For the week beginning Sunday, January 11, 2026

Text: Mark 10:1-16

SERMON RECAP

This passage appears to be about marriage, divorce, and children—but Jesus is addressing something deeper: how we respond when God's truth confronts our desires.

Three Main Layers:

1. The Design of Marriage – God's clear design vs. hardened hearts seeking loopholes
2. The Deception of Hardened Hearts – How we twist Scripture to fit our agenda
3. The Discipleship Failure – Learning truth without living it

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

SECTION 1: The Design of Marriage

Read Mark 10:1–9

- Why do you think the Pharisees were trying to "test" Jesus with this question about divorce? What were they really after?

- Jesus points back to Genesis rather than staying in Deuteronomy. What does this teach us about how to interpret Scripture? How do we avoid taking verses out of context?

- Jesus says divorce exists "because of your hardness of heart." What does a "hard heart" look like in practice? How is it different from genuine struggle or suffering?

- For those who are married: Which of the "Five Biblical Ways to Make Your Marriage Last" (sidebar) resonates most with you right now? Why?

- For everyone: How can we as a church family better support and strengthen marriages around us?

SECTION 2: The Deception of Hardened Hearts

Read Mark 10:2–5 again, focusing on verse 5

- The sermon states: "With enough mental gymnastics and lack of context, we can make the Bible say whatever we want it to say." Have you ever caught yourself doing this? What happened?

- The pastor expanded this beyond marriage to other areas where we seek "loopholes" in God's commands. What are some common areas where Christians justify disobedience? (Examples given: unforgiveness, gossip, judgment, withholding grace)

- Personal reflection (share if comfortable): Is there an area in your life right now where you're practicing "selective reading" of Scripture—emphasizing what you like and minimizing what challenges you?

- The sermon mentions we often hold firm on "big cultural issues" but abandon God's truth in "personal and interpersonal issues." Why do you think this is easier to do? What makes personal obedience harder than theological agreement?

- How do we distinguish between:

• Genuinely wrestling with a difficult Scripture passage (healthy)
• Looking for loopholes to avoid obedience (hardened heart)

SECTION 3: The Discipleship Failure

Read Mark 10:10–16

- The disciples had just learned about humility and service (Mark 9), yet immediately rebuked people bringing children to Jesus. What does this reveal about the gap between knowing and doing?

- Jesus says we must "receive the kingdom of God like a child." What does it mean to receive truth like a child? How is this different from how adults typically respond to truth?

- The sermon states: "Jesus didn't come to make people scholars. He came to make people Christians." What's the difference? How do we see this play out in church culture today?

- Challenge question: If someone observed your life this past week without hearing your words, what would they conclude you actually believe about:

• Forgiveness?
• Loving difficult people?
• Putting others first?
• Trusting God's design over your desires?

- The disciples were "well-taught, biblically fluent, spiritually unchanged." How do we guard against this in our own lives?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Write these down or take a photo:

• God defines truth—not our feelings, culture, or desires
• Hardened hearts don't reject Scripture; they reinterpret it to fit their agenda
• Knowledge without obedience produces spiritual blindness
• True discipleship means receiving God's truth like a child—without negotiation
• The real issue is never just the surface issue—it's always about surrender to Christ

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Take a few minutes of quiet to ask yourself:

- Where am I most tempted to look for loopholes in God's Word right now?

• Unforgiveness toward someone?
• Gossip or critical speech?
• Selfishness in relationships?
• Sexual purity?
• Generosity with time/money?
• Other?

- What specific truth have I been learning but not living?

- What would childlike receiving look like in that area?

Prayer of Surrender

The sermon ended with this prayer. Pray it together, slowly, allowing space for personal confession:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God.

God, You define truth. I don't always like it. My flesh often disagrees with it. But You are God—and I am not.

[Pause for silent confession]

Lord Jesus, I surrender to You— Not as a lifestyle accessory, But as King of Kings. Total surrender is my only response.

Transform my heart from stone to flesh. Help me receive Your Kingdom like a child. In Jesus' name, Amen."

BEFORE NEXT WEEK

Two Action Steps:

• Read Mark 10:17–31 (next week's passage about the rich young ruler)
• Daily prayer: Each morning this week, pray: "Lord, show me where my heart is hard. Give me a childlike heart to receive Your truth."