RealLife Study Group

Ice Breaker: "Animal Kingdom"
Description: The group leader whispers to each guest the name of an animal or animals depending on how large the group is. At a given signal they are to imitate the sound of that animal or animals (it could be a cow, pig, horse, tiger, cat, goat, dog, sheep, rabbit, snake, lama, wolf, monkey, mouse, parrot, elephant, donkey, dolphin, etc....). When they sound like a riotous zoo they are told to stop. The guests are to write down the names of all the animals they heard. The one with the longest list wins.

Forgive: To be like God, To cancel the debt.
• You are never more like God than when you forgive.
• Forgiveness is love in action.

Text: Luke 5:17-26

Study Questions
1. If you had been the paralytic when your friends decided to take you up on the roof, remove the tiles, and lower you into the room, how would you feel?
1. Reluctant: "You're going to embarrass me."
2. Scared: "You're going to drop me."
3. Dubious: "You guys are crazy."
4. Grateful: "I appreciate your concern."
5. Apprehensive: "They're going to throw us out."
6. Mixed: "I don't think it's going to work but I'm willing to trust you guys."


2. What would it take for you to lower your friend like that?
1. Organization
2. Courage
3. A good sense of humor
4. Physical Strength
5. Desperation
6. Insanity


3. When the crown heard all of the commotion on the roof and saw the paralytic being lowered into the room, how do you think the bystanders felt?
1. Annoyed: Don't these guys have any respect?
2. Amused: This is the best show in town.
3. Angry: Throw them out.
4. Sympathy: These guys really love their friend.
5. Confused: Who's going to fix my roof?
6. Jealous: I wish I would have thought of that.


4. What do you think the people thought when Jesus said to the paralytic, "...friend your sins are forgiven"?
1. Who does this guy think he is?
2. You have no right to think his paralysis was caused by sin.
3. Wait a minute, he didn't ask to be forgiven.
4. Jesus is saying the same grace that forgives you can heal you too.


5. If something like this happened in church what would the people say?


6. How many friends do you have that you could count on in a crisis? What was your last real crisis?