Breaking Barriers: The Call to Courageous Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Bold Faith Breaks Barriers

Faith inspires believers to take bold, unconventional steps to ensure others can encounter Christ. Just as the friends in the Gospel of Luke went to great lengths to bring their paralyzed companion to Jesus, Christians are called to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of sharing the gospel. This may require creative and courageous actions, but the impact can be life-changing for those who experience the love and power of Christ. [37:43]

Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Reflection: What barriers are you facing that might be preventing you from sharing your faith with others? How can you act boldly to overcome them?

Day 2: The Church's Vital Mission

The true measure of a church's vitality is its dedication to the Great Commission, not its adherence to tradition or the comfort of its members. A church that prioritizes evangelism and service over personal preferences demonstrates a healthy commitment to its core mission. This focus on outreach ensures that the church remains dynamic and purposeful in its community. [42:13]

Matthew 28:19-20 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Reflection: How can your church community better align its activities and focus with the Great Commission?

Day 3: Perseverance in Ministry

Ministries like Embrace Grace exemplify the power of perseverance. Even when faced with challenges, steadfastness in ministry can lead to significant impacts on individuals and communities. The transformative power of the gospel shines through when love and dedication are at the forefront of service, revealing the depth of change that can occur in people's lives. [47:57]

Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Reflection: Can you think of a time when you wanted to give up on a ministry or service opportunity? What might have happened if you had persevered?

Day 4: Community and Healing

The collective nature of faith is highlighted in the story of the paralyzed man and his friends. It shows the importance of community support in the journey toward healing and spiritual growth. Personal testimonies and acts of service are not only a means to lead others to faith but also a way to strengthen the bonds within the Christian community, fostering an environment where everyone can grow together. [54:39]

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
Reflection: How can you contribute to building a stronger faith community that supports its members in both spiritual and practical ways?

Day 5: Following Jesus' Sacrificial Example

Jesus Christ's incarnation, death, and resurrection are the ultimate examples of sacrificial love and breaking through barriers. His actions provide a model for believers to emulate in their efforts to share the gospel and bring others to an encounter with God's grace. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody this same selfless love in our interactions with others. [57:50]

Philippians 2:5-8 - "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
Reflection: What does it mean for you to follow Jesus' example of sacrificial love in your daily life? Can you identify one action you can take this week to demonstrate this love?

Sermon Summary

In a compelling narrative centered around the theme of courageous faith and active discipleship, the story of friends who literally wrecked a roof to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus is used as a metaphor for the Christian call to bring others to Christ. This narrative, drawn from the biblical account in the Gospel of Luke, serves as a powerful illustration of the lengths to which faith can drive individuals to ensure that others have an encounter with Jesus.

The setting of the story is Capernaum, a modest fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, which during Jesus' time was bustling with activity, including the presence of religious leaders curious about Jesus' healing powers. The narrative focuses on a paralyzed man whose friends, upon hearing of Jesus' miraculous works, are determined to bring him to Jesus for healing. Despite the obstacles presented by the crowds surrounding Jesus, these friends refuse to be deterred. Their faith and determination lead them to take an unconventional approach by carrying their friend to the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching and lowering him down to be in Jesus' presence.

This act of faith is not only a literal breaking through barriers but also symbolizes the spiritual and social barriers that followers of Jesus are called to overcome in their mission to share the gospel. The friends' actions demonstrate a profound belief in Jesus' power to transform lives, a belief that is central to Christian discipleship.

The narrative also touches on the contemporary church's mission, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the gospel over personal preferences and comfort. It is suggested that a church's longevity and vitality are directly linked to its commitment to evangelism and service to others. The story of a ministry called Embrace Grace is shared as an example of perseverance and faith in action. Despite initial setbacks and challenges, the ministry's leaders continued their efforts, eventually witnessing the transformative power of the gospel in the lives of single mothers and their children.

