Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults

Listen to this week’s leader training podcast with Y Bonesteele, team leader for The Gospel Project for Adults, for a summary and guidance in leading your group.

This week’s additional resources for study and preparation:

• Article: “Whose Faith Did Jesus See?” by James Jackson
• Sermon: “Through the Roof Neighbors” by Brady Cooper
• Sermon: “Faith and Forgiveness: Insights from Mark 2:1-12” by Eric Alexander

Transcript of Leader Training Podcast:

Hi, this is Y Bonesteele, team leader of the Gospel Project for Adults. Welcome to another Leader Training podcast. Today we are in Unit 23, Session 1: Faith and Forgiveness, with the core passage of Mark 2:1-12, and with the key concept of: Jesus has the power to forgive, especially when He sees committed faith.

In the gospel of Mark, we’ve already seen Jesus start His ministry with the casting out of demons and healings. In today’s passage, we’ll see Jesus do more.

In Mark 2:1, Jesus was back in Capernaum and “he was at home.” The Gospel Project Commentary on page 63 states that “home” could “refer to His own house (see Matt. 4:13) but probably refers to the home of Simon and Andrew, where Jesus previously stayed (Mark 1:29,33, 35) as the form of expression indicates a familiar location.” People already heard of Jesus and His acts and miracles so many came and gathered there as “he was speaking the word to them” in verse 2. Jesus was always about preaching the message of the good news and salvation. His actions and miracles went hand in hand with His speaking.

But so many people gathered there that it was difficult to get near Jesus. So four friends carrying their paralytic friend wanted that friend to get closer to Jesus. They may not have known what Jesus would do when He met him, but they had enough faith to believe that Jesus would do something good. So they took him to the roof, probably a flat roof made of thatch, clay, and branches, and removed a portion of it, digging through it, enough to allow them to lower their friend. They thus were able to lower their paralytic friend down into the house for Jesus to see.

A few things here: These friends were determined. They were selfless. It wasn’t for themselves; it was for their friend. They were strategic—they thought out of the box and didn’t give up when they saw the crowds. And they took action—their faith, believing that Jesus could help their paralytic friend in some way, compelled them to do all they could to make sure Jesus saw him. This is true faith and true ministry. One that is looking out for others, pointing them to Jesus, and taking action with strategy and determination, all with a focus on Jesus, thinking out of the box for the sake of their friend. Jesus is definitely the focus here, but we would not cover the whole passage well if we did not point out the friends’ faith, as Jesus Himself did.

Verse 5: “Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” There’s something powerful about bringing others to Jesus in faith. The four friends had the faith to bring their paralytic friend to Jesus, perhaps hoping Jesus could heal his paralysis, but the first thing Jesus said was, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” There’s a lot in that one statement. He first called him ‘Son,” showing acceptance in a family. Perhaps he hadn’t heard from his family in long time. Those with diseases could be a burden to their families. Society at that time thought diseases and sin were linked, which could lead to social isolation. Scripture didn’t mention his family, but it was these four friends that really cared about him. He needed to hear that Jesus called him, “Son.” Jesus also saw this man’s “sins”. Even if his sins weren’t connected to his paralysis, indeed he had sins, as we all do. Jesus saw it and forgave him. Jesus knew exactly what this man needed to hear. His deeper need was forgiveness of sin, and thus, the riddance of shame and guilt as well. Because of this man’s friends’ faith, his deeper need of spiritual and emotional healing was met.

If someone who knew nothing about Christianity asked you to define “faith,” what would you say? Let the group share and point to p.53 of the Personal Study Guide, which is related to p. 67 of the Leader Guide for a fuller definition of faith.

What deeper need do you want Christ to satisfy in your life right now? Feel free to take a short moment to let your group pray quietly about their deeper needs at this point.

At this point in the narrative, some of the scribes sitting there, questioned in their hearts. They doubted Jesus’s ability to forgive and said internally, “ ‘Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ ” in verse 7. Jesus, being fully human and fully God knew that they thinking this and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.” And, of course, when Jesus commands, it happens. The man immediately got up, took his mat, and went out in front of everyone. Imagine everyone’s joy and amazement!  Everyone was “astounded and gave glory to God,” never having seen anything like what Jesus could do before.

