"The gospel of the kingdom includes the past (and present) healing and deliverance ministry of the Messiah"
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.Do a little digging on the Greek word behind "laying" with fever (a great tool is using the Blue Letter Bible App or website, and clicking on the verse, then click "interlinear/concordance," then click on the Strong's Number in the middle column for the word translated "laying"). What does this tell us about the impact of the fever on Peter's Mother-in-law?
2. Have you ever been so sick you felt near death, or could not function? Describe some of your thoughts at that time? What about your prayers?
3. How does Jesus' touching the hand of the woman show value and dignity in that culture? What should we take from this in the way we treat people who may be given less value in our culture?
4. Compare Luke 4:39 with Matthew's version. What difference does Luke include with regard to how Jesus approached the fever? Is this significant? Why or why not?
5. Do another brief word study on "rebuke" found in Luke 4:39 (use the same process listed in question 1, but this time make sure to look at all the places in the New Testament that the Greek word behind "rebuke" is used and let the context help you draw some conclusions about the meaning and use of that word). What are some conclusions you might draw?
6. Matthew tells us that many who were "demonized" and sick were brought to Jesus, and that he cast out the demons with simply a word, and healed all who were sick. Talk about something you learned about "demonization."
7. Matthew connects Jesus' healing ministry with the Atonement (the sacrificial death) of the Messiah by quoting Isaiah 53:4. Look up the verse in Isaiah and compare it with Matthew's quote. What is different? How might we explain that? What does Matthew's quoting Isaiah 53:4 teach us about the connection between the healing (and deliverance) ministry of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God?
8. If the deliverance and healing ministry of the Messiah is included in the gospel of the kingdom, how might that effect the way we evangelize?
9. Take time to pray for those in your group who are sick, or have pain. Does anyone in your group think they might be afflicted by a demon? Visit about that (maybe one on one, or in an even smaller group setting) and take a moment to pray over that.