Series: Luke
Sermon Title: Belief and Breakthrough
Passage:  Luke 8:40-56

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Series: Luke
Sermon Title: Belief and Breakthrough
Passage:  Luke 8:40-56  

1. Two people Desperate for a breakthrough 
2. Two people Demonstrating great faith for a breakthrough 
3. One God deserving our faith when we need a breakthrough

• He is the God who is always at work yet never too busy. (Jesus constantly interrupted)
• He is the God of mysterious yet perfect timing. (Jesus never allowed himself to be rushed).
• He is the God who has all the power yet calls us son and daughter.
  • Ephesians 1:18-21
  • Ephesians 3:20
  • 1 John 3:1a

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• Who do you identify most in this story in Luke 8, and why?
• This story highlights Jesus all encompassing authority and power. How does reading this build your trust in His authority and power in your life?
• Both the woman with the chronic problem and the death of Jairus daughter highlight problems with no human solution, and their desperate need for Jesus. What areas in your life fit this same category? 
• Jairus likely did not even believe in Jesus until he turned to Him out of final desperation.  The woman with the blood flow had tried everything else to be healed.  When have you tried to do things on your own and then had to turn to Jesus out of desperation?
• Jarius was likely impatient for Jesus to come heal his daughter and did not want Jesus to stop for the woman with the blood flow.  How have you been impatient to see God act?
• The disciples seemed to think the question of who touched Jesus a ridiculous one as people were surrounding Him and probably bumping into Him.  Jesus is referring to someone reaching out and touching in faith though.  What is the difference between bumping into Jesus and reaching out to touch Him in faith?
• Jesus called the woman forward to publicly declare that Jesus had healed her.  Why is it necessary to publicly declare what Jesus has done for us?
• Why do you think Jesus feels the need to tell the woman that it was her faith that made her well?
• Jesus tells Jarius to not be afraid.  How do you have to intentionally put away fear in order to really trust God?
• Real faith holds onto Jesus in suffering because we know that all things have ultimately been defeated through his resurrection. How can this truth encourage us as we walk through suffering today?
• The mourners laughed and ridiculed Jesus for His belief.  When have you been laughed at and ridiculed for your belief in the power of God?
• There is a lot of grief represented in this passage. What does this reveal to you about your grief and his desire for your wholeness?

SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON:

• Psalm 147:3 
• Revelation 21:4
• Job 12:10

RESOURCES:

• PODCAST | MEGAN MARSHMAN | REAL TALK ABOUT LEADING THROUGH BUSYNESS AND GRIEF
• PODCAST | RESTORING THE SOUL | “THE DEEPEST PLACE: SUFFERING AND THE FORMATION OF HOPE
• PODCAST | CRAWFORD LORITTS | JESUS’ TRANSFORMING POWER ON BEHALF OF THE AFFLICTED

MONTHLY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE TO TRY: CONTEMPLATION

CONTEMPLATION:

We are wrapping up our month-long exploration of the practice of contemplation. I would guess, some of may have found this hard, and some found this easy. I for one have journeyed between both of these positions. I often times wondered how people of the Old Testament could have such intimate lives with God. People like Moses, Isaac, and Daniel. It was not until I truly shifted my understanding and comprehension of God that Christian contemplation made more sense. God is relational. If we believe in a God who is infinite-relational, then contemplation is simply an extension of conversation. It is an opportunity to know God deeply through intentional attention.

It is impossible to learn contemplation through reading this or any other book. By nature, it is an experience between you and God and therefore must be experienced. Just try it. Pick a time and a place to focus in and contemplate a thing of God.

Here are a few practices to get started in your development:

• The longing to go deeper read Psalm 42. – Read it 3 times.

  • Identify what it reveals about God,

  • What does it reveal about our need for him

  • Express gratitude to God.

  • Sit and listen, empty your mind, and listen for his voice.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

In a world of Uber Eats, DoorDash, meal kits, Amazon Prime, InstaPots, curbside pickup, and grocery delivery…we have almost all but forgotten what it means to wait. We are slowly losing the days of home cooked meals simmered on the stove all day, dating relationships that begin with an organic friendship, and running into old friends at the store. Our over-convenienced culture can seep into our spiritual lives easier than we realize, and in turn can lead to impatience and disappointment. When our prayers don’t get answered in a day or two, or maybe a week, we grow frustrated, or most likely have already gotten bored and moved on to the next thing. But what about those long lasting prayers? What about things like chronic illness, wayward children, addictions, and much needed breakthroughs? It can be so painful waiting year after year. If you have experienced this kind of waiting, you know all to well the meaning of Proverbs 13:12 “hope deferred makes the heart sick”.

Pastor Rob Hans | Spiritual Formation Pastor