"Truly Natural"

The title for this sermon series comes from a quote by theologian Jurgen Moltmann:

"Jesus’ healings are not supernatural miracles in a natural world. They are the only truly ‘natural’ thing in a world that is unnatural, demonized and wounded.”

We often think of Jesus' healings as "defying nature," but the truth is that they show us how the world was intended to be. God created the world to be free of illness, disease and injury. In the fall, humans made creation unnatural, corrupting it with sin. In his healings, Jesus gives a glimpse of what the natural order, as God intended it, was made to look like.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is presented primarily as a healer. In this sermon series, we will be looking at Jesus' healings in Mark, seeing how these healings show us what God intends for creation and for our lives.

SERMON OUTLINE:

I. "Blind Bartimaeus"

II. "He began to shout"

III. "He cried out even more loudly"

IV. "Your faith has made you well"

V. Prayer

NEXT STEPS:

1) Reflect on all the names you've lifted up to God for healing during this time of Lent.

2) Figure out ways to continue praying for them regularly as Lent concludes.

GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1) Why do you think Mark tells us of Blind Bartimaeus right before Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, instead of what the other Gospels tell us at this point of the story?

2) What do you notice most about Blind Bartimaeus? What stands out to you about him?

3) How do you normally pray to God? Is there a certain time, place, or practice that guides your prayer?

4) In what ways might Blind Bartimaeus be a model for how we pray to God?

5) Why is prayer important?

6) Of the healings we have looked at it in this sermon series, which stands out to you the most and why?

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