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 continue to trust that this is true when it doesn’t feel like it is?

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,” (James 4:2). Why is it that we sometimes do not ask?

6) In Matthew 15:28, Jesus said to the Syrophoenician woman, “O woman, great is your faith!” This is similar to Matthew 8:10, where he says of a Roman centurion, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. What is the significance of these two commendations both being made of Gentiles as opposed to people who are part of the covenant community?

Some questions to consider as you listen to this week's message:

1) Usually when we talk about hypocrites, we mean someone who says one thing but does another. With the Pharisees, it was a little different. How exactly were they hypocritical, and are there ways in which we act that way?

2) Sunday we discussed how the way to true holiness comes from God, not from man. Are there ways that you are tempted to find your holiness in outward adherence to man-made traditions?

We must be people of the word like Bereans of Acts 17:11 (“…they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”) and we must be people of prayer as instructed in James 1:5 (“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”). What practices, habits or disciplines are there in your life to help make this more true of you?

3) In Matthew 23:23, Jesus condemns the Pharisees for neglecting “the weightier matters of the law” while following tiny outward details. What are these weighty matters? (Hint: Look up Micah 6:8 and Amos 5:21-24.)

4) Our culture tells us that all our problems are “out there” and that if we want to find a solution, we merely need to look within. God’s word tells us though that our deepest problems come from within, namely an impure heart. How can we get a pure heart?

5) In verses 21 & 22, Jesus gives a long list of the evil things that emanate from our hearts (“evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness”). It is easy for us to see these in the world, but as has been said, if your church constantly calls OTHERS to repent of THEIR sins & rarely calls YOU to repent of YOUR sins, then you're probably attending the wrong church. Take time this week to ask God to unmask areas in YOUR heart where these areas of sin might be lurking so that you might repent of them.

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, he came in the midst of their need and in all the power of God. How is this a picture of the gospel?

5. The disciples were terrified when they thought they were seeing a ghost (v. 50); they were “utterly astounded” when they realized it was Jesus (v. 51). How is “the fear of the Lord” different from simply being scared?

6. Just as the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years (Mark 5:25-34) was healed through touching Jesus’ garment, so here, “as many as touched it were made well” (v. 56). What is the key element present both for the woman and for those in this passage?