Questions
(Back to Study Home Page) (Sermon April 6, 2008)
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1.
What do you remember about your very first next-door
neighbor?
2.
What responsibility do you feel toward your neighbors?
3.
In what ways do you think Christians should treat their
neighbors differently from the way non-Christians do?
4.
Why did the teacher of the law come over to speak to
Jesus? (12:28)
5.
What significant question did the teacher of the law pose
to Jesus? (12:28)
6.
How did Jesus respond to the man's question? (12:29-31)
7.
How did Jesus use Scripture in answering the question put
to Him? (12:29-31)
8.
What did Jesus say was the second most important
commandment? (12:31)
9.
How did the teacher of the law respond to Jesus' answer?
(12:32)
10.
How did the man speaking with Jesus show that He
understood God's heart? (12:32-34)
11.
What does God value more highly than sacrifices and
offerings? (12:33)
12.
How did Jesus evaluate the teacher's response to Him?
(12:34)
13.
What did Jesus mean when He said to the teacher, "You
are not far from the kingdom of God"? (12-34)
14.
How did the surrounding crowd react to this conversation?
(12:34)
15.
What do you think motivated the teacher of the law to
question Jesus?
16.
Why do you think Jesus quoted Scripture to answer the
question instead of replying with His own words?
17.
How familiar do you think this passage Jesus quoted was to
the teacher of the law?
18.
Why do you think the teacher added a note about offerings
and sacrifices to what Jesus had said?
19.
Why do you think other people were too scared to ask Jesus
questions after this conversation?
20.
What does Jesus' treatment of this teacher of the law tell
you about His own character and view of people?
21.
What do "offerings and sacrifices" have to do
with the greatest commandment?
22.
What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul,
mind, and strength?
23.
What do you think it means to "love your neighbor as
yourself"?
24.
How can we practice the greatest commandment in everyday
life?
25.
What modern-day religious practices would be like the
burnt offerings and sacrifices to which the teacher of the law referred?
26.
Why is wholehearted love for the Lord more important than outward
actions that Christians practice today?
27.
How does a person's love for God manifest itself in
everyday life?
28.
What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your
relationship with the Lord and demonstrate your love for Him?
29.
Who is one neighbor to whom you can show your love in a
practical way this week? How?
Mark 12:28: By
Jesus' time, the Jews had accumulated hundreds of laws-613 by one historian's
count. Some religious leaders tried to distinguish between major and minor
laws, and some taught that all laws were equally binding and that it was
dangerous to make any distinctions. This teacher's question could have provoked
controversy among these groups, but Jesus' answer summarized all of God's laws.
Mark 12:29-31: God's
laws are not burdensome. They can be reduced to two simple principles: love God
and love others. These commands are from the Old Testament (Deut. 6:5;
Leviticus 19:18). When you love God completely and care for others as you care
for yourself, then you have fulfilled the intent of the Ten Commandments and
the other Old Testament laws. According to Jesus, these two commandments
summarize all God's laws. Let them rule your thoughts, decisions, and actions.
When you are uncertain about what to do, ask yourself which course of action
best demonstrates love for God and love for others.
Mark
12:32-34: This man had caught the
intent of God's law as it is so often stressed in the Old Testament-that true
obedience comes from the heart. Because all the Old Testament commands lead to
Christ, his next step was faith in Jesus himself. This, however, was the most
difficult step to take.
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