sisters?
· How are you going to lower self this week in response to this passage?
September 10, 2023
September 10, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 17:22–27
Theme: Simple Obedience and Civic Duty
Passage: Matthew 17:22–27
These scenes teach us two truths concerning human government:
1. God uses human authority to accomplish His purposes (22–23).
2. Believers are God’s children and, therefore, are free to follow Christ (24–26).
Command (27): Pay taxes so that you may not cause offense.
Three Applications from this command:
1. Use your freedom to point others to the true King.
2. Avoid choices that allow people to unnecessarily turn away from Him.
3. Offend with the truth of the Gospel, not the defense of your rights.
Main Idea: God’s children submit their rights to the proclamation of the Gospel.
Application Questions:
· What does this passage teach us about Jesus that should be emulated or pursued in our lives? What can you do to pursue that this week?
· In what ways are believers today offending people in defense of their rights rather than the truth of the Gospel? How is this remedied?
· How can you use your freedom to point others Jesus as King? What is preventing you from doing so?
· What choices are you making that may be allowing people to unnecessarily turn away from Christ? What is this passage challenging you to do in response?
September 3, 2023
September 3, 2023 • Pastor Josh Kee • Matthew 16:21–28
Matthew 16:21-28 Sermon Information
Series: Simple Obedience
Title: “Following the Suffering Savior”
Context:
16:1-12 – Guard against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees
16:13-20 – Peter makes his confession of Christ, revealed by the Father
16:21-23 – Jesus foretells his death and resurrection; Peter rebukes Jesus
16:24-28 – The requirements of following Jesus
Jesus foretells his death and resurrection (16:21-23) – “the sign of Jonah”
“From that time” (21) – marks a shift in Jesus’ ministry toward Jerusalem (crucifixion)
Jesus reveals the nature of his Person and Work
He came to suffer; he came to die; he came to conquer death
These are the conditions of Jesus’ messiahship foretold by the Prophets (see Isaiah 53)
Peter rebukes Jesus (22)
Peter had a different kingdom in mind than Jesus’
Zeal and sincerity are not sufficient qualifications for faithfulness to Christ (Proverbs 19:2-3)
Jesus rebukes Peter (23)
Peter’s attempt to protect Jesus was really an attempt to protect his assumptions about Messiah
Peter’s attempt to protect Jesus stood in opposition to the will of God
Peter’s attempt to protect Jesus was more aligned with Satan than with God (Satan had offered Jesus a kingdom without suffering, see Matthew 4:8-10)
Peter was preoccupied with earthly things (see Colossians 3:1-4)
Jesus gives the requirements of following him (16:24)
“if” – conditional statement implying specific requirements
“anyone” – implies all; universally applicable without partiality
“come after” – follow; be yoked to Christ; unified with Christ (see Ephesians 1:3-14)
“let him” – conditions of yoked-ness with Christ (see 10:38)
deny himself – relinquish self-centered, earthly allegiance; submit to Christ
take up his cross – embrace suffering and death; identify with crucifixion and its implications
follow me – lit. “go where I go” (i.e. to Jerusalem to suffer, die, resurrect)
Jesus gives his reasoning (16:25-28)
His kingdom has different values (25-26)
In God’s kingdom: gain = loss; loss = gain
Self-preservation leads to self-destruction
Your soul > Your possessions/ accomplishments
“An empty vessel is the only thing that can be filled”
He will repay us in his kingdom for what we have done (27; see 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11-15)
Promise: seeing his glory (witnesses of the transfigured, crucified, resurrected Christ)
Main Point:
God’s grace in Christ transforms our perspective and our values. Only grace received from the fullness of Jesus can free us from obsessively protecting our lives and liberate us to generously give ourselves away for God’s glory and the good of others as we live as citizens of his kingdom.
Discussion Questions:
How are you prone to redefine the nature of discipleship (following Jesus) to better fit your expectations, assumptions, and desires?
Are you guilty of rebuking God in any way? (often displayed in our attitude toward suffering)
Have you embraced the requirements of following Jesus?
What areas of self-will remain that need God’s grace to work?
Where are you prone to indulge your flesh rather than deny it?
Where do you resist (or even resent) what following Jesus costs you?
Are there ways that you have denied self and counted that cost that you can humbly rejoice over as evidence of your discipleship?
What is most likely to threaten your allegiance to Christ? Confess these things and trust that God wants to give you his grace to change your heart so that you joyfully “count all things as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus [your] Lord” (Philippians 3:7-11).
How do your values align with God’s values? How are they not aligned? What needs confessed and repented of?
Rather than raise up in self-protective defense, go low in humble confession. Jesus promises to meet you in your weakness and in your need to give you sufficient grace for a life of obedience.
Remember that your lack is not the issue. Jesus makes full provision. His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10). Ask him to meet you there, in your weakness. Confess honestly and boldly where you are more devoted to self than to Christ. Trust him to be merciful and to cleanse you. There is no condemnation and he will keep making you holy for his name’s sake. Rejoice in this!
