Talk It Over ...
Sermon Discussion Guide
Simply Amazing: When Life Encounters Jesus
Part 3: When You've Missed the Cut

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God

Colossians 1:15a

Everywhere that Jesus went people were amazed by the miracles he performed. Even today He performs amazing miracles in people's hearts and lives. A stage magician can perform illusions that seem like miracles, but they are just tricks. An illusion does not reveal the power of God, while a miracle displays God's power and glory. Jesus performed miracles on people who had shame in their lives. Shame makes us think "who am I that God would use me?" However, Jesus demonstrates His power through our problems. The miracles Jesus did show us His characteristics. Healing the blind man shows He is powerful. His contact with the sick woman who touched His robe in the crowd shows He is personal. The reaction of Jesus to the woman caught in adultery shows He is forgiving. If we believe in and follow Him, He can work miracles in us as well. Jesus can give us a depth of appreciation, a new passion, a deepening of love and a desire for obedience. What a miracle, for sinners such as us.

Open your group with a prayer.

This is only a guide. Pick and choose your points.

ENCOUNTER 1: JESUS IS POWERFUL.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. "Teacher," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?"

John 9:1-2

What did the people assume the reason was for the man's blindness?

  • How do people treat blind people today vs. back then? What are the differences? The similarities?
  • How do you think the blind person felt most of his life?

"It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered, "He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him."

John 9:3

What reason did Jesus give to the cause of the man's blindness?

  • When something bad happens in life, why is it easy to feel ashamed?
  • How does shame affect our faith?

Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and smoothed the mud over the blind man's eyes. He told him, "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam"... So the man went and washed, and came back seeing!

John 9:6-7

How did Jesus heal the man's blindness?

  • Why do you think Jesus used unexpected means to heal the man?
  • How open are we to accept or recognize these means of answers to prayers?

ENCOUNTER 2: JESUS IS PERSONAL.

Jesus went with him (Jairus) and the crowd thronged behind. And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors through the years and had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she was worse.

Mark 5:24-26

What was the main reason this woman was in the crowd?

  • Since bleeding meant this woman was unclean in the religious culture, she was to keep away from others. What might her greatest need have been?
  • We all have problems that don't seem to get better. What are some ways we try to get help?

She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched the fringe of his robe. For she thought to herself, "if I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed."

Mark 5:27-28

Being careful not to touch Jesus Himself, what did she do? What did she expect?

  • Whatever her needs, what important step did she take in her encounter with Jesus?

Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel that she had been healed! Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" His disciples said to him, "All this crowd is pressing around you. How can you ask, 'Who touched me?'"

Mark 5:29-31

What were the three immediate results of her reaching out to Jesus?

  • Did you know that Jesus' power is so available to us? In what other ways might we gain power from Him?
  • How did the disciples observations remind you of our own reactions to Jesus?

But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith had made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed."

Mark 5:32-34

What six reactions did the woman have to Jesus' question? What was Jesus' three part response to her?

  • No matter how lonely or sick we feel, what are believers always able to have in Christ?
  • Jesus said her "faith" had made her well - or healed her. What was that "faith" based on? Can we have the same faith today?

ENCOUNTER 3: JESUS IS FORGIVING.

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

John 8:1-3

Who was around Jesus when the Pharisees brought the woman to Him?

  • When a sin is exposed, why does it seem more shameful when it's exposed to a lot of people?
  • How can it seem safe to sin when nobody else knows about it?

"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

John 8:4-6

What did Jesus do instead of giving the Pharisees an answer to their request?

  • Can you give some examples of what God has done in situations that seem unconventional at the time?

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!"

John 8:7

What did Jesus say the Pharisees have to do before they could throw the first stone at her?

  • Jesus was teaching love, not the law and was refusing to judge. How can we judge less and love more?
  • Why do people like to judge the sins of others instead of seeking forgiveness for their own sins?

Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

John 8:8

Does the verse above tell us what Jesus wrote?

  • Although we are not always clear what Jesus does, we should be clear what He says. What are some ways we can learn more about what and how we should live according to Jesus?

When his accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

John 8:9

Who was left alone with Jesus? What did the accusers do?

  • Why is it important to know we can be alone and personal with Jesus?

Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?"

John 8:10

What did Jesus ask the woman?

  • How is it comforting when Jesus is there even when we are shamed and embarrassed by others?

"No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

John 8:11

Did Jesus condemn her or forgive?

  • God's forgiveness sets us on the right path, it's a miracle. How does forgiveness help us?
  • What are we supposed to do according to the verse above after forgiveness? How can we do this?

BONUS ENCOUNTER: FOR ME, I WILL...

As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"...

Luke 17:12-13

How did the lepers address Jesus?

  • How do other people besides the lepers need and ask for mercy in the world today?
  • How are we similar or different from the lepers needing mercy from God?

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!" He fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done... Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?

Luke 17:15-17

How many lepers came back to Jesus after being healed?

  • Why didn't the other nine return to Jesus? How are the attitudes of people today similar to this story?
  • Are we more like the one leper praising God or more like the nine who disappeared after healing?

DISCIPLESHIP – It is only through a personal relationship that the power of Jesus can change our lives. Sometimes past shame for our thoughts or deeds makes us hesitant to accept the forgiveness Jesus offers. Think of what you feel shamed about and turn it over to God in prayer. At the next meeting discuss how turning the shame over to God felt (you don't have to say what you felt shame about unless you want to).

Take a moment to review any assignments/challenges made during the personal application and commitment section of your previous meeting. Seeing God at work in the lives of those who commit to Him is essential for growth.

PERSONAL APPLICATION AND COMMITMENT:

Too often we mistake worldly illusions for miracles. Gods' forgiveness is a true miracle but what is our response to it? Will we be like the lepers who were healed but not grateful, or will we be like the leper who praised and thanked Jesus? If we accept God has the power to heal us and the heart to forgive us, why would we not pursue the personal relationship He can provide?

This week write a prayer of thanks to God for what He has done in your life and be ready to share it with the group next time. If you find yourself judging someone harshly, this week, write the phrase "let those who have never sinned throw the first stone" and pray about the situation.