Pete Scribner Sermons

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,