Does Jesus’ word in 16:27 scare you or comfort you? Why? How does Jesus’ work on the cross bring hope and comfort as we learn to deny self, carry our cross, and follow him? (see Romans 8:28-32; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonian 5:23-24; Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-16; 10:14-18; 1 John 1:9-2:6)
August 27, 2023
August 27, 2023 • Pastor Josh Kee • Matthew 16:1–12
Matthew 16:1-12 Sermon Information
Series: Simple Obedience
Title: “Simple Faith in the Risen Christ”
The Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ request (16:1) - "Give us a sign”
The irony is that Jesus had been doing many signs and wonders, proving that he is the Messiah (see Matt 14:13-21; 15:29-39)
The religious leaders did not want a sign in order to believe, but to accuse Jesus
Jesus’ response (16:2-4) – “Discern the times”
The sign of Jonah – repeated from 12:38-42
Jesus’ resurrection would serve as the ultimate sign of his identity and validate his teaching
The testimony of Jesus’ Person and Work are sufficient for saving faith
Q: What motivates our tendency to desire signs in order to trust God in our lives?
The disciples’ dilemma (16:5) – “We forgot bread”
Jesus’ warning (16:6) – “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees”
It only took a small amount of leaven to affect the whole dough (see Matt 13:33)
There was a much greater danger than the lack of basic needs
“leaven” = unbelief; self-righteousness = rejection of Jesus
Unyoked-ness to Christ
The disciples’ confusion (16:7) – “No bread = No leaven”
Jesus’ rebuke (16:8-11)
Scarcity is not the issue; unbelief is the issue
The disciples had become preoccupied with earthly matters (see Colossians 3:1-3)
The disciples’ understand (16:12)
Jesus is firm, yet patient, as he helps the disciples see through the temporal to the spiritual
Rejoice that we have God’s Spirit to lead us into truth (John 16:13; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 2:10-16)
Main Point:
Preoccupation with our own welfare (Will God provide?) often causes us to lose sight of God’s kingdom.
Jesus had already taught the disciples that:
He came to provide righteousness (5:17-18)
God is their Father, who knows their needs and cares for them (6:8, 32)
They were to pray for “daily bread,” trusting God for their provision (6:11)
They were not to be anxious about their necessities (6:25-34)
The parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23, 22)
When we are fixated on God’s Kingdom (Matt 6:33) we will not be preoccupied with temporary concerns
Question: Are you building your life in such a way that you don’t need God?
Such a life may be marked by a sense of security but void of glory and any lasting treasure (Matthew 6:19-21, 24; 1 John 2:15-17)
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes didn’t need Jesus because they had their law (and their enhancement of the law – fences)
God hasn’t asked us to build fences for our security but to enter into Christ by faith and remain in by faith, through our connection with his body in community
“Therefore, when a proud wit and supernatural knowledge revealed meet together, the proud heart storms and loves to struggle, and devise this thing and that thing to commend itself; and hereupon comes heresies, the mingling of natural wit with divine truths.” (Richard Sibbes, A Glance of Heaven, Works, vol. 4, pp. 156-59)
Discussion Questions:
Where are you prone to become preoccupied with the temporal matters of life and lose sight of the eternally significant matters of God’s Kingdom?
Where are you most prone to distrust God’s provision?
How does genuine faith that God is our Father who knows our needs and promises his provision free us to “seek first [God’s] kingdom and righteousness”?
Are you building your life in such a way that you don’t need God? Does anything need to be rearranged (repented of)?
How does your involvement in Christian community protect and nurture your faith? How does neglect of community put you in spiritual danger?
Read the following passages and rejoice at God’s abundant provision:
John 1:1-16; Romans 3:19-21; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Colossians 1-2; Hebrews 10:1-16; 1 John 1:1-2:14
Confess any areas of fear, worry, unbelief
Write down any ways you are prone to earn or achieve righteousness on your own
August 20, 2023
August 20, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 15:1–20
Theme: Simple Obedience vs. Legalistic Tradition
Passage: Matthew 15:1–20
Problem: Religious people can display outward actions of devotion and worship while inwardly being distant from God (1–9).
What are we to do?
1. Grasp this truth: Our hearts are the true source of defilement (10–11).
2. Leave the legalists alone (12–14).
3. Nurture your heart with God’s truths (15–20).
Application Questions:
· Why do you suppose religious people, including many Christians, like to establish traditions and rules to follow? Which are some that we have established for ourselves today?
· What is wrong with traditions and rules, as seen in Jesus’ teaching here? Does this mean we should eschew traditions and rules? Why or why not?
· How can we know whether our devotion to God as seen in our words and actions is coming from pure or defiled motives? What can be done to ensure they aren’t defiled?
· Is it ever appropriate to confront legalists and legalism? If so, how?
· What can you do right now to nurture your heart with God’s truths?
