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- Step 5
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GETTING STARTED
Loading the player...If NASA discovered the perfect planet, perfect in every way, there’s one thing we must never, ever, do; put human beings on it! Why not? You already know the answer! We’d spoil it, pollute it and fight over it.
There is something wrong. There is something more. There is something better.
- Perfection Lost
- World Cursed
- Relationship Spoiled
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PIT STOP
If there is a God, then isn’t he responsible for the mess this world is in?
Some people point the finger at God but remember that God made the world perfect to begin with. He gave human beings the responsibility to look after his world but sadly they did not want to take care of it, they wanted to take control of it. The world has never been the same since.
Do you think human beings are capable of sorting out this world’s biggest problems?
It’s great to know that there are so many people and organisations who care enough to try and make this world a better place. But however hard we try and however much money we spend this world doesn’t seem to be getting any better, only worse. Maybe it’s because we are only tackling the symptoms of the problem when we should be focusing on the cause (sin).
Do you ever sense there’s something more or long for something better?
Next stepMaybe these deep feelings and emotions are longings for the perfect world we once had and a desire to put things right with the God whose world we have messed up.
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BACK ON TRACK
Loading the player...What if the God who made us hates sin more than anything else? What if sin separates us from him? What if sin stops us from being the person God made us to be?
If you were to create a top 10 of the world's biggest problems what would be on that list?
- Sin Spoils
- Sin Separates
- Sin Steers us in the wrong direction
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FINDING DIRECTION
In this story a group of friends refuse to let anything get in the way of them bringing their disabled friend to Jesus but what Jesus said and did next left some shocked and others amazed.
Mark Chapter 2 verse 1-12
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 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. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8 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? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 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!"
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society ® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Why do you think that so many people had gathered to see Jesus? (v1-2)
News had begun to spread. Jesus was saying and doing some amazing things, including healing the seriously ill and disabled. This was just the kind of reaction you would expect.
Did you find what Jesus said in verse 5 shocking? Why or why not?
It may sound shocking to you because Jesus seems to ignore the fact that this man was paralysed (couldn’t move). This man’s greatest need seemed obvious, he was paralysed but Jesus was more concerned about his sin.
What is sin and why is God so bothered about it?
Sin can be described in a number of ways. It is to fall short of God’s standard or it could be described as a rebellion against the loving God who made this world. It’s to reject the God who gives you your life as a gift. God is bothered about sin because of its destructive power. It has spoilt this world and it has spoilt the relationship we once had with God.
Were the religious teachers right in thinking that it’s only God who can forgive sins? (v7)
Yes, they were right. If sin is a wrong that we have committed against God, then it’s only God who can forgive that sin. The teachers were wrong in not believing that Jesus was God.
Find two things in the story which prove that Jesus was in fact God and therefore able to forgive sins. (v8, v10-12)
Jesus heard their thoughts and he healed a man who couldn’t move just by speaking to him.
Which was easier, to forgive his sin or heal him completely?
Jesus asked this same question to prove a point – both are impossible for ordinary human beings. The answer we should come up with is that only God can forgive sins and only God can heal in this way. Jesus wants us to see his true identity as God.
The man and his friends had faith, they believed Jesus could make a difference. What difference do you think faith-in-Jesus could make to your life?
Next stepFaith in Jesus is the only way for you to have your sins forgiven.
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ARE WE THERE YET?
Loading the player...There are two things we need for the problem of our sin: forgiveness and the power to get up and live a new life. The very things Jesus came to earth to give to us. Two amazing facts were uncovered about Jesus the day he healed the paralysed man and forgave his sin.
There are two things we need for the problem of our sin: forgiveness and the power to get up and live a new life. The very things Jesus came to earth to give to us.
- God on Earth
- God on a mission