Noticing, Reaching, and Healing: Living Christ's Mission

 

Summary

In today's sermon, I focused on the transformative power of Jesus Christ and how His actions serve as a model for our own lives. Jesus was a noticer, a reacher, and a healer, and these three roles are crucial for us to embody as His followers.

Jesus, during His time on earth, performed many miracles, but each miracle began with Him noticing those in need. He saw the overlooked, the marginalized, and the suffering. He did not turn a blind eye to them, as was the case with the leper He encountered. This man, covered in leprosy, was used to being ignored and shunned, but Jesus noticed him and chose to engage with him.

Jesus was also a reacher. He reached out to those who were considered untouchable by society. In the case of the leper, Jesus did something radical; He touched the man, breaking social norms and demonstrating His willingness to reach out to those in need of healing. This act of reaching out was a powerful display of love and compassion.

Furthermore, Jesus was a healer. He didn't just notice and reach out; He brought healing to those He encountered. When the leper approached Jesus, he said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus responded affirmatively, "I am willing," and healed him instantly. This healing was not just physical but also a restoration of the man's dignity and place in society.

As followers of Christ, we are called to notice those around us who are in need, to reach out across social divides, and to bring healing through our actions and words. We are to be instruments of God's love, showing courage to step out of our comfort zones and to share the transformative power of the gospel.

In the sermon, I also addressed the importance of not becoming obsessed with the miracles themselves but rather with Jesus, the one who performs them. Miracles are signs that point us to Christ, and we must seek Him, not just the benefits He can provide.

Finally, I challenged the congregation to live out these principles, especially during this Easter week. To be on mission with Jesus means to be a part of the ongoing resurrection story, where lives are transformed from death to life through the power of the gospel.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus noticed the needs around Him, and so should we. By attuning our hearts and ears to those in our midst, we can identify the "three little knots" in people's lives—indications that they are in need of God and community. This awareness is the first step in bringing transformation to the world. [15:17]

- Reaching out, as Jesus did, requires us to cross boundaries and connect with those who may be different from us. It's not about the contagion of their struggles but the contagion of our healing presence. When we touch lives with love and compassion, we become conduits of God's healing power. [16:55]

- Healing is not just about physical ailments; it's about spiritual restoration. The greatest miracle we can participate in is leading someone to a relationship with Jesus. This eternal healing surpasses all temporary fixes we could offer. [25:33]

- The power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us through the Holy Spirit. This means that we carry the potential for miraculous change within us. Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of Christ's resurrection. [24:25]

- Living on mission with Jesus means actively seeking to notice, reach, and heal. It's about being courageous in sharing our faith and inviting others to experience the life-changing love of Christ. This Easter, let's commit to being agents of resurrection in our communities. [29:25]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 5:12-16 - The story of Jesus healing the man with leprosy.
2. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
3. Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the leper's request to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond? ([02:08])
2. How did Jesus' actions towards the leper break social norms of that time? ([16:55])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of noticing those in need around us? ([10:44])
4. According to the sermon, what are the "three little knots" that indicate someone is in need of God and community? ([15:17])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus noticed the leper before performing the miracle? How does this reflect on our own need to be aware of those around us? ([10:44])
2. What does it mean for us to be "reachers" like Jesus, especially in the context of crossing social boundaries? ([16:55])
3. How does the sermon explain the difference between seeking miracles and seeking Jesus Himself? Why is this distinction important? ([19:06])
4. How does the power of the Holy Spirit in us relate to the miracles Jesus performed, according to the sermon? ([24:25])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you noticed someone in need but chose not to act. What held you back, and how can you overcome that barrier in the future? ([10:44])
2. Think of a person or group in your community that is often overlooked or marginalized. What specific steps can you take this week to reach out to them with love and compassion? ([16:55])
3. The sermon challenges us to not just seek the benefits of Jesus but to seek Jesus Himself. How can you shift your focus from what you can get from Jesus to simply being with Him? ([19:06])
4. Identify a situation in your life that seems impossible. How can you bring this to Jesus in faith, believing that He can and will act? ([21:22])
5. The sermon mentions the importance of being on mission with Jesus and being agents of resurrection in our communities. What is one practical way you can live this out during this Easter week? ([29:25])
6. How can you attune your ears to the "three little knots" in conversations with others? Share a recent conversation where you might have missed these signs and how you can be more attentive in the future. ([15:17])
7. The sermon encourages us to have "seven days of insane courage." What specific action will you take this week to step out of your comfort zone and share your faith with someone? ([26:11])

Devotional

Day 1: Attuning to the Overlooked
In a world bustling with noise and distraction, it is easy to overlook those who are silently struggling around us. Jesus exemplified the importance of being attentive to the needs of others, especially the marginalized and the suffering. He noticed the overlooked, like the leper who society had cast aside. This awareness is the first step in bringing transformation to the world. By attuning our hearts and ears to those in our midst, we can identify the "three little knots" in people's lives—indications that they are in need of God and community. This intentional noticing is not a passive act; it is a deliberate choice to see beyond our own lives and to recognize the value and needs of others. [15:17]

"But when he heard it, he said, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'" (Matthew 9:12-13)

Reflection: Who in your community is like the overlooked leper, and how can you actively notice and engage with them this week?

