Conversations: Jesus and … The paralysed man (Mark 2:1–12) A good Sunday school favourite is the healing of a paralysed man. Something remarkable happened that day: The conversation of Jesus with the teachers of the law, and then with the paralysed man. This story is also recorded in Matthew 9:2–8 and Luke 5:17–26. In our study, we will focus on the account in Mark 2:1–12. Read Mark 2:1,2 Throughout Mark’s gospel, we get a growing …
Conversations: Jesus and … the rich young man (Matthew 19:16–26; Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30) A rich man approaches Jesus. What is this conversation teaching us about Jesus and the Kingdom of God for our own lives? For this study, I recommend you elect three Bible readers from your group, one for each gospel version. Read Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17 Does the same story precede the story of the rich young man in each …
Conversations: Jesus and … The Paralysed Man Read: Mark 2:1–12. This account is also recorded in Matthew 9:1–8 and Luke 5:17–26. Visualise the scene: A crowded house in Jesus’ hometown, Capernaum, including the Pharisees and teachers of the law from every town in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. As we read the account of Jesus healing the paralysed man in Mark, we are drawn into the depth of faith, the power of Jesus’ words, …
Conversations: Jesus and … A Rich Young Man “What must I DO to …?” Have you ever found yourself asking this question of an “expert” in relation to achieving an improved outcome in a particular area of your life? Maybe: a doctor and your health, a teacher and your child’s progress at school, a financial advisor and your retirement, or a pastor and your relationship with Jesus. During your inquiry, you may have found yourself …
Conversations – Jesus and the woman with a bleeding issue
Every concern you have matters to God. So, what’s on your mind right now? Where do you want God to show up in your life?
During 2020, in the months after COVID-19 was detected in Australia, we became accustomed to all manner of social restrictions, and especially so in Victoria with their lengthy lockdowns. We discovered that, for most people, social isolation is not an easy thing to deal with. For extroverts and their need to connect and communicate and share ideas it was challenging. For introverts and their need to have space to think, to process things, it may have given some welcome relief perhaps.
Our God is an awesome God, he reigns from heaven above, with wisdom, power and might. Our God is an awesome God.
These are the words of a song I have sung many times recognising the majesty of God and his amazing power. He is the one who created the world and you and me. Long before we were born, he already knew about us – our strengths, our weaknesses, our successes, and our failures. To believe this is to live by faith. He knew all about us and chose to make us the way we are, because he loves us.
Imagine yourself in your local town. For a long time, there has been a person with a disability sitting outside but near the entrance to the local supermarket. The person has a container in front of them to receive donations, plus a note about their situation. The person may or may not be receiving any NDIS support; you don’t know. You are used to seeing this person sitting there. Perhaps they simply want to be near other people?
While I was out walking today (the day of writing this), I heard women’s voices coming closer from behind me. I turned to see two younger women walking quickly while speaking in a language I did not recognise. They were totally engrossed in conversation as they then walked past me, perhaps oblivious to their surroundings. Has that happened to you – totally engrossed in conversation with a friend, oblivious to anyone else nearby? Totally focused on what is being shared. I can identify with that!
Conversation on the road to Emmaus
What conversations have you had while travelling? My husband and I love to listen to the ABC radio podcast “Conversations” while on road trips. There is such a vast and diverse array of guests the interviewers interact with, some to make us laugh, some to move us to tears. Travelling conversations with a captive audience can pass the time, and also be enlightening.
Extending hospitality today is likely to be much more casual than it was in biblical times, although that, too, can depend on how strong the traditions are in the culture of our personal context. For example, Asian and Indian customs may be quite different from our laid-back Aussie customs.
Read the full Bible Study …
Have you any siblings? What do conversations with them sound like? Often children from the same family are described as being “chalk and cheese”. Is that so for you?
Mary and Martha seem like “chalk and cheese”. It would be interesting to know if they were of similar ages, or how they shared the household duties. I get the impression that Martha is older, and I wonder if she was bossy or just very responsible. Was Mary easily distracted from a task or even lazy? Whatever my questions, they both appear devoted to Jesus – Martha devoted to serving him and Mary devoted to listening to him.
And Jesus loves them both. Read the full devotion for April 2024 …