Sermon Based Group Homework
For the message on May 2, 2021
Passage: Mark 12:28-31; Hebrews 3:7-9, 12-13
QUICK REVIEW
This Sunday, Mike began a new series on the greatest commandment called “Love God. Love People. Repeat.” In this first message, Mike challenged us to develop an obedient heart towards the Lord.
Looking back at your notes from Sunday’s message, was there anything you heard for the first time, caught your attention, or challenged you?
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
What is the one household chore that you always put off and never get around to doing?
LET’S GO DEEPER
1. In the Bible, “to hear” means to obey. If we read the Bible, sit in a Bible study or attend church and yet don’t do anything about what we hear, we are not hearing God in the Biblical sense. What insight can you glean from the following passages about what it means to truly listen to God?
Proverbs 2:1-5 (NLT2)
1 My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.
Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT2)
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
James 1:19-22 (NLT2)
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
When have you clearly heard from the Lord? What did He say? What did you do with what you heard?
2. One of the problems that we encounter when it comes to listening to God obediently is procrastination. What do the following passages say about hearing God?
Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT2)
23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
Hebrews 3:12-15 (NLT2)
12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 15 Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”
James 4:17 (NLT2)
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Why is it dangerous to procrastinate or put off until later our obedience to God?
When have you struggled with obeying the Lord in a timely manner? What did it cost you?
3. Israel wandered in the wilderness outside the Promised Land for 40 years because of a hardened heart. By the end of the 40 years the people were discouraged and weary and wanted to return to Egypt. When we get discouraged in our journey, we will be tempted to lose heart, doubt, and give up. What did the writer of Hebrews say was the key to overcoming discouragement?
Hebrews 3:12-13 (NLT2)
12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT2)
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Who has given you encouragement recently in your walk with Christ?
Who are you encouraging in their walk with Christ? How?
4. In the message, Mike said “It’s difficult to love God and love people when we have a heart that is hardened by selfishness, pride, sin and rebellion.” What preventative measures can you take to keep your heart from being hardened to the voice and love of God?
TAKE IT HOME
1. What is your biggest takeaway from this sermon and study?
2. Do you have any prayer requests for your group?
Prayer Requests:
