Week 3 - He Forgives First
Sunday Passage:
Mark 2:1-12
Theme:
Healing comes through forgiveness
Weekly Reading: Mark 5–6
Relatable Story:
There are pains we can point to, and then there are pains we can’t explain. Sometimes what’s weighing us down isn’t physical—it’s internal: guilt, regret, a memory, a secret, a “how did I become this?” moment. In Mark 2, Jesus looks at a paralyzed man and does something unexpected—He forgives him first. Because Jesus knows the deepest thing broken in us is often the thing nobody else can see. This week is about the freedom that comes when grace goes first. Before you try to fix yourself, let Jesus speak forgiveness over your soul.
Study Focus
• Authority to forgive sins
• Faith expressed through community
• The connection between forgiveness and freedom
Discussion Questions
Why does Jesus forgive before He heals?
What does this story teach us about communal faith?
How do we confuse healing with wholeness?
Is there forgiveness you are resisting receiving—or offering?
Kingdom Practice
Release the Weight:
Confess, forgive, or seek reconciliation where God is prompting.
