Unit 1: God’s People Offer Praise
Glorifying God | Bible Background • MARK 10:46-52; LUKE 18:35–43 Printed Text • MARK 10:46–52 | Devotional Reading • JAMES 5:13–18
AIM FOR CHANGE
By the end of this lesson, we will COMPARE and contrast spiritual and physical blindness, APPRECIATE how God is attentive and responds to our needs, and PRACTICE reaching out to those who are marginalized by society.
IN FOCUS
Herman and Shelly Johnson had just moved to the area two months ago. They hadn’t even been able to find a church family yet before the tornado hit. The Johnsons had lost so much. Their roof had blown off, drenching everything inside, as Herman and Shelly huddled in the re-enforced basement.
In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the Johnsons prayed for a few things they specifically needed. There was no way they could pay to repair the damages without a steady income, which was proving difficult since both the beauty shop where Shelly had worked and Herman’s instruments had been destroyed in the tornado. Daily, they prayed together for a guitar so Herman could perform at gigs again and an open chair where Shelly could continue work as a beautician. God came through with just what they needed. The woman who worked in the chair next to Shelly invited them to her church where the Johnsons were welcomed into the new church family.
Now, a year later, Herman and Shelly were finally finished recovering their losses. It had required persistence with their insurance company to get them to pay all they were supposed to, but the Johnsons had stood up for themselves. They could never replace the exact things the storm had blown away, but they were going to praise God for helping them back to their feet. They would live their lives here on out more thankful for God’s blessings.
How has God answered a specific prayer of yours?
FOCAL VERSES
KJV Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.