New Day: Discussion Guide

Start Up Questions:  Can you share a time when you were spiritually, emotionally or physically stuck?  How did you get un-stuck?

Read the story Matt shared from Mark 2 (below)

1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

When Jesus is in the house stuff really begins to happen.  Jentezen Franklin referred to 6 words to describe the elements of this story:

•  Anticipation
•  Proclamation
•  Unification
•  Restoration
•  Confrontation
•  Manifestation of Glory

Each of these elements is represented in this story. Where in the story can you identify these words?

Obstacles are the things we see when we take our eyes off the goal. Everyone is this story faced obstacles some overcame them others did not.

Ask:  What were the obstacles found in the following people in this story:

•  The paralytic
•  The teachers of the law
•  The four friends of the paralytic
•  Jesus

Read Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Note the word weight could also be translated hook or obstacle.

•  How can we “lay aside” the obstacles we face today?

• Ask what obstacles are you facing right now?

We see another truth of faith in the middle of obstacles, as Jesus delivered someone from demon possession.  The disciples failed. Jesus succeeded.

Read Matthew 17:19-20 

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”  20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

 Note that Jesus is speaking metaphorically about obstacles and larger than life problems.

Jesus identifies two things that will move obstacles that seem insurmountable: Faith and Spiritual disciplines.

How’s it going with your reliance on God and Spiritual Disciplines?

Spend some time sharing and praying for God’s power in the middle of obstacles.