Sermon Title: Shake IT Up and Break IT Up

Introduction

First Wheelchair

Have you ever been completely dependent on something or someone else? Children! Recovering from surgery! Injury!

First self-propelled wheelchair invented by a 22 year old paraplegic clockmaker from Germany who broke his back as a child. (1655)

Three-Wheel Wheel Chair (1850-1890) This design was popular in the European area.

Handcranked chaindriven wheelchair (1920-1920) Propelled by the arms pedaling.

Model 8 (1950s) Could be used by the patient via the metal rims attached to each wheel or by an assistant pushing the chair.

This incredible piece of technology is still considered the most impactful mobility device ever invented. BUT…there was a time where this piece of tech wasn’t available. Such was the case for a paraplegic man in the Bible that I want to read about today. He was completely dependent on others for mobility.

Part of this man’s story is recorded in Luke 5 and Mark 2. Each has the same general account, but there are a few differences I may make reference to.

Today, I want to read the entire passage in the book of Luke, then go back and cover things verse by verse.

Luke 5:17 ESV

17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

Mark 2:1–2 ESV

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

Who was there?

How many were there?

Where did they come from?

Any interesting parties there?

Luke 5:18 ESV

18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,

We are not told how far the four friends carried the man on the cot. But we know it wasn’t easy to carry a grown man. But we know they weren’t pushing him in a wheelchair. So we know it was more difficult than that.

When they arrived…it was crowded…blocked…no where to park…they were seeking to bring him in…and BRING THEIR FRIEND TO JESUS.

Luke 5:19 ESV

19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.

Mark 2:4 ESV

4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

Atmosphere? Neighbors complaining?

They could not find a way to BRING THEIR FRIEND TO JESUS. They found no way. Which means they probably looked for doors, windows, maybe even tried to push through the crowd that was there.

When there was no way through the crowd…who knows what the four men were thinking.

Have you ever been in a desperate situation? Traffic Jam. Every car inching forward one inch at a time. Line that goes super slow at the grocery store.

In the midst of this disappointment, rage, anger, frustration, desperation someone has an idea. To be honest, a crazy idea.

Let’s climb the roof. Tear through it. And get our friend to Jesus to be healed, no matter what.

Luke 5:20 ESV

20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

While the roof was being dug through, you know the crowds, Jesus, and others wondering what all the noise was. Why would someone cause debris to come down on our heads.

Touch on their feelings, the Pharisees feelings, others feelings.

Bringing People to Jesus will Take Teamwork

Those four people had to work together in order to carry the man the distance to the house. Each person on a corner. Or maybe two teams of two while the other two took rest. No matter what no individual could do it alone. Membership class just wrapped up this morning and one of the things we emphasize is our commitment to personal growth, ministry, consistent giving, and to share our faith. If you are a member here at SFCN, and you aren’t committed to doing these four things, then please reach out so we can either coach you in these areas or if you are refusing to do them, please reach out so we can talk it out. When we don’t do our part. When a member of the church is not doing their part, the body suffers. (Paul says that!)

You ever been on a team project and one person does all the work or one person does none of the work. And everyone gets the same grade. Elaborate. That isn’t the way it is with your heavenly rewards. You might be saved. You might believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior. But not everyone will be rewarded the same.

The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work.

Anonymous

This is important because bringing people to Jesus WILL TAKE TEAMWORK. Idea Lived Out: No one pastor on our staff would do the same amount of ministry without the rest together. The complimentary nature of our pastoral staff is INCREDIBLE. I seriously would put our staff up against any staff across the globe. If there was an olympics of pastoral staff, we would be the 92’ dream team.

No one person in your sunday school class will do the same quantity or quality of ministry without the rest of you. No one of you in your small group will do the same. Bringing that co-worker to Jesus will take teamwork. Bringing that family member to Jesus will take teamwork. Us with God. God with us. Us with Us.

We CANNOT DO IT ALONE!

Bringing people to Jesus may require sustained effort.

The four friends were persistent in getting their friend to Jesus. They wouldn’t give up. They carried him far. They kept trying until they found a way through the crowd. It took time. Sacrifice. Effort. Upsetting a few people.

