This week our sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part II: A Journey through Galilee underscores the power and authority of Jesus to forgive the paralytic’s sins and to heal him of his physical ailment. As the man’s friends lovingly carried him to Christ, we are to likewise do our part and faithfully carry the mats of those around us suffering from spiritual paralysis.

Tyler’s Main Points

• The role of community in treating spiritual paralysis is to carry one another to Jesus.
• Forgiveness comes by faith and not by works.
• Jesus has the authority to forgive sins and heal you of spiritual paralysis.

Key Takeaways

• In this passage, Jesus’s healing of physical paralysis authenticates His power and authority to heal man of spiritual paralysis.

• The belief that Jesus could heal and their love for their brother compels the group in this story to carry their friend to Jesus.

• Oftentimes, we try to change others through compulsion, persistence, or coercion, but to achieve true change we must first admit we are powerless to change one another.

• Our only hope for true change is Jesus. The best thing we can do is carry others to Christ.

• We carry each other to the God of the Word through the Word of God.

• When others are suffering from spiritual paralysis, we are to 1) remind them of Jesus, 2) encourage them to place their faith in Jesus, and 3) pray for them.

• Christ doesn’t begin with the paralyzed man’s most visible need, but rather his most pressing need— his sinfulness.

• No matter how much good we do, the guilt of our sins remains. However, we can receive full forgiveness and right standing before God through faith in Christ.

• As prophesied in Daniel 7, Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of Man— the promised Messiah who would usher people of all nations into a new everlasting kingdom through the forgiveness of sins.

• As Tyler warns, many people today may have the false assurance of salvation because they have made a profession or prayer without sincere faith. A prayer apart from sincere faith in Christ is empty.

• Ultimately, it is not a prayer that saves, but faith in Christ that saves.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

• In what areas of your life are you most resistant to asking for help? As a result, how has your pride affected you and those around you?

• Who in your life is there to carry you to Christ in your time of need? Who can you carry to Christ this week?

Discuss with your community group:

• Particularly during times of struggles and sorrow, how can you grow as a group in reminding each other of Jesus, encourage each other to trust in Jesus, and pray for one another?

• Is there anything specific facing you this week that will allow your group to put this plan into practice.

Passages Referenced 
Luke 5:17-26; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 4:1; Daniel 7:13-14; Romans 10:9-10.

Worship Set List

You Are, Psalm 150 (Praise the Lord), The Lord is My Salvation, Holy Holy Holy, No Other King