Faithful Friends: Carrying Each Other to Christ
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound narrative of Jesus healing a paralyzed man in Mark chapter 2, focusing on the lesser-highlighted aspect of the story: the role of the friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus. This passage not only recounts a miraculous healing but also illustrates the power of community, the significance of sharing the good news, and the essence of true friendship.
The sermon began by drawing attention to the phrase "it was heard that He was in the house," emphasizing the importance of spreading the word about Jesus. This act of sharing is more crucial than securing a front-row seat for ourselves. It's about prioritizing the spiritual well-being of others over our own convenience. The woman with the issue of blood, who was healed after 12 years of suffering, serves as a testament to the life-changing power of hearing about Jesus.
We then transitioned into discussing the importance of financial stewardship in ministry, acknowledging the necessity of resources to carry out God's work and expressing gratitude for the congregation's generosity.
The core of the message revolved around the concept of "power connections" and the transformative impact they can have on our lives. The friends of the paralytic demonstrated this by not only informing others about Jesus but taking the initiative to bring their friend to Him, despite the obstacles they faced. Their determination to break through the roof to lower their friend down to Jesus exemplifies a faith that takes action.
The sermon concluded by challenging the congregation to evaluate the nature of their friendships. Are they "contrived" or "connected"? True friends are those who not only celebrate with us but are also willing to carry us to Jesus for our breakthroughs. They are the ones who will not hesitate to break through barriers for our sake.
Key Takeaways:
- The act of sharing the presence of Jesus with others is a profound expression of love and prioritization of their spiritual needs over our own. It's a reminder that our role as believers is not to hoard the good news but to spread it, ensuring that those around us have the opportunity to encounter Christ. [50:32]
- True friendship in the context of faith is not merely about companionship but about being willing to carry each other to Jesus, especially when one cannot do so on their own. This kind of friendship reflects the selfless love that Christ has for us and calls us to emulate in our relationships with others. [55:03]
- The faith of friends can be instrumental in bringing about healing and forgiveness in someone's life. It's not just the faith of the individual in need but also the collective faith and actions of their community that can lead to a breakthrough. This teaches us the importance of a supportive faith community. [01:00:04]
- Our friendships should be intentional and transformative, not superficial or detrimental. The people we surround ourselves with will influence our character and our journey with God. It's crucial to cultivate relationships that build us up and draw us closer to Him. [01:00:46]
- While non-believers can be good friends, they cannot be "breakthrough friends" because they cannot lead us to Jesus. It's important to have friends who share our faith and can support us in our spiritual walk, carrying us to the One who can truly transform our lives. [01:06:31]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Mark 2:1-12 (The story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man)
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial reaction of the crowd when they heard that Jesus was in the house? ([48:31])
2. How did the friends of the paralyzed man demonstrate their determination to bring him to Jesus? ([55:39])
3. What was Jesus' response when He saw the faith of the friends? ([59:23])
4. How did the friends of the paralyzed man overcome the obstacle of the crowded house? ([56:48])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the friends of the paralyzed man were so determined to bring him to Jesus, even to the point of breaking through the roof? ([55:39])
2. What does the phrase "it was heard that He was in the house" signify about the importance of spreading the word about Jesus? ([49:11])
3. How does the story of the paralyzed man and his friends illustrate the concept of "power connections"? ([55:03])
4. What does Jesus' reaction to the friends' faith teach us about the role of community in spiritual healing and breakthroughs? ([59:23])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current friendships. Are they more "contrived" or "connected"? How can you cultivate more connected and supportive relationships? ([01:00:46])
2. Think about a time when you needed help but were unable to ask for it. How can you be more proactive in seeking support from your faith community?
3. How can you be more intentional about sharing the presence of Jesus with others, especially those who may not know Him? ([50:32])
4. Identify a friend or family member who might need a "breakthrough" in their life. What practical steps can you take to support them and bring them closer to Jesus? ([55:03])
5. How can you ensure that your friendships are not just about companionship but also about spiritual growth and support? ([01:00:04])
6. Reflect on the importance of financial stewardship in your life. How can you contribute more effectively to your church's mission and outreach? ([46:10])
7. Consider the non-believers in your life. How can you be a good friend to them while also being mindful of the limitations in terms of spiritual support? ([01:06:31])
Devotional
Day 1: Sharing Jesus: An Act of Love
The act of sharing the presence of Jesus with others is not merely a kind gesture; it is a profound expression of love. It is the prioritization of their spiritual needs over our own comforts and conveniences. When one hears that Jesus is present, it should stir a desire not just to seek Him personally but to bring others into that sacred space where they too can encounter the transformative power of Christ. This sharing is not about boasting of one's proximity to the divine but about extending an invitation so that others may also experience the healing and wholeness that comes from Jesus. It is a reminder that believers are called to be conduits of the good news, ensuring that those around them have the opportunity to encounter Christ. [50:32]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:4 ESV
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus, and how can you intentionally share His love with them this week?
