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Only God Can Forgive My Past
weekend in review
In week 2 of our Only God series, we look at Mark 2:1-12, the story of the paralytic who received healing and forgiveness from Jesus. There are times in our lives when what we really need from Jesus today is not what we think we need. For us to experience all that God has for us, we must each honestly acknowledge our need for forgiveness in order to begin our journey as followers of Jesus. And we need to continue to come clean with God throughout our lives in order to experience the freedom of a fresh touch of forgiveness.
Gene encouraged us to be people who have not only been forgiven much, but who, like Jesus, forgive much.
WARM UP
Begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here are potential questions to get the conversation going.
When you begin a new adventure or new way of life, what is it that keeps you from turning back?
Did anyone have a chance to read Joshua 3 and journal? Share a takeaway with the group.
DISCUSS
Select 5-6 questions from the list below to guide your discussion time.
What do you need from God right now in your life?
What quality stands out to you most about these four friends? What can we learn about faith and friendship from these men?
How can people today bring their spiritually needy friends to Jesus?
Why did Jesus first tell the man suffering from paralysis, “Son, your sins are forgiven? What was the paralytic’s greater need?
Read 1 John 1:8. How can we make acknowledging and confessing our sins a regular practice in our lives?
In Mark 2:11 Jesus said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Gene shared how he wondered if Jesus wanted the man to carry a reminder of what God had done in his life: the sin that had been forgiven and the healing. What is a hurt that God has healed in your heart that he can use to help others? What might the first step look like?
Who in this story do you currently relate to the most: the crowd, the paralytic, the four friends, the teachers of the law, or the homeowner (with a broken roof)? Why?
What is an area of your life where you feel paralyzed and need Jesus to intervene?
Have you ever teamed up with another believer to help point someone to Christ? What are some creative ways you can team up with other Christians to help bring your lost or hurting friends to Jesus?
WRAP UP & PRAYER
Share prayer requests and spend time praying for each other.
Who are the four people who helped you most in coming to faith in Christ? Write them a thank-you note to encourage them this week.
Have a truth-telling time with yourself and God this week. Share honestly your struggles and past sins you have hidden, and acknowledge your need for a fresh touch of forgiveness.
Take a few moments to share prayer requests and pray for one another and your friends who don’t know Jesus. Ask God to open your eyes to the people around you who need to know him and feel his love.