Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

It is such a joy and privilege to be with you this morning.

Pastor Keith and Sherri have been such a huge blessing to our family. I remember very vividly the first time I met Pastor Keith. My wife and I were attending a Denver Partnership Gathering with a bunch of other church planters and church partners. I was scoping out the planters hoping to find someone that might be a good fit for our church.

The host asked all of the church planters to present their name and location. I was honestly kind of zoned out till I heard a voice from the back. The ground shook, the heavens opened up, and I heard “Keith Baldridge, Broomfield.” Boom! That’s when I knew, I had to meet this guy.

I was the Missions Pastor at a church called Long Hollow at the time and it was shortly after that we became partners of The Living Stone Church. It was apparent that God was working in Keith and Sherri’s life and we wanted to be a part of it! It has been a huge blessing to our body in Tennessee to be able to partner with you guys and to come alongside to advance the Gospel in Broomfield and beyond.

I really couldn’t say enough about Keith and Sherri though. On more occasions than we could count they have opened up their home for our family to stay with them. I mean, we have 4 little kids! I would be like, “Umm, we have some great hotels that I could connect you with!” Seriously! But they have challenged the way we view hospitality in many ways and in moving to Boulder we said many times “We want to open up our home to future church planters and families the way the Baldridges opened up their home to us.”

Not only have they opened up their home to us, but through their generosity, The Living Stone Church has partnered significantly with our church plant by investing time, energy, resources, and financial support. In the early days Keith helped walk me through some very important steps of church planting and helped me understand the context in which we were moving.

So from the bottom of my heart and our family I want to say thank you to Keith and Sherri and THANK YOU The Living Stone Church.

So 4 weeks ago my wife and I moved to Boulder to be missionaries and to start a new church called Pinewood.

There is something unique and very special about Boulder. Yes, the mountains are amazing and the climate so far has been unbelievable, but I feel like God is doing something new in Boulder and the surrounding cities.

At times this has been a difficult transition for our family. We’ve experienced very high highs and very low lows. My wife grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and all of her family lived within about 10 minutes of each other. All of our friends, community, and even lifelong best friends lived in close proximity to us. Many of you have experienced this kind of transition before and understand the challenges involved in establishing yourselves in a new city.

But, God has been so loving and faithful through every step of the journey. We have seen him work in miraculous ways in just the short time we’ve been in Boulder. There has been divine appointment after divine appointment. We have continued to feel the favor of God over our family and Pinewood Church as we seek to see a thriving Gospel centered, Spirit filled, body of believers in Boulder.

The story we are going to look at this morning has impacted my life significantly. Especially in light of where we are currently in this church planting journey. And I believe it can speak to all of us today if we truly seek to be a thriving, Spirit filled, body of believers.

Title: Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

Question: Are you an isolated consumer or an engaged contributor? (Pause)

Intro: I’ve always said that if you want to make the least possible impact be negative, busy, and isolated. Isolated consumers show up occasionally, but never become a part of the bigger story. It’s not until you engage in relationships, engage the activity, engage the mission, and truly become contributors that you actually see things start to happen.

It’s the engagement that creates movement.

Big Idea: Today we’re looking at a story of ordinary people that worked together as a team, making irrational decisions, that led them to an unlikely man, resulting in something supernatural and life changing.

Ha! Did you get all that?! I’ll say it again.

Today we’re looking at a story of ordinary people that worked together as a team, making irrational decisions, that led them to an unlikely man, resulting in something supernatural and life changing.

This was a group of people that did not isolate themselves nor shy away from drawing attention to themselves. They displayed radical love and compassion, engaging in the situation and becoming contributors to the mission.

Passage: Mark 2:1-12 (Read with passion)

Mark is a master storyteller and he gives more of his Gospel to miracles than any other Gospel writer. Today we’re going to focus on one story in particular found in Mark 2:1-12. If you have your Bibles go ahead and turn there now. If you don’t have a bible I encourage you to download the YouVersion app on your phone and follow along as we look at this text.

“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,* 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”* 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?* 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?* 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—* 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”* 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Background:

Jesus performed many miracles around the region of Galilee, including this one. At this point in the story Jesus had demonstrated power over illness, creation, and demons many times. This was not an attempt to gain credibility or followers, this was God’s love and compassion on display in a very profound way. He was constantly showing the people that He had both the power and desire to perform miracles and forgive sins.

