LOVING OTHERS WITH PURITY Mark 7:1-21 Pastor Alan Dionson August 13, 2023
BIG IDEA: Honor God by committing to have a pure heart, not just by following acts of religious tradition.
Introduction:
1. The central problem of impurity
2. The contrasting approach to purity
A. THE REMEDY OF IMPURITY
1. Emphasizing tradition over biblical authority (v. 1-5,8)
2. Engaging external practices over internal holiness (v. 6-7)
3. Exercising the peripheral issues by ignoring the central truth (v. 8-13)
B. THE ROOT OF IMPURITY
1. Impurity is skin-deep (v. 17-19)
2. Impurity is due to our sinful nature (v. 20-23)
C. THE RESTORATION OF PURITY
1. Purify your hearts by keeping a good conscience (1 Timothy 4:12)
2. Pay attention to the Holy Spirit’s conviction (Psalm 119:9-11)
3. Pursue the reflection of purity by looking up to Christ (1 John 3:2-3)
4. Pray always that God will create in you a pure heart (Psalm 51:10-12)
Conclusion
Jesus warns us that it is not the outward things that make us impure but rather the inward things like “evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness” that make us impure. May you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to approach, repent and receive God’s grace giving us a “clean heart.”
