Barrier-Breaker
Small Group Guide: Breaking Barriers to Follow Jesus
Based on Mark 2:1-12
Opening Prayer
Begin your time together by asking God to open hearts and minds to His Word and to give your group courage to identify and break through barriers in your own lives.
Ice Breaker
Share about a time when you had to overcome a significant obstacle to get something you really wanted. What motivated you to push through?
Sermon Summary
This week we explored the story of four friends who literally broke through a roof to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Jesus responded by first forgiving the man's sins, then healing him—demonstrating His authority as both Messiah and God. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy, but Jesus proved His divine authority by doing what only God can do: forgive sins and heal the paralyzed man.
Key Takeaways
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Text
1. Why do you think the four friends were so determined to get their friend to Jesus? What does their persistence teach us about faith?
2. Why did Jesus say "your sins are forgiven" before healing the paralyzed man? What was Jesus trying to communicate?
3. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy. Were they wrong in their theology? What were they missing about who Jesus really was?
Personal Reflection
4. The sermon mentioned three types of barriers. Which type of barrier do you most relate to right now?
5. Have you ever experienced "convenient faith" versus the kind of faith that pushes through obstacles? Share about that experience.
6. What's the difference between trusting Jesus for salvation and following Jesus as King? How does that distinction challenge you?
Application
7. The four friends worked together to get their friend to Jesus. Who in your life needs someone to help them break through barriers to get to Jesus? What role could you play?
8. Jesus said, "Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up and walk'?" How does this challenge our tendency to focus more on changing our circumstances than on our relationship with God?
9. The sermon mentioned that "forgiveness is not something we earn or manage or maintain. It's something we receive." How does this truth free us from religious performance?
10. What specific barrier is Jesus inviting you to break through right now? What would it look like to take a step of faith this week?
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge
Choose one of the following to practice this week:
Option 1: Barrier Identifier
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal any barriers between you and Him.
Write them down and honestly assess what's keeping you from following Jesus more fully.
Share with one trusted person and ask them to pray with you.
Option 2: Barrier Breaker for Others
Identify someone in your life who needs to encounter Jesus.
Like the four friends, commit to doing whatever it takes to help them get to Jesus.
Take one concrete action this week (invite them to church, share your story, pray with them, etc.)
Option 3: Theological Honesty
Identify one belief about God that might be limiting your relationship with Him
Study what Scripture actually says about that topic
Be willing to let Jesus "break the box" you've put God in
Memory Verse
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—not from works, so that no one can boast."
Prayer Focus
Pray for each other in these areas:
Courage to identify and break through personal barriers
Faith to believe that what's on the other side of obstacles is worth it
Wisdom to help others encounter Jesus
Hearts that are willing to follow Jesus as King, not just accept Him as Savior
Freedom from religious performance and embrace of grace
Looking Ahead
Next week we'll continue in Mark's Gospel as Jesus faces more opposition and breaks through additional barriers. Come prepared to discuss what barriers you've encountered this week and how Jesus met you in them.
Closing Prayer
Close by praying specifically for the barriers group members have shared. Ask God to give your group the same kind of persistent, barrier-breaking faith that the four friends demonstrated.
Based on Mark 2:1-12
Opening Prayer
Begin your time together by asking God to open hearts and minds to His Word and to give your group courage to identify and break through barriers in your own lives.
Ice Breaker
Share about a time when you had to overcome a significant obstacle to get something you really wanted. What motivated you to push through?
Sermon Summary
This week we explored the story of four friends who literally broke through a roof to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Jesus responded by first forgiving the man's sins, then healing him—demonstrating His authority as both Messiah and God. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy, but Jesus proved His divine authority by doing what only God can do: forgive sins and heal the paralyzed man.
Key Takeaways
- Faith often looks like the courage to be a barrier breaker.
- The four friends didn't let obstacles stop them from getting to Jesus.
- They believed what was on the other side was worth any barrier they had to break through.
- Jesus addresses our deepest needs, not just our immediate wants.
- The paralyzed man came for physical healing, but Jesus first addressed his spiritual need.
- Our relationship with God matters more than our circumstances.
- Three types of barriers Jesus intends to break.
- Any barrier that hinders a person's relationship with God.
- Any barrier that hinders a person from recognizing the Messiah.
- Any barrier that hinders a person from following the King.
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Text
1. Why do you think the four friends were so determined to get their friend to Jesus? What does their persistence teach us about faith?
2. Why did Jesus say "your sins are forgiven" before healing the paralyzed man? What was Jesus trying to communicate?
3. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy. Were they wrong in their theology? What were they missing about who Jesus really was?
Personal Reflection
4. The sermon mentioned three types of barriers. Which type of barrier do you most relate to right now?
- Religious barriers (wrong ideas about how God works)
- Theological barriers (difficulty believing something about God)
- Heart barriers (internal resistance to following Jesus)
5. Have you ever experienced "convenient faith" versus the kind of faith that pushes through obstacles? Share about that experience.
6. What's the difference between trusting Jesus for salvation and following Jesus as King? How does that distinction challenge you?
Application
7. The four friends worked together to get their friend to Jesus. Who in your life needs someone to help them break through barriers to get to Jesus? What role could you play?
8. Jesus said, "Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up and walk'?" How does this challenge our tendency to focus more on changing our circumstances than on our relationship with God?
9. The sermon mentioned that "forgiveness is not something we earn or manage or maintain. It's something we receive." How does this truth free us from religious performance?
10. What specific barrier is Jesus inviting you to break through right now? What would it look like to take a step of faith this week?
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge
Choose one of the following to practice this week:
Option 1: Barrier Identifier
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal any barriers between you and Him.
Write them down and honestly assess what's keeping you from following Jesus more fully.
Share with one trusted person and ask them to pray with you.
Option 2: Barrier Breaker for Others
Identify someone in your life who needs to encounter Jesus.
Like the four friends, commit to doing whatever it takes to help them get to Jesus.
Take one concrete action this week (invite them to church, share your story, pray with them, etc.)
Option 3: Theological Honesty
Identify one belief about God that might be limiting your relationship with Him
Study what Scripture actually says about that topic
Be willing to let Jesus "break the box" you've put God in
Memory Verse
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—not from works, so that no one can boast."
Prayer Focus
Pray for each other in these areas:
Courage to identify and break through personal barriers
Faith to believe that what's on the other side of obstacles is worth it
Wisdom to help others encounter Jesus
Hearts that are willing to follow Jesus as King, not just accept Him as Savior
Freedom from religious performance and embrace of grace
Looking Ahead
Next week we'll continue in Mark's Gospel as Jesus faces more opposition and breaks through additional barriers. Come prepared to discuss what barriers you've encountered this week and how Jesus met you in them.
Closing Prayer
Close by praying specifically for the barriers group members have shared. Ask God to give your group the same kind of persistent, barrier-breaking faith that the four friends demonstrated.
Posted in Follow The King