WELCOME ICEBREAKER

What is the busiest place you have ever been in? Where have you experienced the push of the crowds?

WORSHIP

Psalm 8 (For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument)
O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise.
They silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you have set in place—
what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?

WORD

1. Read Mark 5:25-34
   This is a story of woman whose difficult life defies description. She was an outcast because of her sickness. A woman with this sickness could not come into the temple; she could not participate in any church services; she could not touch another person without making them ceremonially unclean and she could not even live with her own husband (see Lev. 19:15-28). She was an outcast.
   
   Jesus makes it clear that her faith made her well. Her story leaves a clear faith template for us to follow. Jesus not only heals her, but also makes it clear that she is no longer an outcast. When we come to Jesus, He restores us by His virtue and none of us are an outcast after we have been in His presence.
   
   
2. What would you say is this woman’s biggest need?
   
   
   • her physical suffering
   • spending all her money
   • being a social outcast
   • guilt and low self-esteem
     
     
3. What do you think gave her the faith to go and touch Jesus in the crowd?
   
   
4. The Bible says in James 2:26 that faith has corresponding action or works. How did she live this verse? Read 1 Tim. 6:12. How did she fight the good fight of faith?
   
   
5. What fears do you think she battled? What obstacles did she have to push through to get to Jesus?
   
   
6. What obstacles do we have to push through today to get to Jesus? Some possibilities might include:
   
   
   • Fear of rejection
   • Fear of what others will think of me being “religious”
   • Feelings of guilt
   • Doubts that I really will be helped
   • Feelings of not being worthy
     
     
7. What is the biggest need in your life where you need Jesus to help you?

WORK

Pray for the deep needs that are in your group.

Encourage all those in your group that have not completed the equipping bases to attend this Sunday at 2:00 pm.