Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Tradition,” pp. 395–398;“Barriers Broken Down,” pp. 399–403; “The True Sign,” pp. 404–409, inThe Desire of Ages.“Among the followers of our Lord today, as of old, how widespreadis this subtle, deceptive sin! How often our service to Christ, our communion with one another, is marred by the secret desire to exalt self!How ready the thought of self-gratulation, and the longing for humanapproval! It is the love of self, the desire for an easier way than Godhas appointed that leads to the substitution of human theories andtraditions for the divine precepts. To His own disciples the warningwords of Christ are spoken, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of thePharisees.’“The religion of Christ is sincerity itself. Zeal for God’s glory is themotive implanted by the Holy Spirit; and only the effectual working ofthe Spirit can implant this motive. Only the power of God can banishself-seeking and hypocrisy. This change is the sign of His working.When the faith we accept destroys selfishness and pretense, when itleads us to seek God’s glory and not our own, we may know that itis of the right order. ‘Father, glorify Thy name’ (John 12:28), was thekeynote of Christ’s life, and if we follow Him, this will be the keynoteof our life. He commands us to ‘walk, even as He walked;’ and ‘herebywe do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John2:6, 3.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 409.Discussion Questions:Ê What Christian practices have you found that help to keep theheart clean?Ë Who are the “unclean” people in your community? What canyou do to help draw them to the gospel?Ì Ponder, as a class, what you can do to foster sharing the gospelin simple ways with your neighbors.Í Read Mark 8:1–10, the feeding of the 4,000. What differencedoes it make for the interpretation of this passage that the crowdwas likely Gentile? Why shouldn’t it make any difference?Î How can we diligently protect ourselves from the innate desirewe all have, as fallen beings, to exalt ourselves?