This miracle takes place early in Jesus’ ministry. At this point in the text He had already performed many miracles like turning water into wine, healing a government official's son and many others, cast out evil spirits, and cured a man of leprosy. I would imagine at this point in the story the word is out that Jesus is the miracle man!

You see, where the Good News is proclaimed the broken and sick are present.

This is clearly seen already in the ministry of Jesus. Whether Jesus went to them or they came to Jesus, the reality of their brokenness was very apparent. You might ask “What are you trying to say Pastor? You think I’m broken?” YES! Welcome to church! Glad you’re here. :) We are all a work in progress.

Let’s look at the story!

Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man:

1. And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

   1. Of course the house is packed! You have the greatest communicator that's ever walked the planet preaching the word.
   2. Mark doesn’t tell us why nobody made room. But it makes me wonder if the problem wasn’t the number of people inside the house, but the lack of compassion inside the people.
   3. I understand that everyone wants to be close to Jesus and hear what Jesus has to say, but we’ve got to make room for more people. C’mon.
   4. Let’s read on and see who we’re making room for...

2. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

   1. Teamwork makes the dream work right?
   2. These men didn’t isolate themselves, they didn’t ignore the need, they weren’t too busy to help, they picked up the paralyzed man and carried him to Jesus!

   3. Illust: I need 4 men to volunteer to come on stage!

      1. Ask the smallest one to try and carry me by himself
      2. Then bring in another one to help

      3. Finally reset with all four people picking me up and walking

         4. The mission becomes possible when we work together to see it through. It may be possible to do it alone, but why would we?
         5. Quote: I heard a quote this week by Craig Groeschel that says “If you want to be incrementally better, be competitive (isolated). If you want to be exponentially better, be a team. Because there’s no limit to what can be accomplished when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.”

      4. There’s a leadership principle here that I don’t want us to miss… everyone wins when we work together as a team.

      5. Silos, clubs, segregation, cliques, none of that is welcome in the house of God!

         6. Quote: One of my favorite books of all time is Extreme Ownership. In this book there’s a quote that says, “All elements within the greater team are crucial and must work together to accomplish the mission, mutually supporting one another for that singular purpose. Departments and groups within the team must break down silos, depend on each other and understand who depends on them.”

      6. Who’s depending on you? (Pause) What neighbor, co-worker, spouse, son, daughter, do you need to grab some people together and say “Let’s go!”

      7. We’ve all got people in our lives that are in need of a miracle. And there’s only one person I know that will never let them down, His name is Jesus!
      8. What is one tangible thing you can do for someone in need this week? Buy a stranger’s dinner, watch their kids so they can go on a date night, fix their car, anything! Use what you have to serve and love those God has placed in your life!

3. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him,

   1. Leaders that reflect the love and compassion of Jesus don’t allow obstacles to stop their progress. They work together to find a solution knowing it’s worth it!
   2. Fulfilling a dream does not come easy, it requires creativity, and it comes with a cost, count the cost and move forward together.

   3. Let’s talk about the crowd for a minute. Did they not see this group of four men trying to get to Jesus? Were they that oblivious?! I don’t think so.

      1. How often do we complain about this or that in church. He preached too long, the music was too loud, I can’t see the words! C’MON! HELLLOOO! Where’s the paralytic?!
      2. I think it’s time to stop throwing a pity party over things that have no eternal significance and start working together towards the mission God has called us to!
      3. Just because it’s familiar or comfortable doesn’t make it biblical or critical!
      4. It makes me ask how often we are so focused on our own seat that we miss the very people that Jesus came to save.
      5. Let’s not be a people that allows our comfort or critical attitude to dictate our contribution to the mission of God.