Day 2: Crossing Boundaries with Compassion
Jesus was not only a noticer but also a reacher. He crossed societal boundaries to connect with those deemed untouchable. The act of reaching out to the leper was a radical display of love and compassion, breaking the social norms of His time. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same—to cross boundaries and connect with those who may be different from us. It's not about the contagion of their struggles but the contagion of our healing presence. When we touch lives with love and compassion, we become conduits of God's healing power, reflecting the heart of Jesus in our actions. [16:55]

"And he said to him, 'Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.'" (Luke 17:19)

Reflection: What social divide can you cross this week to reach someone with the healing presence of Christ's love?

Day 3: Spiritual Restoration Beyond Physical Healing
Healing, in the context of Jesus' ministry, was not limited to physical ailments; it encompassed spiritual restoration. The greatest miracle we can participate in is leading someone to a relationship with Jesus, which offers eternal healing that surpasses all temporary fixes. This healing restores dignity and place in society, as seen in the healing of the leper. It is a holistic approach that addresses the deepest needs of the human soul. [25:33]

"And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, 'If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.' Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well." (Matthew 9:20-22)

Reflection: How can you be a vessel for someone's spiritual restoration today?

Day 4: Living Testaments of Resurrection Power
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives within us through the Holy Spirit. This means that we carry within us the potential for miraculous change. Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of Christ's resurrection, showcasing the hope and new life that is possible through Him. As we live out our faith, we become beacons of this resurrection power, inspiring others to seek the life-changing love of Christ. [24:25]

"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate the resurrection power in your life to those around you this week?

Day 5: Agents of Resurrection in Our Communities
Living on mission with Jesus means actively seeking to notice, reach, and heal. It's about being courageous in sharing our faith and inviting others to experience the life-changing love of Christ. This Easter, we are reminded to commit to being agents of resurrection in our communities, participating in the ongoing story of transformation from death to life through the power of the gospel. [29:25]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15)

Reflection: What specific action can you take this Easter to be an agent of resurrection in your community?

Quotes

1) "Jesus is a noticer... every time Jesus does a miracle it starts with him noticing that the problem. Jesus's first miracle he's at a wedding in a city called canaa they run out of wine... and Jesus does a miracle he turns water into wine and he saw that there was a problem and he steps in and he meets it." [11:14]( | | )

2) "Jesus is a Reacher... in that world you didn't touch a person Afflicted with Leprosy... but Jesus understood something... what was on Jesus healing he touches the man and it says instantly the leprosy is healed... Jesus breaks the social norm and he touches someone who's really nothing like him so that a miracle can happen." [16:55]( | | )

3) "Jesus Is A Healer... the man says to Jesus if you are willing and Jesus says I am... he can and he will... the Jesus who said yes to this man to heal him of his leprosy He Is A Healer then okay ready and if he was the same then that he is now that means he's a Healer now." [21:22]( | | )

4) "if Jesus is healer... that means that we should be healers... the same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive and living in you... every Miracle Jes Jesus did you can see happen in your life... you're a carrier of the power of the spirit of God." [24:25]( | | )

5) "the greatest healing that you and I get to offer to the world is the Forgiveness that only Jesus can offer... there is no greater Miracle than a person entering into relationship with Jesus period... miracles happen all the time so why wouldn't you be on Mission with Jesus especially on a week like Easter." [25:33]( | | )

6) "if Jesus is a noticer then we should be noticers... we cannot reach what we cannot see... we live with what I would call unintentional blindness... how can you reach the world for Jesus if you're blinded to them... your ears need to be attuned to the three little knots we have to listen and see the world around us to reach the world around us." [15:17]( | | )

7) "Jesus understood that if word got out that he had power to heal leprosy what else could he do... people would confuse the gifts and The Giver of the gifts... Christians should not become obsessed with the signs but with the one to whom they point... people would pursue him for what they get out of him instead of pursuing him to just be with him." [19:38]( | | )

8) "Jesus thank you that the miracle happened the healing flowed through you but Jesus we want to take what you did and we want to apply it to our life and our world... help us to notice the world around us those far from you help us to be willing to reach out not to keep it to ourselves but to reach out and God I pray for miracles to flow through this church." [28:50]( | | )

9) "Jesus... he was a noticer he was a Reacher but number three I love this it says Jesus Is A Healer... the greatest healing that you and I get to offer to the world is the Forgiveness that only Jesus can offer... there is no greater Miracle than a person entering into relationship with Jesus period." [25:33]( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?