Series Focus: Love Like Jesus
Use this guide to lead your family. In each guide, you will find a parenting affirmation to help you focus on God's call on you as a parent/guardian. Then, you will find a Scripture passage from the New International Reader's Version of the Bible. When you are done reading, there are discussion questions to help your family talk about what you read. Feel free to add to or skip questions as time allows. At some point during the week, it would be extra special to plan to do the optional Family Activity.
Parenting Affirmation: I will live in the moment today by engaging with and loving my kids with abandon. Read Psalms 118:24
Read: 2 A few days later, Jesus entered Capernaum again. The people heard that he had come home. 2 So many people gathered that there was no room left. There was not even room outside the door. And Jesus preached the word to them. 3 Four of those who came were carrying a man who could not walk. 4 But they could not get him close to Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole by digging through the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the man through it on a mat. 5 Jesus saw their faith. So he said to the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 Some teachers of the law were sitting there. They were thinking, 7 “Why is this fellow talking like that? He’s saying a very evil thing! Only God can forgive sins!”
8 Right away Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Is it easier to say to this 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 Jesus spoke to the man who could not walk. 11 “I tell you,” he said, “get up. Take your mat and go home.” 12 The man got up and took his mat. Then he walked away while everyone watched. All the people were amazed. They praised God and said, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2:1-12
Discussion Questions:
A man just came through the roof, and the people surrounding Jesus were concerned that Jesus forgave his sins. What do you think your reaction would be to seeing a man lowered through the roof of a house on a mat?
Why does our reaction to this matter? (our reaction shows where our focus is)
The friends of this man knew that their friend needed help now! Who do we know that needs help now?
Jesus healed the man, but also gave Him something so much bigger, forgiveness of sins. When we look for ways to help people we should also find ways to show them love and share the gospel with them.
How could we help the people who need help now and help point them to Jesus at the same time?
Who can help us pray for the people on our list and our reaction to how to help them and share Jesus? Let's pray.
Family Activity: On the sheet of paper you used last week, add the names of people who need help now. Include ways you can help and share Jesus. As a family, find one way this week to help one person on your list.
Use this guide to lead your family. In each guide, you will find a parenting affirmation to help you focus on God's call on you as a parent/guardian. Then, you will find a Scripture passage from the New International Reader's Version of the Bible. When you are done reading, there are discussion questions to help your family talk about what you read. Feel free to add to or skip questions as time allows. At some point during the week, it would be extra special to plan to do the optional Family Activity.
Parenting Affirmation: I will live in the moment today by engaging with and loving my kids with abandon. Read Psalms 118:24
Read: 2 A few days later, Jesus entered Capernaum again. The people heard that he had come home. 2 So many people gathered that there was no room left. There was not even room outside the door. And Jesus preached the word to them. 3 Four of those who came were carrying a man who could not walk. 4 But they could not get him close to Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole by digging through the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the man through it on a mat. 5 Jesus saw their faith. So he said to the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 Some teachers of the law were sitting there. They were thinking, 7 “Why is this fellow talking like that? He’s saying a very evil thing! Only God can forgive sins!”
8 Right away Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Is it easier to say to this 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 Jesus spoke to the man who could not walk. 11 “I tell you,” he said, “get up. Take your mat and go home.” 12 The man got up and took his mat. Then he walked away while everyone watched. All the people were amazed. They praised God and said, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2:1-12
Discussion Questions:
A man just came through the roof, and the people surrounding Jesus were concerned that Jesus forgave his sins. What do you think your reaction would be to seeing a man lowered through the roof of a house on a mat?
Why does our reaction to this matter? (our reaction shows where our focus is)
The friends of this man knew that their friend needed help now! Who do we know that needs help now?
Jesus healed the man, but also gave Him something so much bigger, forgiveness of sins. When we look for ways to help people we should also find ways to show them love and share the gospel with them.
How could we help the people who need help now and help point them to Jesus at the same time?
Who can help us pray for the people on our list and our reaction to how to help them and share Jesus? Let's pray.
Family Activity: On the sheet of paper you used last week, add the names of people who need help now. Include ways you can help and share Jesus. As a family, find one way this week to help one person on your list.