Sermon Based Curriculum
Sermon Date: Feb. 14, 2010
Sermon Title: No Lame Excuses
Sermon Text: John 5:1-47
Small Group Text: John 5:1-18
Introduction
Discussion
What does it mean if we say someone is having a “pity-party?” How do you feel around someone who is engaged in a pity-party? Two farmers were visiting over the back fence. Down the road a ways, an old hound dog, belonging to one of the men, was howling innessantly. “Why is your dog howling?” asked the one farmer. “Oh, he’s sitting on a cactus,” said the dog’s owner. “Why doesn’t he get up and move somewhere else?” asked the neighbor. “Well frankly, he’d rather howl!” came the reply. All of us will find ourselves in difficult circumstances in life; but rather than taking steps to get to a better place, some of us would “rather howl!” In John 5, Jesus comes upon a man who is in a seemingly pitiful situation – and he’s been stuck there for 38 years! Jesus begins this interaction with a telling question to determine if the man indeed wanted to get to a better place or if he’d just “rather howl.” Read John 5:1-14 1. How do you picture the setting of this story: The scene? The smells? The noises? 2. How do you picture the invalid in this story? 3. In verse 6, Jesus asks what seems to be an un-necessary question. What question does he ask? ("Do you want to get well?") With a capacity to look deeply into a person’s heart, why would Jesus ask a question that would seem to have such an obvious answer? (Jesus asks the question to make the man face his reality. Jesus sees into the core of this man’s being and ascertains that, rather than taking steps to live a more productive life, he’s finds it easier to sit there lethargically – using other people’s behaviors as an excuse.)
4. Read verse 7. Does the invalid give Jesus a direct answer? (No, he answers indirectly to deflect Jesus’ direct question.) Why do you think he answers as he does? (In essence, Jesus asks, “What do you really want?” The man, never anticipating Jesus’ healing power, immediately avoids the question by blaming other people for his condition – trying to appear more pathetic than he really is. Blaming others has worked for him for years – but he can’t fool this Rabbi: It’s Jesus he’s talking to!)
5. What possible reasons might a person have for not wanting to get “off the cactus" and move to a better place? (Sometimes is just easier to “howl!”
Some people are happiest when they’re miserable.
Appearing
pathetic can have colateral benefit: 1) attention, 2) pity, 3) a beggars income, 4) an irresponsible life without challenge, 5) etc.)
6. Often, the power of God requires a human response. “In a very real sense it is true that miracles happen when our will and God’s power co-operate to make them possible.” (William Barclay) Jesus’ reaction to the man is to give him a directive, not a suggestion. Why do you think Jesus gives the invalid a command that has to be carried out? (Jesus makes the man responsible for his words – healing him and enabling him to walk. The man’s attitude remains bitter and ungrateful; hence Jesus’ words at the temple, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man subsequently turns Jesus over to Jewish authorities.)
Application
1. 2. 3. 4.
What situation in your life do you find yourself “howling” about? How does your ”pity-party” affect those around you? What would bring resolution to your “pity-party”? Just as Jesus gives specific instructions to move the invalid away from his pity party, what instructions might Jesus give you to move you to a better place?
Sermon-Based Curriculum