Study 5 of 13 on Discipleship
“The fourteen year old was sick. The doctors didn’t know what caused the illness and nothing seemed to be working. But a deaconess took it upon herself to go talk to the boy and let him know it was his sin that was causing all of this… bringing untold pain and expense upon his parents. All he had to do was get right with God but until then God was punishing him. Soon after they discovered it was a virus. But that deaconess pushed the boy away from church. Now think about Jesus when he was asked to heal the Roman centurion’s servant…there was no judgment…just grace. And the response of that foreigner of another faith made Jesus utter the words “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” We are called to be an extension of Jesus….bringing healing…physical, mental, and spiritual…to the human condition…ours and those around us.”
—Falvo Fowler
Scriptural Basis:
Isa. 53:4, Matt. 8:17, Mark 2:1–12, Phil. 4:4–9, 1 John 3:20–22, John 11:37–44
Key Text:
“Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” (Matthew 15:30-31).
1. What place does discipleship play when it comes to ministering to the sick?
2. How can we learn to disciple others in their brokenness? We’re talking physical, mental, or spiritual brokenness.
3. From Mark 2:1-12, what can we learn regarding the connection between the physical sickness and sinfulness?
4. What lessons should we not take from this story?
5. How can we minister to people struggling with brokenness?