Walking with Jesus #8 - With A Little Help From My Friends
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Grace Church By John Demo

Walking with Jesus #8 - With A Little Help From My Friends

Our summer series, Walking with Jesus, uses a chronological approach to look at the life and ministry of our Lord. This series will provide a deeper knowledge of the life of Jesus, a greater devotion to Him, and a life-long commitment to His mission for yo

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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
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Did you know that all of the proceeds in CJ's coffee shop go to the Samaritan Fund at Grace Church?
The purpose of the Samaritan Fund is to help people in the church and in the community who are in need. The Deacon Team at Grace oversees this fund and prayerfully considers & facilitates all requests.
Due to an increase in the cost of coffee and other supplies used in CJ's, we will be increasing the cost of coffee drinks by $1.00 beginning September 6th. We want to be sure that CJ's continues to be a fundraiser for the Samaritan Fund. Every purchase you make is a donation to help people in need!
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Sunday, August 23rd - Mindy Hasselback
Wednesday, August 26th - Gloria Rolfe
Thursday, August 27th - Susie Butler, Vernie Sensiba
Friday, August 28th - Greg Schukei
Saturday, August 29th - Robert Booth
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Our summer series is called Walking with Jesus. We are looking at the life and ministry of the Lord using a chronological approach which involves a study of the Harmony of the Gospels.
In His efforts to grow the disciples, the Lord used everyday areas of life to train His team. We've referred to these as Ministry Experiences - using their lives to make a spiritual difference in others. So far in this series we've looked at four of these.
The fifth experience found in Mark 2:1-12 deals with those people we encounter in everyday life.
Within this passage there are two aspects to the training that Jesus is doing for His followers.
The first is in verses 1-5 in which Jesus healed a man suffering from paralysis and forgives His sins.
The second is in verses 6-12 where the Lord demonstrated how to respond to personal attacks and criticism.
It is the first portion, Mark 2:1-5, that we will focus on this morning.
Mark 2:1-5
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1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home,
2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.
4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
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Mark 2:1

Jesus had been away to another town on the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 9:1 tells us that "Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to His own town."
Capernaum was where Jesus had taken up residence after His departure from Nazareth.
Jesus had been traveling throughout Galilee teaching and healing people pretty non-stop. His popularity was really high.
Mark 2:1
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1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home,
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Mark 2:2
The words "they" and "large numbers" is explained in Luke 5:17.
Religious leaders have come as by now they are aware of all He has been doing. They are examining Him very intently.
They are all packed together like a "can of sardines". The doorway is jammed and the courtyard too. Jesus is preaching the Word to all of them.
Mark 2:2
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2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
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Luke 5:17
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17 One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.
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Mark 2:3
These men are more than likely friends. Amos 3:3
Out of all the places they could have been trying to get their friend, they were determined to get him to Jesus.
Question: Who has God placed in your life that needs to be brought to Jesus?
- Your job isn’t to be Jesus. Your job is to help them get to Jesus.
- You can’t save them. You can’t heal every wound. You can’t solve every problem.
- You can listen. You can build a relationship. You can pray. You can invite.
- You can tell them about Jesus, You can actually live like you believe in Jesus.
- And you can help them get started and walk with them on their journey.
Mark 2:3
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3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.
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Amos 3:3
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3 Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?
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Mark 2:4
There were real obstacles here but what separates ordinary desire from biblical faith is that faith gets creative when the obvious door appears to be closed or people are in your way.
Following Jesus requires commitment and junk-yard dog persistence.
Don't mistake an obstacle for a stop sign, when really, it's an opportunity for a spiritual surprise.
Mark 2:4
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4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
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Mark 2:5

A few thoughts:
First - Real faith can be seen.
James 2:17
Dead faith: proclaiming faith without acting in faith.
Living faith: brings about spiritual maturity, shows itself in consistent ministry in the church and community, and produces spiritual life in others.
Mark 2:5
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5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
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James 2:17
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17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
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Second - Real faith will be tested.
Mark 2:5; 10-12a
The test may vary, but the Lord expects simple obedience.
Mark 2:5, Mark 2:10-12
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5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
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Third - Real faith brings incredible rewards.
The great miracle in the story isn't...
- That so many people came to hear Jesus, or
- That men came to Jesus, or
- That four friends cared enough about one of their own that they did something with and for him, or
- That the man was healed, or even that the man acted in faith and obeyed Jesus.
No, the big miracle here is that Jesus demonstrated that He alone can forgive sins and restore a person to wholeness.
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