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Faith of Four Friends Amid Challenges

The story from Luke 5:17-26 highlights the unwavering faith of friends who went above and beyond to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus for healing. Facing obstacles, they showed corporate faith, demonstrating love for others as emphasized in the Bible. The narrative prompts reflection on personal obligations to help those in need and the impact of such actions in glorifying God.

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Faith of Four Friends Amid Challenges

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  1. LESSON 6: APRIL 7 1

  2. Faith of Four Friends Focus Scripture: Luke 5:17-26 Key Verse: Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but, finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. Luke 5:18-19 (NRSV UE) 2

  3. Luke 5:17-26 (NRSV UE) 17 One day while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem were sitting nearby, and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but, finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. 20 When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your stretcher and go to your home.” 3

  4. 25 Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26 Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.” 4

  5. Key Terms Corporate Faith – The faith expression of a group. Benign – Not growing or spreading. Instinctively – Occurring as a matter of instinct or impulse. • • • Your title here 5

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  7. In Matthew 22:36, Jesus taught that all the commandments and religious rules come down to two essentials: loving God and loving others. In Philippians 2:3-5, Apostle Paul gave more insight on how the second great commandment applies. Believers should have no doubt that their treatment of people in need opens or closes access to God. This is clear with any casual reading of Matthew 25:37-40. 7

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  9. Come to the text knowing the writer Luke was a physician, and, therefore, had a special interest in the healing miracles of Jesus. So, see the story of the man with paralysis and his friends as part of a series Luke presents to demonstrate Jesus fulfilling Isaiah 61:1-2 (Luke 4:16-21) in both the physical and spiritual realms. In Luke’s writings, Jesus is the total healer who heals damaged and broken bodies and spirits. A wonderful serenity has taken possession 9

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  11. In the text, the friends were close in the normal terms we use for friendship. But please do not let that fact block your view of how some “good Samaritans” help friends using the wider global definition of Luke 10:29-37. On February 3, 2019, as part of a Black History Month feature, NBC Los Angeles told the story of Richard Reed. The story is heart-gripping. Reed, a former homeless man himself, established a charity to help homeless people get off the street and back on their feet. A wonderful serenity has taken possession 11

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  13. Maybe, like us, you noticed some people appear eager to help needy people. They are ready to go into action at the start of any charity event. And you can call on them any day of the week to give a helping hand. On the flip side of the coin, we find people who use twisted reasoning and excuses to avoid helping people in need. Persons in this group are always “too busy” doing nothing or have nothing to give. 13

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  15. Above, we urged you to consider how much of the “helper’s” characteristics you see in yourself. Please be kind in doing the assessment. Know that these features grow in a believer’s life with time. No brother or sister goes to sleep one night without them and awakens the next morning searching for homeless people to rescue. 15

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  17. 1. What type of obligations do Christians have to help others? 17

  18. 2. Would it have improved our understanding of the text if the reason for the man’s paralysis was given? 18

  19. 3. Why is the Richard Reed story (Sankofa) not seen more often? 19

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  21. Closing Hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” AMEC Hymnal #323 Closing Prayer: Gracious God, I know I have not always risen to the opportunity to help others. I side-stepped people I could have helped. Please, Lord, help me to do better as I continue my walk of faith. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. 21

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