Initiate
A video introduction using illustrations, personal stories, metaphors, or active learning examples to begin the discussion.
Interact
After the video, prompts are supplied for thinking and sharing with others personal perception and experience. This opening activity prompts participants to think about and relate to the topic, and to share with others.
Shock Treatments
From the list below of shock treatments, which experience is the most startling to you?
- Cold Water–Jumping into water so cold it takes your breath away
- Sour Lemon – Tasting a lemon
- Spicy Surprise – Biting into food that is super-hot spicy
- Loud Noises–Suddenly hearing the most startling sound you’ve ever heard. What was it?
- Bright Spotlight–a light shining into your eyes so brightly you couldn’t see for a moment
- Static Shock–Feeling the worst zap of static electricity you’ve ever experienced
- Jump Scare–Someone jumping out and scaring you so badly that you screamed
Sometimes certain words and phrases can be shocking. Read the next story where Jesus heals a person and makes a shocking statement.
Insight
The Bible discussion begins with a careful reading of the whole passage, either from your own Bibles, or from the provided images below.
Then participants are to ask:
- What is going on in this passage of Scripture?
- What are the key words and phrases? Highlight them.
- Why do you think this passage is included in the Bible?
- What does it contribute to our “knowing Christ” and “living in Christ”?
If you have a moment, read some of the “shocker statements of Jesus” (Luke 9:23; Matthew 5:48; Matthew 10:34; Luke 14:26; Matthew 5:29; John 6:53).
If it seems abrupt when Jesus tells a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years, “Get up!” the real shock comes later: “See, you are well. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.” Startling words, yet they reveal that the man’s deepest problem wasn’t physical, but spiritual. Jesus often tied healing to forgiveness, as in Mark 2:5, “Your sins are forgiven,” or John 8:11, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” The warning makes sense when you realize “sin” means to miss the mark. Weak legs were not the issue.
When first approached, the man’s words were, “I have no one to help me” (John 5:7). His real need was not stronger legs but a Savior. Jesus healed him anyway and pointed him toward lasting wholeness. His true paralysis was in his soul. He saw only helplessness instead of the Healer before him.
Is it possible we limit our own expectations? Like the man in Acts 3:1–8 who asked for coins instead of healing, we too may be aiming too low. Aim higher.
Insight Out
A parting video clip with a personal invitation to apply the message to “knowing Christ” and “living in Christ” in the coming week.