Sermon preview, week of August 19, 2025
Make Known (Witness Goal 2025-2026)
Witness makes Jesus known in Christ-sharing relationships. These men who carry a man who is paralyzed are determined that this man on a mat would see Jesus.
This Sunday’s order
- Sunday
- Reading
- Luke 5:17-26
- Series
- Get Loud
- Preaching
- Jonathan Balmer
This is a sermon preview for a sermon which is part of our "Get Loud" series on our goals and watchword for 2025-2026 .
The readingLuke 5:17-26
Visit FBCM’s YouTube channel to view video live stream (live) or audio version of sermon (published week after).
Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
- From Luke 5:17-26
Read Luke 5:17-26
17One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick. 18Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus, 19but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” 25And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Berean Standard Bible, public domain
Witness makes Jesus known in Christ-sharing relationships.
These men who carry a man who is paralyzed are determined that this man on a mat would see Jesus.
They lower him through the tiles of the roof when the house is full. Are we committed to removing whatever obstacles stand between our friends meeting the healing and forgiveness we meet in Jesus?
Christ-sharing relationships take time, but alongside their gentleness is a boldness that Jesus is so good how could we not want our friends to encounter him? Jesus's response to theman reveals that Christ is more than a good teacher or miraculous healer: he is the One who does what God alone can do.
In 2025-26, FBCM's Witness goal is "to make known what God has done, FBCM builds Christ-sharing relationships with people in Muncie and beyond to spread the good news." We will do that through engaged membership, local partnership, and kingdom citizenship.
You can find all our goals on our "Who We Are" page. Our goals for Witness (Evangelism) are copied below:
- Engaged Membership, Church members actively talk about their faith and aim to live in a way that reflects Jesus.
- Local Partnership, We believe God has placed us in downtown Muncie for a reason. We work with local groups to bring light and hope to our community.
- Kingdom Citizenship, Jesus told us to share the good news everywhere. We support Global Servants (missionaries) and pray for people from all over the world to follow Jesus. We also celebrate the wonderful diversity of God's Kingdom, the Global Church.