What has Christ done recently that causes you to be astounded and give Him glory? You will have varying answers here.

What is better—to be healed of a physical ailment or a spiritual one—and why? Though physical healing is pretty amazing, spiritual healing is definitely better as your eternal soul will live forever with God in Christ for those who believe.

And thus, as the Gospel Connection states, “Jesus, as God, has the power to heal a person spiritually and physically. This is ultimately seen through His resurrection that gives us salvation and forgiveness of sin through our faith and trust in Him. One day our bodies also will be gloriously resurrected as a result of our spiritual healing.

On to the Group Experience, start with the icebreaker activity, giving each person a piece of paper and engaging in the activity on page 70 of the Leader Guide about Authority. Transition with the idea of authority and how Jesus had authority as God. Move into the Context highlighting more of Jesus’s authority. Display Pack item 7: Christ as Priest to review how Jesus serves as our Great High Priest.

Recap and ask what was noticeable about Jesus’s authority in the narrative. Move to the Group Activity, recreating the chart: Jesus’s Power over All on a board. Divide your group into 3-6 smaller groups, dividing the 6 rows between the groups. Have each group write down Jesus’s actions and the People’s Response in light of Jesus’s Authority over the various subjects in the first column. Answers can include for:

Evil Spirits (Mark 1:23-28): Jesus told the unclean spirit to be quiet and come out of the man, and it came out of the man.  The people responded in amazement, seeing Jesus’s authority, and they spread news about Him.

Sin (Mark 2:1-7): Jesus told the paralytic his sins were forgiven. The scribes responded in their hearts, doubting Jesus, thinking He was blaspheming because only God can forgive sins.

Physical Ailments (Mark 2:8-12): Jesus told the man to get up, take his mat, and go home. The paralytic did. In response, the people were astounded, and they gave glory to God.

Religion/Tradition (Mark 3:1-6):  Jesus, on the Sabbath, healed a man with a shriveled hand by telling him to stretch out his hand. In response, the Pharisees and Herodians plotted to kill Jesus.

Nature (Mark 4:35-41): Jesus rebuked the wind and told the sea to be still. In response the disciples were terrified and wasn’t sure who Jesus was to have so much authority.

Death (Mark 5:35-43): Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter to life, taking the daughter by the hand and telling her to get up. In response, those there were astounded.

Ask, “As you look at the chart, what do you think is the hardest aspect of authority to believe Jesus has control over and why?” There is no right answer here. Your group will have varying answers.

“Why do you think the scribes in today’s passage pushed back against belief in Jesus’s authority?” Possibly because God had been silent for so many years. And here is a man claiming to be God. Anyone religious or nonreligious would probably have had the same reaction. “What might have drawn the man who was paralyzed and his friends to believe in Jesus’s authority?” They might have heard or witnessed Jesus’s other miracles or saw something different in Jesus, His character, His demeanor.

Mention that Jesus doesn’t always do what we expect. He told the man his sins were forgiven before He healed his paralysis. Ask: “If people had a prayer need for sickness, for financial help, or for marriage or relationship problems, what are some possible deeper needs there?” Perhaps peace, less stress, restoration of relationships, wanting to feel secure.

Note that Jesus is our ultimate authority, yet He is never authoritarian. He is compassionate, loving, and gracious and always wants the best for us. But He knows what “the best” is, better than we know for ourselves.

 Debrief with: “When is it difficult for you to receive the forgiveness Jesus has the authority to give you?” Perhaps we feel guilty for going our own way. Perhaps we feel a lot of shame for past actions.  Sometimes it’s difficult to feel God’s forgiveness.

“Even with having faith in God’s forgiveness, when is it difficult for you to forgive others?” When we feel hurt or pain or trauma. Intense emotions make it difficult to forgive others. When we can’t see beyond our hurt, it’s difficult to forgive.

Summarize and answer just the Hands question if time is limited. Display Pack Item 8: Jesus Forgives Sin and ask: “With whom can you share that Jesus clearly claimed to be God?” Maybe a neighbor, family member, co-worker, or even stranger.

Move into Next Steps as additional application points and take prayer requests and praises. And if time permits, pray through Psalm 121:1-2, “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Hey, thanks for joining me on another Leader Training podcast. Write me at [email protected] and hope you have a great group time!