“It’s deeper than you think.” One could be talking about a pond, a pool, or in most cases a situation, or conversation. There are likely few people in the world who know you on a deep level. People you’ve shared dark secrets, fears, and worries. To most of the world there is a facade of who you are, what you are thinking, how you really feel about things, and even your personal faith life. Today, in Luke 5, Jesus takes us deeper and peels back the layers we’ve built up and reveals our hearts and his love. It’s deeper, so much deeper than you think.
Digging Deeper
- Read Luke 4 – 6 and highlight all the times Luke uses the term “authority” and make a list of all the ways Jesus is claiming or displaying “authority.”
- Today is all about deeper. Describe a situation you’ve been in where initially you weren’t aware of the deeper things happening.
- Why was forgiveness the paralytic’s deepest need? Why is it our deepest need? What other ‘needs’ do we feel are deeper than our need for forgiveness?
- Look at those in the accounts for today, in what ways do we at different times in our faith walk mimic each of those mentioned? (Paralytic, Friends, Pharisees, Teachers of the Law, Levi, Levi’s friends, the disciples).
- Why does Jesus call himself the “Son of Man”? What does this title mean? Why are the religious leaders so angry at his use of the title?
- Levi hears the Gospel, follows Jesus, and hosts a party. You are Levi, who are you inviting to your party? (text or email Pastor Kelly with your party date)
- Jesus uses the terms ‘righteous’ and ‘sinners’ why? Which are you?
- Just as Jesus has the power to heal the paralytic, he has the power to give you what you want. In light of today’s study, how might you focus more on Jesus, than the request, when he doesn’t give you what you’ve asked?