The sermon concludes with a call to individual and collective action, urging believers to be willing to make sacrifices and step out of their comfort zones to bring others to Jesus. It is a reminder that every Christian has a responsibility to share the love and grace of Jesus, just as others have done for them. The ultimate example of sacrificial love is found in Jesus himself, who "wrecked the roof" by leaving heaven to offer salvation to humanity through his death and resurrection.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 5:17-26 (NIV) — > One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

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Observation Questions

What actions did the friends of the paralyzed man take to bring him to Jesus? ([32:11])
How did Jesus respond to the faith of the paralyzed man and his friends? ([49:36])
What was the reaction of the Pharisees and teachers of the law to Jesus' declaration of forgiveness? ([52:07])
What was the ultimate outcome for the paralyzed man after his encounter with Jesus? ([53:14])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the friends of the paralyzed man were so determined to bring him to Jesus, even to the point of "wrecking the roof"? ([34:03])
How does the story of the paralyzed man and his friends illustrate the concept of overcoming obstacles to share the gospel? ([38:13])
What does Jesus' initial focus on forgiving the man's sins before healing him physically suggest about his priorities? ([50:08])
How does the story of Embrace Grace reflect the perseverance and faith demonstrated by the friends of the paralyzed man? ([47:57])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you faced obstacles in sharing your faith. How did you overcome them, or what could you have done differently? ([34:03])
The friends of the paralyzed man showed great faith and determination. Who in your life needs you to "wreck the roof" to bring them to Jesus, and what steps can you take to do that? ([35:59])
Jesus prioritized the forgiveness of sins over physical healing. How can this perspective shape the way you pray for and minister to others? ([50:08])
The sermon emphasized the importance of not quitting in our efforts to share the gospel. What are some practical ways you can persist in evangelism, even when faced with discouragement? ([34:42])
The story of Embrace Grace shows the impact of perseverance in ministry. How can you support or get involved in a ministry that aligns with your passions and gifts? ([47:57])
Think about the comfort and preferences you might need to set aside to prioritize the mission of sharing the gospel. What specific changes can you make in your life or within your church community to better focus on this mission? ([40:47])
Jesus' sacrificial love is the ultimate example of "wrecking the roof." How can you embody this sacrificial love in your daily interactions and relationships? ([57:50])

Sermon Clips

"When the preferences of the church members are greater than their passion for the gospel, the church is dying." [42:13] (Download)

"We're here today because people for generations have been wrecking roofs, people for generations have been willing to say we will put aside our preferences, our desires, our whatever because there's a world out there who needs to know Jesus." [42:48] (Download)

"Their faith is not in them, their faith is in Jesus, and they just know that if they could get their friend in front of Jesus, he could heal them. Their faith that this could happen is so big they'll do something crazy, they will literally wreck a roof." [37:43] (Download)

"Jesus really is the hope of the world, he really is the only answer for hopelessness and suffering and just seeing what these moms have walked through and being able to offer them life change and hope is just the most incredible thing." [47:57] (Download)

"I strongly believe in the power of Jesus to change lives. I do not believe in the power of John to change any life at all. I believe in the power of Jesus to change lives." [48:59] (Download)

"We are being the crowd when the experience of those inside the house is prioritized over the needs of those outside the house. We're here not just for us; we're here for the world." [40:47] (Download)

"God may we be that kind of church, a church who is not so consumed by our own comfort but instead we are consumed with the lost, we are consumed by the fact there are people out there who are dying without you." [57:18] (Download)

"Jesus, we praise you because you are the one, you are the ultimate roof wrecker; you wrecked the roof when you came down from heaven to this Earth to give your life for our sins, when your body was wrecked on the cross so that we could be healed." [57:50] (Download)

"I declare that this is going to be a year of tearing off the roof at Anderson Hills Church, that we are called by God to be a place where people can be let down right in front of Jesus, where they can experience Jesus." [56:38] (Download)

"We do not quit because Jesus changes lives and it's not our power, it's his power. So we don't quit praying for those who don't know Jesus, we don't quit serving them, we don't quit loving them, we don't quit sharing about what Jesus is doing in our lives." [34:03] (Download)

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