JANUARY 26
UNSTOPPABLE FORGIVENESS
In this passage, we witness the unstoppable power of Jesus’ forgiveness. Jesus isn’t just offering a one-time fix—His forgiveness shakes the earth, changes hearts, and heals lives. This isn’t just “good news”—this is life-altering, jaw-dropping, can’t-stop-it-now forgiveness.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own or get together with your group, spiritual running partners, or family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Describe a time when you were attempting to address what you thought was a small problem, only to realize something much bigger was going on. What happened?
- Do you prefer solving problems, or identifying why the problems exist in the first place?
- Read Mark 2:5-12.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about God?
- What do you learn about humanity?
- What is Jesus revealing about himself based on his interactions with those in this passage?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
4. The crowds who came to Jesus were often enamored with what he did or said more than they were with who he said he was. What are some ways a person today might become fixated on the things of Jesus, rather than on Jesus himself? How have you seen this show up in your own life?
5. To what extent would you say you’re walking in the grace and forgiveness Jesus offers? If not, what holds you back? Are there any ways in which you try to earn the grace and forgiveness Jesus offers, rather than just receive it?
Mark 2:5-12 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.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?
KEY SCRIPTURE
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat 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 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!”
PRAYER
Thank Jesus for offering grace and forgiveness in your direction. Make this a short prayer you pray every day this week to re-center yourself in the reality of what Jesus has done for you. Then ask Jesus for a growing desire to walk each moment in this free gift of grace he offers—we could never earn it anyway! Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom to know how you might be trying to earn your way to grace, and let this cycle of prayer repeat: thanksgiving, walking in grace, growing in wisdom.
PRACTICE
Jesus’ response in this story was prompted by the faith of someone’s friends. Who you surround yourself with matters! How can you take steps toward growing in community this week? Invite a friend or neighbor to coffee. Send someone a message letting them know you’re praying for them. Take advantage of Gateway’s Groups Expo over the next couple of weekends to explore all the current opportunities that are available to connect—then jump in.