The Mercy Road

Sermon Discussion Questions: March 22, 2026 The Mercy Road Call to Worship: Psalm 146:5-10 1. Verses 7 through 9 are about the Lord watching over the vulnerable; the oppressed, the hungry, the blind, the bowed down, travelers, and fatherless. Evangelicals sometimes dismiss an emphasis on God's compassion for the vulnerable as the "Social Gospel". a. As the body of Christ, what are our responsibilities to alleviate the physical needs of the vulnerable? b. How do we apportion our time, energy, and money between alleviating physical needs and promoting Christian doctrine? Is there some scriptural principle that can guide us? 2. Apart from the obvious reference to opening the eyes of the blind, how does this passage apply to the teaching in the sermon? Sermon: Mark 10:46-52 I. The Cry for Mercy – Verses 46-48 1. Pastor Paul spoke of "The blindness of the seeing". Every culture has major blind spots, in which most people are oblivious to their sins. For example, slaveholders in 18th century America, or antisemites in WW2-era Germany. What is a big blind spot in 21st century Midwestern America? 2. What does Bartimaeus say that implies he understands Jesus is more than a faith healer? 3. Jesus clearly did not flatter the rich and powerful. He lived out his teaching that the "last shall be first". Share another scriptural example of Jesus prioritizing the vulnerable over the powerful. 4. When Jesus saved you, to what “blind spot” did the Holy Spirit open your eyes? II. Prioritizing Pit Stops – Verses 49-50 5. It is a LOT of work to schedule, organize, and implement an event. You have to focus, and be intentional about ignoring distractions. Jesus let his journey to Jerusalem be interrupted by the blind man. How do we determine whether focusing on our goal is most important, or giving our attention to an unexpected incident? 6. For a destitute blind man, throwing off his cloak was a big deal. It was likely his only source of warmth and protection from bad weather. Yet the blind man threw it off in his eagerness to encounter Jesus. What might be something in your life that you cherish too much, to the point that it impedes your spiritual walk? 7. Pastor Paul encouraged us to schedule our time so that there are openings for “pit stops” (Opportunities to engage in unplanned acts of mercy.) a. How would we do this? b. Share a time when you were led by the Holy Spirit to abandon carefully-made plans. III. What Do You Want? – Verse 51 8. Imagine if you were both poor and blind, and recovered your sight. You would want to start learning a trade, and see people you loved. Bartimaeus chose to forgo those options, and instead follow Jesus. a. Give another scriptural example of someone who chose following/obeying God over secular benefits. b. Share an example of someone you knew personally or read about. 9. AI Question: Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” If Jesus asked you that today, what honest request would you bring—and why that one? IV. Faith Follows – Verse 52 10. Bartimaeus immediately followed Jesus. He did not 'get his act together' first, nor did he first have all his questions answered. Where else in scripture do we see this immediate response to God's call? Prayer Points: • Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the areas of your life where you are still “spiritually blind” to the needs of others or the glory of Christ. • Thank Jesus that He “stopped” for you when you were an outcast, and that His mercy is the reason your eyes can be opened. • Pray for those in our city and church who feel silenced or overlooked, that we would be a people who say, “Take heart. Get up; He is calling you.”