Mark 7:14-23

Mark 7:14-23

1. We see how slow of understanding men are in spiritual things.
2. We see that the heart is the chief source of defilement and impurity in God's sight.
3. We see what a black catalogue of evils the human heart contains.

"In reading the Bible and hearing sermons, everything depends on the spirit in which we read and hear. A humble, teachable, child-like frame of mind is the grand secret of success."

"If parents were half as diligent in praying for their children's conversion as they are in keeping them from bad company, their children would turn out far better than they do."

"Thoughts are the parents of words and deeds. Let us pray daily for grace to keep our thoughts in order, and let us cry earnestly and fervently, "lead us not into temptation.""

Questions:

1. Do we approach the Bible with humility and pray for the help of the Holy Spirit or are we quick to skip that part and read on our own strength?

2. Do we really believe that the primary, root problem with each person is what comes from our hearts and not from outside of us? Parents, do we spend as much time praying for the work on the Holy Spirit to give our children new hearts, or are we happy to have outward obedience or ease?

3. As we consider the list of vices, do we quickly read and move on, or do we stop to realize that these evils exist in our own hearts? Does this list humble us?

4. Does considering this list make us thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ?

5. Does this reality cause us to cry out, “Lord, keep me from temptation?” or do we feel strong in our own abilities?