The Cost of Forgiveness

Join us this Sunday at CrossWinds Church in Spencer as we explore the familiar story of Jesus healing a paralytic from Mark 2:1–12.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1. What has always come to mind when thinking of this story in the Gospels? Is that different than this morning’s sermon? In what way(s)?
2. What is one highlight from the sermon and one question that you had after hearing the sermon?
3. Read Mark 2:1–12. Take time as a group to talk about the details of this text that we often pass over. How do these details differ from what comes to mind in a cursory reading? How does a careful reading and understanding of this story (and others) help us understand the passage?
4. Why is the message of forgiveness offensive before it becomes good news?
5. Read Ephesians 2:1–3. How do these verses remind us of our great need for forgiveness? In what ways are these verses an accurate description of your life before Christ?
6. Read Mark 2:10–11; John 5:36–40. How do Jesus’s miracles testify to who he is? Why do you think the crowds missed this? What are some ways that we miss this today?
7. Read 1 John 1:8–9; Acts 2:38; 13:38. How does God forgive people? What did it cost?
8. In this week’s sermon, Jordan mentioned the temptation to have a “little bit of Jesus.” What did this look like for the crowds in Mark 1–2? What do you think this looks like today?
9. What would it look like for you to marvel at the cost of forgiveness?