Key Thought : There is an intimate correlation among physical, emotional, and spiritual health. We need to minister to the total person.

[Lesson plan for Discipling the Sick January 27, 2014]

1. Have a volunteer read John 9:1-3.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. How do we understand the seeming unfairness of those who are born with handicaps and less than normal physical or mental health? Can it be the result of parental sin? Can it be the result of environmental influences? Can God be glorified through the handicapped or mentally ill other than being healed?
c. Personal Application: How can we learn to help and encourage others through our sympathy? Who hasn’t suffered in one way or another in this life? How can we lift them up to see Jesus? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “God wants us to be of a sound mind and in good health. Mental and physical illness is a result of a lack of faith, not living Christian principles, or not having a good relationship with God. People need spiritual healing, and the physical and mental are interrelated.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Mark 2:5-12.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why did Jesus forgive the man’s sins first when it seemed apparent he was looking for physical healing?
c. Personal Application: When you have been physically ill, did it have any effect on your spirituality? Did it affect your Bible study, prayer life, faith and trust, or any other aspect of your Christian experience? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What can we say to those who come to us for anointing and healing when it doesn’t happen? Do we look to them or ourselves for some flaw or lack of faith? What can we find from Scripture that helps us in times when it looks like God’s grace is all that’s sufficient for us at the time?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Matthew 6:31-34.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. How do we uphold Biblical teaching of healing ministry without being associated with “faith healers”? Are we only to adhere to medicinal “cures” or can we trust God’s Word for miracles? Share.
c. Personal Application: How do you prioritize Christ’s kingdom first before food, shelter, and clothing? What principle is involved in these priorities? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “I am puzzled by this passage. Many hippies and transient people who go from place to place seem to think they are Christlike by living off other people and deserve to be taken care of even though they don’t work or make any effort to fend for themselves. Is this the kind of lifestyle Jesus was encouraging?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 12:7-9.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How can healing ministries open hearts and minds otherwise closed to the gospel?
c. Personal Application: What helped you get through a time in your life when you were physically or emotionally challenged? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.

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