Open with prayer.
Get to Know You (10 Minutes)
Who is someone that has made a lasting impact on your life and why?
Observation & Discussion (30 Minutes)
Mark 2:1-12
“When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
- What does this passage teach us about the power of faith?
- Jesus challenges the religious leaders by saying, “Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? Why do you think Jesus forgave this man’s sins before healing his body?
- How do you think this man’s life was changed because of his friends faith and actions?
- What are some practical ways we can bring people to Jesus in faith whether that be physically, spiritually or emotionally?
Next Step (10 Minutes)
Who is someone you can have faith for and be a friend to, just like the men in Mark 2?
Prayer Requests (5 Minutes)
Pray with your group to close.
Challenge
Have faith for a friend this week and consider taking your next step to:
Pray for them.
Invite them.
Go with them.
Consider going to church in the community where you live.