· Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about whatwe do not see – Hebrews 11:1
· Catalytic faith changes you and changes the people around you.
· Dallas Willard - Hope is joyous anticipation of good that is not yet here or is 'unseen.”
· Catalytic faith reaches out in hope.
· They are looking for hope at the end of their rope.
· 18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”
· When you are desperate, go to Jesus.
· Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
· 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his
disciples.
· Faith is not a competition.
· 20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
· Zechariah 8:23 - This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have
heard that God is with you.’”
· 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
· Galatians 3:28 – There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
· 23 When Jesus entered the synagogue
leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
· 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
· Jesus’ grip is stronger than the grip of death.
· There is nothing in your life more powerful than the grip of Jesus to save you.
· 26 News of this spread through all that region.
· You matter to God.
· When you are at the end of your rope, find Jesus’ hope.
LIFE GROUPDISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Starter Question: How have you found hope when you felt at the end of your rope?
1. Read Matthew 9:18-26
2. In your opinion, how does the desperation of the synagogue ruler differ from the desperation of the woman with the blood disorder?
3. Can you think of a religious or cultural taboo that is similar to Jewish laws and rules about being unclean?
4. If we are to be like Jesus, what does this story teach us about our response to marginalized people?
5. Imagine the woman’s life after she is healed. How
does her daily routine change? How has faith changed her life?
6. Jesus will have another year and half ministering in this region. When people or his peers ask the Synagogue
leader about Jesus, what do you think he said after this?
7. When you feel at the end of your rope, what will you remember from this story?
