Walking Thru Storms (week 3) – Accessibility and Availability
Icebreaker: Could you describe a situation when someone went the extra mile to help you or you help someone?
Mark 2:1-5 1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
1. Why, today with all the social media access, do many still feel isolated and lonely? Why is social media and text making the matter worse?
2. What is the difference between being accessible and available in human relationships?
3. How accessible was Jesus to the crowd? (Mark 2:1-2, Luke 5:16)
Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
4. Why did Jesus make Himself available this time to the man who came through the roof?
5. How did these men make themselves available to the paralytic? What does the text say about these men’s relationship to the paralytic?
6. Whose faith did Jesus respond to? As people of faith, why do faith in action and availability go hand in hand?
7. To whom should we make ourselves available? (Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 10:29-37, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Romans 12:10)
Matthew 5:43–47 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Luke 10:29–37 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
8. Whose mat (brokenness) can you carry (faith in action) at this time?
Mark 2:6-12 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
9. Why did some teachers of the law want to foil the effort of these men?
10. What resistance have you faced when trying to be available to help/serve?
11. How did Jesus squelch the resistance?
12. In the aftermath, what did the mat mean to the lame man and his 4 friends since Jesus told him to take it with him?
13. What was the end result of this biblical account? How can we accomplish the same outcome when helping others?
14. Why is meeting together in Sun Grove Circle groups a good way to become accessible and available to help? (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.