Who’s Carrying You?: Tear Off the Roof

Message Study Questions

Message Summary

The song Tear off the Roof highlights the healing power of Jesus’ presence. While God’s presence is available daily, it is especially powerful when believers gather in worship, prayer, and the teaching of His Word. Physical healing is valuable, but spiritual healing through forgiveness is even more crucial, as it leads to eternal life. Forgiveness comes through faith, as shown in the story of the paralytic and his friends. Jesus prioritized preaching and calling people to believe in Him and live in obedience to God. Relationships and friendships are essential for a healthy life. Christians are encouraged to build friendships with those who don’t know Jesus to share their faith—but should be careful not to let those relationships pull them away from God.

1. What makes someone a good friend? List some characteristics.

2. What circumstances led up to you approaching Jesus and receiving forgiveness?

Consider This

You can’t use someone else’s faith as your own. You can lean on it, but you are saved for your faith in Jesus alone. Forgiveness comes before the healing.

Read Mark 2:1-12.

1. What stands out to you the most from this story? Why?

2. Why do you think the paralytic’s friends were so determined? What does that tell you about their view of Jesus; and how they felt about their friend?

3. What barriers in your life do you need to tear off the roof to get to Jesus?

4. In what ways could God use you to show up with sacrificial love and spiritual care for others? How can you bring others to Jesus?

5. What do you think God requires in order to forgive sins (verse 5)?

6. What did the teachers of the law say about Jesus forgiving the man’s sins? Why was this an issue?

7. What is blasphemy and how does it apply to this story? (See Isaiah 43:25, 44:22 and Psalm 51:4) What does this accusation tell you about Jesus’ identity and authority (see verse 10)?

8. Jesus demonstrated His supernatural ability to read minds in verse eight. What does this tell you about how Jesus interacts with our hearts?

9. How does the attitude of the four men and the paralytic differ from the attitude of the religious leaders? How can we fall into the attitude of these religious leaders today?

10. What does it mean to be a mat carrier? Why do we both need mat carriers and need to carry the mats of others?

11. Read 1 Corinthians 15:33. What is bad company to you? Why should you avoid them? What will happen if you don’t?

Moving Forward – Application

In our lives, our mat-carriers are those we are allowing to have some authority in our lives. That’s why it matters who you let you carry you and where they will carry you to.

1. What actions can you do this week to demonstrate faith in Jesus?

2. How can you apply the example of the four friends to someone in need this week?

3. Is there someone you need to thank for their part in bringing you to faith in Jesus this week?

4. Who are your mat-carriers? Who are your friends that bring you to the feet of Jesus?

5. What steps can you take to pursue deeper friendships this week?

“Don’t sit in the trap of isolation and dishonesty. Other people need you to be their mat-carrier friend and you need them to be to. So get up and start walking toward the feet of Jesus and see who is near you walking there, too.”