Glencairn Church

Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend or on you own. Its aim is to create time for you to spend with God and his word. Do as much or as little as you like. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our pastoral staff.

1. Pray for the needs of your Life Group, for our church and our leaders, for personal and corporate renewal, and to allow God’s word to transform us. Share a recent entry from your Life Journal with the group.

2. Despite John the Baptist’s work of preparation (ch 3), people still couldn’t see Jesus as the Messiah (ch4). In Luke 5, we see Jesus giving us a preview of what the Kingdom of God is like, healing and calling people into a new life with Him. The healing of the leper and paralyzed man is far more than just that; it revealed the heart of a King who moves towards the marginalized and is eager to forgive. What thoughts or questions did the message raise for you? Which ones encouraged you or posed a challenge to you?

3. Read Luke 5:12-16. Leprosy was a dreaded disease, and those who had it were almost completely cut off from any community (couldn’t work, live in the city, or go to the temple to worship). Can you think of other people groups today who have experienced similar exclusion from community? Have you ever felt that way? What impact does this have on a person (emotionally, mentally, sense of self, relationally and religiously)?

4. Read Luke 5:13 again slowly. Place yourself in the story as a leper. What are you experiencing in that moment? How can we beJesus to those who have been excluded from community?

5. Read Luke 5:17-20. How would you describe the character and faith of the four men (also Mark 2:3)? The character and faith of the paralyzed man?

6. Why do you think Jesus’ first response was to forgive the man’s sins? It seemed obvious he came for physical healing (5:15), and there is no record of him asking for forgiveness. How would you describe the character of Jesus?

7. Read Luke 5:21-24. What is harder for Jesus to do – to heal, or to forgive? Why? Read 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 3:25 and consider Christ’s sacrifice.

8. Are you willing to love the marginalized? How has the King spoken to you today? Take a moment of silence to consider how God is speaking to you through these verses. Is He asking you to make changes or to do something new? What concrete steps of response do you want to take? How can your group support you in these steps?