The Fruitlessness of Empty Religion

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Apr 19, 2015 by: Dale Thiele | Series: Learning Jesus Scripture: Mark 11:11-25 Tags: fig tree, empty religion, saving faith
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Learning Jesus
The Fruitlessness of Empty Religion
Mark 11:11-25

  • The Odd Activity of Jesus: Cleansing the Temple & Cursing a Fig Tree
  • Dissecting “Empty Religion”
  • A Faith that Engages the Head, Heart, & Hands

Questions for Further Study or Group Discussion

  1. Read Mark 11:11-25. What stands out to you in this passage? Why do the actions of Jesus in this passage seem so odd to us?
  2. Mark uniquely orders the pieces of the story here to create a “sandwich,” with the fig tree incident bookending the temple incident. How does this structure help us understand the meaning of both of these actions?
  3. What is “empty religion”? Explain how our self-love naturally drives us to empty religion.
  4. How does faith counter empty religion? Why does true, saving faith need to engage the head, the heart, and the hands? What does this mean and look like in your life?

 

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