Matthew 9:1-13 NIV
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. [10] While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. [13] But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice .’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners .”
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Now, over the next four days here is the invitation for you and your MC. Slowly meditate on this story using the following prompts. Read the text, but also let it read you. Spend unhurried time with Jesus letting him work this story down into your heart and see what he may be inviting you into as his disciple today. This is not an exhaustive list, but a few prompts to help you get started as you sit with this story throughout the week.
READ
The first things we want to encourage you to do is to Read the text. Spend time with the words of God and let them work their way into your heart.
Read the text daily. Maybe even mix up reading and listening to it.
A great practice is to write it in your own handwriting as the act of writing helps you remember!
EXAMINE
Spend time with the text and work through it. If it’s a story notice the characters, tension and the plot. If it’s a verse notice the words. If it’s a chapter or passage, notice the themes, follow the logic. If it’s poetry, what are the metaphors, stanzas, and imagery?
What words, phrases, or characters stand out to you?
What do you see about this story and the other callings God gives to other in the Bible?
How would you retell this story in your own words?
Do you have any lingering questions that come to mind when you meditate on this text?
Are there any terms, phrases, or concepts that seem difficult for you to process or understand?
Who can you ask for clarity or resources to better grasp what is happening?
APPLY
The text was written to people who are very different than us, but it was written for us as well. How does this part of Scripture have implications for your life or context?
Is there a behavior you sense Jesus wants you to stop or start?
When you think about sin in your life, how do you feel? How does this story speak to that?
What are implications for your business, family, roommates, or private life?
Is Jesus speaking something for you to do as you follow him this week?
Who else can you share this story with?
DO
So that thing that you feel called to do- do it. Actually follow through on the invitations or calls to repentance that Jesus is offering you through the kindness of his Spirit. We encourage you to make this a community project and invite others to hold you accountable to what the Spirit is inviting you into!
Who will help you stay accountable to doing what Jesus invited you into?
What does repentance and realignment with Jesus and his kingdom story look like for you?
Is there anyone you need to speak to about these next steps?
Further Study:
Watch: Bible Project: Sin involves more than you might think