Contact lenses are not even needed

Mark 10: 46 – 52

Why might Bartimaeus have selected this particular road by which to beg for alms?
How would it feel to be a blind person sitting by a road with a large crowd passing by?
Why does Jesus select this particular time in his ministry to heal another blind man?
Why might Mark mention the name of this particular blind beggar?
What are some ways that you still deal with blindness in your spiritual walk?

Compare Bartimaeus’ cry for help with other pleas we have heard so far.
What does this pattern tell us about who is open to receive the healing Jesus offers?
How does your attitude in your prayer life need to change based on these examples?

Describe the attitude the crowd portrays to the blind man when Jesus calls for him.
What does his throwing aside of his cloak show us about his attitude in seeking help?
What things in your life tend to hinder you from receiving Jesus healing power?
How can we better adjust our priorities in our lives to make us open to what ever Jesus wants to do with us?

Why does Jesus ask the man what he wants Jesus to do for him?
What does it show us about Jesus that he is able and willing to heal this man?
How is faith helpful in receiving healing power?
Why does this guy begin to follow Jesus down the road after he is healed?
What should our response be when we experience healing in our lives?

What are some different kinds of healing you need to experience tonight?
How should we respond the times that we do not receive the healing for which we are faithfully asking?

Long Distance Mental Health Care

Matthew 15: 21 – 28

What is a city or region through which you simply loathe traveling?

Why might Jesus be traveling outside of Israel into the Gentile region of these two cities?
How would Jesus’ disciples be feeling traveling outside of their normal homeland?
Where do you go to retreat from the grinding stress of daily life?

Why does Matthew make a point of this woman being ethnically Canaanite?
Imagine you are this woman approaching Jesus for help, what emotions are you experiencing as you arrive?
What might it say about the social environment that the child has serious spiritual issues?
Compare and contrast this woman’s initial pleas for help with others we have heard.
What do these pleas show us about her understand of whom Jesus really is?

Why does Jesus not answer her at all when she first asks for help?
How would you describe the disciples’ response towards her cries?
Why are they so cold and harsh towards her in her need?
Who are people you tend to treat in a cold and harsh way?

What is Jesus’ reasoning for not immediately helping her in her situation?
How does Jesus’ argument make an effective justification for his actions?
What does her argument show us about her attitude and spirituality?
Why does Jesus eventually relent and help her situation?
What does it show us about Jesus that he can have spiritual victory over distance?
How does faith allow for spiritual victory for our families?

What kinds of spiritual victory do you need in your life and family tonight?
How can you go about crying out to Jesus this week for the help only he can give?

Carpel-tunnel Syndrome on Saturday

Luke 6: 6 – 11

[Click on title to hear Sunday's Message on this Text]

Describe the time when you experienced the most pain in your hand.
What does a standard Saturday look like for you in your life and schedule?

What is Luke’s point in the passages he selects as the immediate context?
What does it tell us about Jesus that he is in a synagogue teaching on a Sabbath?
Do you think this man came to synagogue that Saturday expecting to be healed?
What is something for which you need to hear a word from Jesus tonight?

Describe the attitude and actions of the religious leaders in this passage.
Why are they spending so much time lurking around to see if Jesus breaks the rules?
What are some ways you have treated others like they treated Jesus in your life?
How can we go about being less judgmental in the way we treat others?

What process does Jesus use to heal this guy from his hand problem?
Why does Jesus make sure this healing is made front and center before the crowd?
How would you describe Jesus’ preemptive questions to the religious leaders?
Compare and contrast Jesus’ principle of what is acceptable to do on a day off with that of the religious leaders.
How does a person balance being willing to help people on their own time, with making sure to have adequate rest and recreation?

What do you figure are Jesus’ emotions when he looks around at the crowd?
Why might he be having feelings of frustration and anger at this point in his ministry?
How do the religious leaders react to Jesus act of compassion?

Why would they consider that appropriate actions to take on the Sabbath?
When have you in your spiritual walk “just not gotten” Jesus’ point?
How can we make sure we do not find ourselves at odds with Jesus’ purposes.

What does it show us about Jesus that he is able to heal this condition?
What does it demonstrate about Jesus that he is willing to heal this man publicly?