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What’s Really Inside Me

Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him, “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.” Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. MATTHEW 15:1-6 NLT

DISCIPLES OF JESUS MUST:

CHOOSE GOD’S TRUTH OVER WHAT IS CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4 NLT

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” JOHN 8:31-32 ESV

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'” MATTHEW 15:7-9 NLT

PURSUE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS, NOT JUST PLAY CHURCH

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. HOSEA 6:6 NLT

On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ MATTHEW 7:22-23 NLT

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” MATTHEW 15:10-14 NLT

LET GO OF PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO SEE GOD’S TRUTH

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. GALATIANS 1:10 NLT

SURRENDER OUR HEARTS NOT JUST CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOR

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.” “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.” MATTHEW 15:15-20 NLT

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. PSALM 51:16-17 NLT

WHEN WE SURRENDER OUR HEARTS, JESUS TRANSFORMS OUR LIVES

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. EZEKIEL 36:26-27 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. ROMANS 12:2 NLT

A church full of people whose lives have been transformed is the wellspring out of which revival flows.

My Notes

Discussion Questions

Use the following questions to reflect on the sermon and choose a couple from each section to discuss as a group:

  1. START HERE: How do you see people putting on a “persona” or acting differently around others? Why do you think they do that?
  2. START HERE: What about being totally authentic – with yourself, God or others – sounds appealing or freeing to you?
  3. START HERE: Describe the true state of your heart lately, particularly your feelings and desires.
  4. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 15:1-9 NLT. Why do you think it’s easier to focus on looking good or acting right rather than admit what’s really going on in our heart and mind?
  5. KEEP GOING: Where do you catch yourself “playing church” and doing spiritual things out of routine/habit, instead of pursuing a real relationship with Jesus?
  6. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 15:10-20 (NLT). Since your words reveal what’s in your heart, what do your recent conversations say about what’s going on inside you?
  7. KEEP GOING: What’s one area of your life God is inviting you to stop trying harder and instead fully surrender to Jesus? What would that transformation look like for you?
  8. KEEP GOING: Are there any relationships you need to stop pursuing so you can start focusing more on Jesus and the relationships He’s pointing you toward?
  9. LIVE IT OUT: What’s one practical step you can take this week to allow Jesus to transform how you speak, think or treat people?
  10. LIVE IT OUT: Who in your life needs to hear about the power of real heart transformation? How could you share that with love rather than correction or criticism?