We have got to start caring enough for people that we will do ANYTHING to get them to Jesus. Sometimes I think there is this idea that has filled our minds so much that has gotten in the way of our sustained effort. We believe God is at work in the world. Which is true. HE IS AT WORK! HE is doing the work. He is the one who offers. He is the one who died on the cross.

But some have believed that our effort and contribution does not matter.

If we try once and say we are done. Or if we try for a day, yet never try again. If we try to invite once, and never mention Jesus again. You cannot ruin God’s plan by not acting. God’s plan is you acting. So do it. Or He will find someone else who will! And you will miss out on the blessing of being part of His work in the world.

It will require sustained effort. Charles Spurgeon says this about the work of preaching.

Preaching is not child’s play: it is not a thing to be done without labor and anxiety; it is solemn work; it is awful work, if you view it in its relation to eternity.

Charles Spurgeon

When you view what you do in light of whether or not you have brought someone to Jesus, how it has an impact on eternity you will realize it takes work, effort, and sacrifice.

Bringing people to Jesus may take an out of the box idea.

Sometimes we bring Jesus to people. We go to them. The church goes to them. The people of God go into the community. But other times, we bring Jesus

Bringing people to Jesus is certainly getting them to the church to learn in a worship service, discipleship class. But it might be getting them comfortable with the church first. Inviting them to a trivia night or an outreach event and then getting them comfortable with the campus and people so they know we aren’t weird. It takes sustained effort. It might mean taking them to breakfast first. It might mean buying them lunch after. It might mean picking them up. The devil will do whatever he can to prevent someone from getting to Jesus. You must do whatever it takes to get them to Jesus.

Serving Jesus for you may look like volunteering at a shelter or helping neighbors. But what if bringing people to Jesus looked like this…

You teach school and you pray for your students every morning as they walk in the door. You run a construction company and you help people get a job and apprentice them. Teaching them how to get and keep a job. You have an hour for lunch everyday of the week. What if you used one of them to meet with some men to pray for one another. You work at a dentist and you notice the person has a heavy look about them. So you pray and maybe start a care package program for families who come through your office. Not many people like the dentist, but they might like a care package to arrive at their door a week or so later. With some pun filled note about smiling for them. Maybe even put your name and email on the package in case they need anything.

You wondering what to do for the Lord and have a mini van or vehicle. Donate time to drive people to and from church. The litigious world we live in has made it increasingly difficult for the church to operate a “bus” ministry. But there are no regulations stopping you as an individual going and picking up someone for Jesus.

Those four guys had obstacle after obstacle after obstacle get in their way. But they were so desperate, so passionate, so determined to get their friend to Jesus, they weren’t going to let anything stop them. So they climbed up on the roof, dug through it, and lowered their friend down in front of Jesus.

Bringing people to Jesus may require you to tear it up.

Luke 5:21–26 ESV

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

The Scribes and Pharisees missed what Jesus was about! They missed what God was about…because they had an exclusive theology that often ruled things out. To them, God couldn’t work outside of the boxes they had created Him to live in.

These four guys broke all sorts of protocol. They tore somebody roof up. They cut in line. They were so determined to get their friend to Jesus. And their friend was healed.

Over the years we have done the same thing…and then learned along the way…

Tradition…you must do this thing this way and for this reason. What if traditions were viewed as GOOD, but not to LOCK US or GOD IN A BOX always.

Dress…God requires a certain dress code. (Modesty, YES) But striving for the appearance of Godliness is always discouraged in the Scriptures. Let me know if you find a different passage saying something otherwise.

Music…God requires a certain type or style of music. I don’t know of anywhere in the scriptures that has genres of music allowed and not allowed. Lyrics matter yes, intentions of the heart matter, yes, but drums or no drums. Not so much.

Bring people to Jesus may require you to tear it up! What is your IT?

How deteremined are you? Enough to give up your protocols or preferences or comforts?

Conclusion:

This paralyzed man was completely dependent. What if we brought people to Jesus as if we believed their eternal soul was completely dependent on getting forgiven by Jesus.

One of my mentors long time ago said this, and I have asked the same question of people I have mentored at times. Are you comfortable?

Bringing people to Jesus will require teamwork?

Bringing people to Jesus will require sustained effort?

Bringing people to Jesus may require an out of the box idea.

Bringing Poeple to Jesus may require you to tear it up? What is your IT?