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Summary

Dr. John continues his sermon series ‘God Heals’ by examining the story of the woman with the issue of blood from Mark 5:25-34. He focuses on how faith that receives healing must act courageously, not just remain passive. The woman didn’t just believe internally – she took action by pushing through the crowd and touching Jesus’ garment. The pastor emphasizes that faith without corresponding action is dead, and that true faith makes demands on God’s power. He shares a personal testimony about his premature son Joel, describing how he acted on his faith by purchasing a minivan while his son was critically ill in the NICU. The message concludes with the truth that Jesus recognized and rewarded the woman’s faith, calling her ‘daughter’ and declaring that her faith had made her well.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and minds, ready to receive what You have for us in this time together. We ask that You would speak to each person here according to their need and help us to be receptive to Your voice. Lord, remove any distractions or preconceived notions that might hinder us from hearing You clearly. We invite Your Holy Spirit to guide our discussion and reveal fresh insights from Your Word. Help us to grow in faith and understanding as we fellowship together. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What’s one thing you’ve done recently that required you to step out of your comfort zone or take a leap of faith?

Key Verses

• “A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, ‘If I just touch His garments, I will get well.’ Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched My garments?’ And His disciples said to Him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.’” Mark 5:25-34
• “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:17
• “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
• “and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.” James 5:15

Questions

• What strikes you most about the woman with the issue of blood and her approach to getting healed?
• Dr. John said ‘Faith that works does something.’ What are some practical ways we can act on our faith when believing for healing?
• How do we balance taking steps of faith with being wise and not foolish (like continuing to take prescribed medication)?
• The woman ‘pulled power’ from Jesus through her faith. What does this teach us about how faith operates?
• Why do you think Jesus asked ‘Who touched me?’ when many people were touching him in the crowd?
• Dr. John shared about buying a minivan while his son was critically ill. What are some appropriate ‘steps of faith’ someone might take when believing for healing?
• Jesus called the woman ‘daughter’ instead of rebuking her. What does this reveal about God’s heart toward those who reach out in faith?
• How can we grow our faith when it feels weak or insufficient for the situation we’re facing?

Life Application

This week, identify one specific area where you need God’s healing or breakthrough. Take one concrete step of faith related to that need – whether it’s confessing healing over your body daily, planning for your recovery, or acting in a way that demonstrates your expectation that God will move. Remember to be wise, not foolish, in your actions.

Key Takeaways

• Faith that receives healing acts courageously – it doesn’t remain passive but takes corresponding action
• Faith without works is dead – there must be action that accompanies our belief
• Faith releases and pulls on God’s power, making demands on His ability to heal and restore
• God recognizes and rewards faith – He doesn’t rebuke those who reach out to Him in faith
• We can grow our faith through hearing and immersing ourselves in God’s Word

Ending Prayer

Father God, thank You for this time of fellowship and learning together. We are grateful for the example of the woman with the issue of blood who showed us what courageous faith looks like. Lord, help each of us to not just be hearers of Your Word, but doers who act on what we believe. Give us wisdom to take appropriate steps of faith in the areas where we need Your healing touch. Increase our faith, Lord, and help us to pull on Your power with confidence, knowing that You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You. May we leave here today with renewed hope and expectation that You are still the God who heals. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.