Day 2: The Essence of Faith-Filled Friendship
True friendship within the context of faith goes beyond mere companionship; it involves a willingness to carry each other to Jesus, particularly when one is unable to do so on their own. This kind of friendship mirrors the selfless love that Christ has for us and calls us to emulate in our relationships. It is about being present in the trenches, not just in the times of celebration. Such friends are those who understand the spiritual battles and are ready to intercede, to lift up, and to break through barriers to bring their friends to the feet of Jesus for healing and restoration. [55:03]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 ESV
Reflection: Consider the friendships you have. How can you be a more faith-filled friend to someone in your circle this week?
Day 3: The Collective Faith of Community
The faith of friends can be a powerful force in bringing about healing and forgiveness in someone's life. It is not solely the faith of the individual in need that matters but also the collective faith and actions of their community. When friends join together in faith, their unified efforts can lead to breakthroughs that may seem impossible for one person to achieve alone. This teaches us the importance of a supportive faith community that actively participates in the spiritual journey of its members. [01:00:04]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Reflection: How can you contribute to the faith journey of someone in your community this week?
Day 4: Intentional and Transformative Relationships
Our friendships should be intentional and transformative, not superficial or detrimental. The people we surround ourselves with will inevitably influence our character and our journey with God. It is crucial to cultivate relationships that build us up and draw us closer to Him. These relationships should challenge us to grow, hold us accountable, and inspire us to live out our faith more fully. They are the kind of connections that don't just happen by chance but are nurtured with purpose and care. [01:00:46]
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17 ESV
Reflection: What is one step you can take to strengthen a spiritually significant relationship in your life?
Day 5: Breakthrough Friends in Faith
While non-believers can be good friends, they may not be able to be "breakthrough friends" in the spiritual sense because they cannot lead us to Jesus. It is important to have friends who share our faith and can support us in our spiritual walk. These friends are the ones who can carry us to the One who can truly transform our lives. They understand the power of prayer, the strength that comes from Scripture, and the importance of fellowship in the body of Christ. [01:06:31]
"As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." - Psalm 16:3 ESV
Reflection: Do you have a "breakthrough friend" in your faith journey? How can you be that friend to someone else, or how can you seek out such a friendship?
Quotes
"Wrong connections create chaos. Connect with Believers and make some breakthrough friends. Unbelievers can be good friends, just not breakthrough friends because they will never take you to Jesus. They may love on you, they may hug on you, they may say, 'Man, I'm here for you if you need me,' but they will never take you to a place that they don't know. They'll never carry you there, they'll never break through a roof, but they can still be good friends." [01:06:31]
"When Jesus saw their faith, not the paralyzed man's faith, when he saw the friends' faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven you,' and he was healed. Are your friendships contrived or connected? Connected means to come together to form a single unit, link, join, combine, ally. These four were connected; they came together with their other friend who they were connected with, and they made it happen." [01:00:04]
"You will become like the five people that you spend the most time with. Be careful who you're choosing; they rub off on you. Who you choose will make you or break you. They'll make you or break you. Are they going to celebrate you or just tolerate you? Do your friends celebrate you, do they build you up, or do they tear you down?" [01:01:28]
"It was heard that Jesus was in the house. I love when I see these stories in the Bible because what it says to me is that it was more important for someone to tell someone else that Jesus is in the house than it was to run to the house and get a front row seat. It was more important to share that there's an availability to get to know who Jesus is." [50:32]
"Some people you just need to invite, that's all you got to do. Others, you need to bring them. Some people you can just invite them, you can shoot them a text, you can say something at work, and they'll be like, 'Man, I'm glad you said something, I've been thinking about that.' Other people, you need to bring them. You're going to have to bring them to get them to Freedom, to get them to experience and have an encounter with Him." [55:03]
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