Make sure to start off with prayer. Then choose one or more of these icebreaker questions to open up with.Hosts
Message Review
Main points and scriptures from this week's message.
- Last week we talked about digging ditches, this week we are talking about "RIPPING OFF THE ROOF!"
Mark 2:1-12
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since 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. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven....” (In verse 11, Jesus said to the man) “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 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!”- We do not know a lot about the paralyzed man, but we do know that he was surrounded by friends with faith.
- In Verse 5 it says that Jesus "saw their faith."
He saw their faith because they were acting on it.
Maybe you have never thought of your "acts of faith" as affecting/influencing God's work in your life.
Maybe you thought that God is going to do what God wants to do, regardless of what you do.
- When we show God our faith, God shows us His faithfulness.
Repeatedly in scripture, when people acted in faith, God responded with His faithfulness.
- The first act of faith for the guys in this story was to get past the crowd.
Sometimes we allow people to get between us and God.
- If we want to see God work in our lives we have to keep our minds open to the possibilities that seem impossible
Hebrews 10:39
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
I don't know what your next act of faith looks like. But I do know this, you cannot shrink back. We are not a people who shrink back, we are God's people.
Message Discussion Questions
Read the following guidelines before starting your group discussion.
- Answer the question specifically. Avoid tangents and try to stay on target.
- Limit your responses to 1-2 minutes per question.
- Use I, me, or we statements. This is a time for personal reflection, not a time to fix others.
- Each person is free to share without interruptions when sharing within the suggested guidelines.
The following questions will help guide your discussions and give your group some opportunities to open up and share.
- Who are some people in your life that had faith even when you did not? How did they impact your life?
- Do you ever let people get between you and God? Explain.
- It says that Jesus "saw their faith." What can you do to show your faith in Jesus?
- What areas of your life do you have more faith in than others? (Relationships, Finances, Emotions, Family, Health, Spiritual, Serving)
- What dreams or aspirations do you have that can seem impossible?
- What is your next "act of faith?"
Live It Out
Encourage your group to start doing. Commit to a step, and live it out this week.
- Write down a dream or aspiration that seems impossible, and below it write down a list of the "acts of faith" it would take to achieve your dream.
- Write down a list of 3 people in your world that you want to invite to church.
- Pray over your lists, and ask God for the strength to act in faith.
Closing Thoughts
- Finish group with prayer requests and praise reports.
- More resources always available here: Small Group Resources