Pete Scribner Sermons

This week's study/review questions for Mark 7:31-37: 1) Many scholars suggest that Jesus spent as much as one fourth of his three years of ministry in gentile territory. What does this tell us about the breadth of his role as the Jewish Messiah, and what impact does that have on us? 2) In Mark 5:1-20, we read of the healing of a demoniac, who subsequently “went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled” (5:20). How do the events of this week’s text display about the impact of his proclamation in that region? 3) In what ways did the deaf man’s friends care for him and act as a blessing to him? How can we act as a blessing to our friends? 4) In what ways does Jesus accommodate himself to the deaf man? How has he accommodated himself to you? 5) What things has Jesus done for you? Are they worthy of sharing with others? 6) There are times when our experiences make it harder for us to believe that Jesus truly “does all things well” (v. 37). How do we

This week's study/review questions: 1) Read 1 Kings 17:8-24. What similarities do we see between that text and this week’s sermon text (Mark 7:24-30)? Do you think these similarities are just coincidental? If not, what conclusions should we draw? 2) The woman in this passage probably did not have the depth of theological knowledge that the Scribes and Pharisees had, nor did she adhere to the Old Testament ritual purity laws. What did she have that they lacked? 3) The prayer of faith is not just a prayer that is full of faith, but one that emanates from faith (i.e., “a confident trust in Christ Jesus”). How do we gain this kind of faith/trust? 4) The woman in today’s text appeals to Jesus on the basis of his mercy (as opposed to her merit). What things might tempt you to appeal to God on the basis of your merit or achievements? 5) Scripture tells us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,” (Matthew 7:7) and, “You do not have because you do not ask

Some study questions to think about, pray about, and perhaps go a little deeper in reviewing Sunday's sermon: 1. Three times in this passage (vv. 45, 50, 54) Mark uses the word “immediately” to describe the action, as he commonly does this throughout his gospel. What can we take from his frequent usage of this term? 2. Sometimes we see that Jesus goes off to pray by himself in the morning. Here, he does so in the evening. What can we learn from his example about the importance of prayer? 3. Sometimes people suggest that if we are just faithful, then life will be easy. The disciples, though, faced the danger and difficulty of the storm specifically because they were faithful in doing what Christ had told them to do. Have you ever experienced times of suffering even as (or specifically because) you are being faithful? 4. Even though they didn't realize it, Jesus was watching. And when Jesus “saw that they were making headway painfully,” (v. 48), we read that “he came to them, walking on the sea.” In short,