4. and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

   1. Imagine the spectacle this must have been. Dust, dirt, and sticks falling all over everybody and then a man comes down from the ceiling?!
   2. This is CRAZY, this is IRRATIONAL, but THIS IS ALSO FAITH, AND LOVE in action!
   3. Quote: Bob Goff says, “Accepting the invitation to show up in life is about moving from the bleachers to the field. It’s moving from developing opinions to developing options. It’s about having things matter to us enough that we stop just thinking about those things and actually do something about them. Simply put, Jesus is looking for us to accept the invitation to participate.”
   4. Do we have a “Whatever it takes mentality?” or are we perfectly content going about our daily lives never really risking anything for the sake of the Kingdom? (Pause)
   5. It’s time we risk it all and give it all for the sake of the King and His Kingdom.
   6. The love Jesus demonstrated to us was a crazy, irrational, risk it all, radical kind of love! As Christ followers we have a mandate to live the life of a Jesus follower. To be Christ like!

5. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

   1. When you see that someone is in need of something do you act? Is your faith active or passive. In your life, is faith a verb or concept?
   2. Words are a powerful thing, but words without action carry little weight.
   3. What if you told your wife “I love you”, but never took action in showing her that you love her? Probably wouldn’t go so well right?!
   4. What if you were about to jump out of an airplane and you said “I have faith that the parachute will catch me.”, but you never actually jump out of the airplane?
   5. Jesus saw their faith in action and forgave the man his sins.

6. 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

   1. The scribes did not recognize Jesus as God. This claim was punishable by death in their eyes. How could He claim to forgive sins of man? Only God can do that.
   2. Jesus used this moment, this perceived distraction, to proclaim His deity and power over both physical and spiritual healing.

7. 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all,

   1. Can you imagine the awe that filled the room. You have a man that was paralyzed just stand up and walk!
   2. The visual alone is astounding, but the details of all that had to happen medically is unbelievable. Only Jesus!

8. so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

   1. Will you engage and contribute to the mission of God believing that He is already at work in your life? Believing that He’s already at work in Broomfield, Colorado? (Pause)
   2. Are you living and loving in such a way that your neighborhood, work, or community says “We’ve never seen anything like this?” (Pause)

Closing: In closing I want you to know that God is in the miracle business.

1. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, defeating sin and death on the cross, He established the greatest miracle in all of human history. He made a way for you and me to have an intimate and personal relationship with God the Father.

   1. If God doesn’t do anything else in your life He did enough when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from our sins!
   2. He is in the miracle business! He’s working miracles in my life every single day!
   3. Have you experienced the transformational power of Jesus Christ in your life! Jesus brings the dead things to life! He makes the blind, see! He makes the lame, walk! He takes the broken things in your life and makes them new! And you can experience this today!

Application:

1. If you are a believer this morning, but are questioning whether God can use you or not, I want you to know this... There are many players in the scene, but without the paralytic we would have no story here!

   1. God doesn’t use you just because you’re broken, He wants to use you especially in your brokenness.
   2. Your greatest pain, your greatest fear, your greatest struggle is at the center of God’s work in your life and it is that part of your life God will use to change the world!
   3. God wants to take the things that are most painful in your life and use them to bring about the greatest progress for His Kingdom. C’mon, that’s good news for somebody this morning!

   4. Illust: Story of Nathan Moore and the Championship Game

      1. My senior year in high school my basketball team made it to the State Competition and ended up in the championship game. The game before our starting point guard named Nathan twisted his ankle and it was looking like he was not going to be able to play the championship game.
      2. We had played together for years and it was all of our senior years and there was no way we were going to hit the court without Nathan. Against all wisdom and rational thinking the coach let him play. We were going up against our arch rivals, Raleigh Durham.
      3. The game was a brawl back and forth. It came to the last play of the game and we were down by 1 and the other team had possession of the ball. They inbounded the ball and Nathan makes an unbelievable steal and passes the ball down court and we hit a last second buzzer to win the championship game.
      4. The point is this, the team rallied together and played better because of Nathan’s injury. Without the sprained ankle it is doubtful that we would have a championship. We played with more passion, drive, and teamwork than ever before! We were winning this for Nathan and for each other.
         5. Don’t hide behind your pain this morning. Don't say “I'm going to sit the bench on this one. Don’t allow the devil to trick you to think that you cannot be used by God. That is a lie! God can use you. God is looking for you. And God has a beautiful plan for your life. HAVE FAITH, GET UP, AND WALK!

Let’s pray.