Cover Your Corners
Connection Points
Bobby Fraumann
May 4, 2020

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Mark 2:1-12 NLT

and not being able to come near to him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was, and, having broken it up, they let down the couch on which the paralytic was lying, Mark 2:4 YLT

You can’t choose what you go through in life, but you can choose who you go through it with.

Surrounded with support.

The right support system displays a good sense of direction.

While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. Mark 2:2-4 NLT

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, Psalm 1:1 NIV

They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Mark 2:4 NLT

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 NIV

The right support system is determined to get you to your breakthrough.

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 NLT

The right support system displays devotion.

So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Mark 2:10-11 NLT

Who is covering your corner and whose corner are you covering?

Connection Group Discussion Questions

  1. What has been going on this past week? What celebrations can you share?
  2. What challenges did you face? What do you need at this time?
  3. Share a time when you felt most helpless in a situation. What happened?
  4. Read Mark 2:1-5. What do you find to be the most fascinating part of this story? Why?
  5. Who would be there for you even in the most critical time during a crisis?
  6. Read Mark 2:6-12. How do you think the four friends responded to the fact that their paralytic friend was healed?
  7. Have you ever helped someone who was deep in crisis or sin? What was the result? What did you gain from this experience?
  8. In what ways can sin be paralyzing? How liberating was it the first time you learned of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins?
  9. How can your Connection Group pray for you this week?