Solving Big Problems In My Life Through Teamwork Series

As we continue our series today on Teamwork, “Together We Make a Difference,” we’re going to look at “Solving Big Problems in My Life Through Teamwork.”

A lot of the problems I face in life, especially the bigger ones, often aren’t solvable on my own. Not only do I need God’s help but I also need the help of a team of friends. God didn’t create me to go through life alone and try to do everything by myself. I was intentionally designed to work together with others to get important things done.

Nowhere in Scripture is this more evident than the story we’re going to revisit today. We’re going to look together again at one of the most exceptional and interesting accounts of teamwork found in the Bible.

Here it is from Mark chapter two.

1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Mark 2:1-12 (NLT)

We’re going to look at this story today from the perspective of the man on the mat - the paralyzed guy who had four friends who were determined to get their buddy to Jesus so that he could be healed.

This is not just a story about the four men who formed an unconventional problem-solving squad. It IS about them – and it’s certainly about Jesus – but it is also about a man who was in need of healing.

I want you to see this story today from the perspective of that hurting person. I want you to view it from the hurts in your life and in the lives of those you love and I want you to see that Jesus offers healing, hope, and help! Picture yourself on a stretcher being carried to Jesus by others.

This is a fabulous story but don’t leave today without applying the Word of God to your own life. God wants to deal with some big problems in your life. He wants to help you solve them! But He has chosen not to address some of them without your willingness to allow teamwork to play a role in helping solve those problems.

Three BIG Teamwork Solutions For My BIG Problems:

1. Teamwork can break the hold that paralysis has on me.

The man on the mat was paralyzed. I can’t imagine how tough that was. Everyone of us wants to be able to do as much stuff for ourselves as we can but for this man life was all about depending upon the help of others.

But this man is not alone in his helplessness. Some of us are paralyzed too. We may not suffer physical paralysis but we’re paralyzed nonetheless.

Some of us are spiritually paralyzed. We haven’t made any significant spiritual advancement in a long time because we feel helpless and we have come to the wrong conclusion that there’s no use trying anymore.

For others of us, our relationships may be paralyzed. Some of you suffer from paralyzed emotions. Some of you can’t move because fear has you paralyzed, or a lack of knowing what to do has you feeling helpless and hopeless. Others of us are paralyzed by bad habits.

What do I do when I’m stuck in a place where I think I have no options, no way to make any advancement in life, when I feel like its useless to even try anymore?