CONNECT: How can Jesusʼ example better equip you to actively resist the temptations of the enemy?

WARM-UP

1. Do you think that most people in our culture consider forgiveness as really necessary?
2. Have you ever encountered a radical story of forgiveness between people?

Read Luke 5:17-21

1. Who are gathered and where did they come from? For what reason do you think they were there?
2. Why were the paralysed manʼs friends desperate to get the man to Jesus? What effort had they made?
3. How could Jesusʼ words have come as quite the shock to the paralysed man?
4. What is the deepest need that Jesus is addressing? How would that have been a shock to those listening?
5. How is forgiveness also our greatest need? Is that a controversial message today? Why or why not?
6. How do people respond to Jesusʼ claim of authority to forgive sins? Why is it so radical?
7. Read Jeremiah 31:34 and Micah 7:18-19. Does this vision of forgiveness excite you? How do we already know this in Jesus?
8. What was the significance of Jesusʼ reference to being the ʻSon of Manʼ (cf. Daniel 7:13-14)? How is Jesus being the ʻSon of Manʼ inherently linked to his authority to forgive?
9. Which is easier to say: ʻyour sins are forgivenʼ or ʻget up and walkʼ? For whom?
10. Does this mean that every person who receives Jesusʼ forgiveness is also healed physically straight away? How is this a pointer to that which is yet to come?

Read Luke 5:22-26

1. How does Jesus ultimately make forgiveness possible whilst also being perfectly just?
2. 14. How has your encounter with Jesus brought forgiveness into your life?
3. 15. Why do you think some people have difficulty in accepting Godʼs forgiveness? How is Godʼs offer of forgiveness open to every single person?

APPLY: What is one way in which forgiveness from God is evident in your day-to-day life?

On Your Frontline This Week: With schools recommencing, who do you regularly interact with in that community? How could you intentionally invest in the relationship with that parent, teacher, coach or administrator?

Listen, Watch, and Read:          

• Audio: “Luke 5:17-26” by William Taylor
• Audio (Paid): “Which is Easier” by Abraham Cho
• Book Chapter: “Where is God in all the Suffering” by Amy Orr Ewing
• Book: “Exclusion and Embrace” by Miroslav Volf
  

SERIES Resources:

• Series overview booklet
• Scripture Journal: for the Gospel of Luke. For example, https://bit.ly/3A6N9CO
• Book: The Infographic Bible by Karen Sawrey (the visualisations of the way in which people interacted with Jesus are particularly helpful)
• Book: Luke for Everyone by Tom Wright
• St Bartʼs Library Resources for Current Series‍