Weekly Teaching Reflection
October 12th Reflection
Sermon Notes and Discussion Questions
Luke: Identity of the King
Healer of the Sick
Luke 5:17
17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.
Luke 5:18-19
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
Luke 5:20
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
The Way Things Are Supposed to Be
Be with Jesus, Become Like Jesus, and Do what Jesus did
What Is Shalom?
Shalom means more than the English word ‘peace’ often conveys. It is more than an inner feeling of serenity and calm. It is more than the absence of conflict. It refers to that much-desired state where things are finally made right between us all. Shalom suggests a restoration of relationship between peoples, as well as reconciliation between humanity and God. It also suggests the restoration of the earth and our relationship to the land.
Michael Frost, The Road to Missional
Central to the classic [Scriptural] understanding of the world is a concept of the way things are supposed to be. They are supposed to include peace that adorns and completes justice, mutual respect, and deliberate and widespread attention to the public good.
Cornelius Plantinga - Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be
Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.
Shalom Breaking
God hates sin not just because it violates his law but, more substantively, because it violates shalom, because it breaks the peace, because it interferes with the way things are supposed to be. God is for shalom and therefore against sin… In short, sin is…shalom-breaking.
Cornelius Plantinga - Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be
Luke 5:20-21
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Luke 5:22-24
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Luke 5:24-26
24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Paradoxa = things you wouldn't normally expect.
The church is not a bounded-set fortress. It’s a stretcher team.
Group Discussion:
Recap Last Week: Living Out Hesed
Did anyone have anything to share in your practice from this past week?
Challenge: Choose one of the four expressions of God’s covenant love (Commitment, Presence, Advocacy, or Direction) and live it out intentionally this week.
Here are some ideas:
Commitment – Show up for someone consistently, even if they’re not in a good place.
Presence – Spend time with someone who’s usually overlooked or left out.
Advocacy – Speak up or stand up for someone who’s been excluded or judged.
Direction – Gently invite yourself into a new, healthier direction with grace and truth.
Scripture for Reflection
These verses can be read slowly at the start or woven throughout the discussion:
Luke 5:17 – “And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.”
Luke 5:20 – “When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’”
Luke 5:24 – “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Luke 5:26 – “Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’”
Group Discussion Questions
Contrast the “sitters” and the “carriers” in this story. What do you think the posture (sitting vs. moving) reveals about their hearts toward Jesus and others?
How do you respond to the idea that “faith isn’t just personal, it’s communal”?
Have you ever seen someone’s life changed because of someone else’s faith?
Jesus forgives the man’s sins before healing his body.
What does this reveal about what Jesus sees as our deepest need?
How does this challenge the way you usually pray or think about healing?
What does “shalom” mean to you after this teaching?
How is it different from just “inner peace” or “no conflict”?
Where do you see “shalom-breaking” in your own life or community?
The Pharisees were technically “right” in their theology (only God can forgive sin), but completely wrong in their conclusion.
How do we guard ourselves from becoming correct in belief but cold in spirit?
Have you ever blocked someone’s access to Jesus whether intentionally or unintentionally?
Imagine yourself as one of the four friends.
What barriers are you willing to break through for the sake of someone else’s wholeness?
Who in your life might need your help to encounter Jesus right now?
This story ends with amazement and praise to God.
When was the last time you felt truly amazedby Jesus? What might it take to recover that sense of awe?
Jesus claims the authority to forgive sin and heal bodies, a sign of God’s Kingdom breaking in.
Where do you see signs of God’s Kingdom breaking in today?
How can we, as image bearers, partner with God to restore shalom?
For Practice This Week
"Carry someone to Jesus."
This week, intentionally “carry” someone — spiritually, emotionally, or practically — toward Jesus. That might mean:
Praying daily for someone who is spiritually or emotionally stuck.
Inviting someone to a meal or coffee and be fully present with them.
Meeting a tangible need for someone who’s struggling (meals, time, presence).
Literally carrying someone in an act of service they can’t do for themselves.