MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390

I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism

I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point

I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve

I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups

Dig Deeper:
1. From what you’ve learned and unpacked during this sermon series, how have you trusted God more or grown in your relationship with Him?
2. Read Mark 2:1-2. Describe some of the reasons a person would decide to come to a house to hear Jesus. How is this similar or different than how people respond to Jesus today?
3. Describe what the scene at the house probably looked like.
4. Read Mark 2:3-4. How do you think the paralyzed man felt in this moment? Do you identify with him? Why or why not?
5. Who do you think these men were who brought the paralytic man to the house? What do you think was their motive?
6. What decisions do you think they had to make together to lower the man, and the mat he was lying on, into the house? How do you think they came to this decision? Why do you think they came to this decision?
7. How might the people in the house, or those trying to get into the house, have reacted to the paralytic man being lowered into the house?
8. Read Mark 2:5. How does Jesus react to their decision? Whose faith did Jesus see? Why is this important?
9. Read Mark 2:6-7. Why do you think the “teachers of the law” were there amongst the crowd?
10. Describe a time when you, or someone you know, experienced something that seemed like a big distraction and mess, but it was actually an opportunity to share about Jesus.
11. Read Mark 2:8-11. What does Jesus focus on first, his spiritual healing or his physical healing? Why?
12. How does Jesus address the teachers of the law? Why do you think he chose those words over others? How do you think they immediately responded?
13. Read Mark 2:12. How do you think they responded after the man got up?
14. What is the significance of the man taking his mat with him? Why couldn’t he just leave it there?
15. Review the order of events in this encounter. Why were they intentional? Describe different scenarios where the outcome could have been different. Ultimately, why did it happen exactly the way it did?
16. What are some things you learned about Jesus through this encounter? What are some things you learned about yourself?

Live It Out:

Jesus commands us to love God and to love others. He commands us to go and make disciples of all nations. Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Who are you bringing to Jesus? Spend some time honestly answering that question. Consider what holds you back from bringing people to Jesus. Are you shy or afraid of what someone else might say if you share your faith? Are you unsure how to share your faith with someone else? Are you looking inward to your own circumstances instead of seeing who is in need around you? What is the main reason that holds you back?

Then, consider how you can step over that hurdle today to remove that barrier. Do you need to sign up for a small group so that you can be in community with others who are actively sharing their faith with others? Do you need to publicly proclaim Jesus as your Lord and Savior at our next baptism on June 30? Do you need to make sure your calendar this week includes reaching out to someone who needs to know Jesus, or meeting a new neighbor you’ve never met before? Whatever that next step is, take it! Spend time with God, praising Him and thanking Him for all he has done in your life. Ask Him to give you a boldness to take that next step in your faith.

Reading Plan:
Monday: Mark 2:1-5
Tuesday: Mark 2: 6-12
Wednesday: Mark 2:13-17
Thursday: Mark 2:18-28
Friday: Luke 5:17-26
Saturday: Matthew 9:1-7