Open House | “We Carry Mats” Sermon

Impact Church London Podcast

Series: “Open House”. Sermon: “We Carry Mats”

Proverbs 9:1

“Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;”

Matthew 16:18

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Hebrews 3:6 (NLT)

“But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, …”

Galatians 6:10

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Ephesians 3:10

“God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

You must find companions or make them. The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.

John Wesley

Mark 1:37

“Everyone is looking for You.”

Mark 2:1-12

“And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. …

1. A Place Where Crowds Gather

His presence is important at Impact Church!

He draws a crowd.

We want to remove obstacles to people encountering Jesus.

And He preached the word to them.

2. A Place Where Word Is Preached

An anointed proclamation of the Word is the same as a personal encounter with Jesus.

E.B.I. Pulpit … “Sir, we Would See Jesus.” John 12:21

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.

3. A Place Where You Bring Friends

Thankfully this person had friends.

In a culture that would have believed he was cursed.

He deserved what he was experiencing.

Sadly brokenness causes isolation and avoidance.

Luke 24:46-47

“Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations,

beginning at Jerusalem.”

I’m here today because someone picked up a corner of my mat.

People were wiling to engage my brokenness.

People saw God’s purpose in my life.

My wife carries my mat everyday.

And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith,…

4. A Place Faith Is Expressed

I just know if I remove the barriers to getting people in the house they will experience breakthrough.

Willing to go to extremes!!!

He called it FAITH!

I call the police!

He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

(Friends: Not quite what we were expecting)

5. A Place Of Good News

God is good. He forgives you.

He’s not mad at you.

He’s always been on a loving pursuit .

Forgiveness is not something God does, it’s something He has done.

Marghanita Laski, a well known secular humanist and novelist,

not long before she died in 1988, in television interview said:

“What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.”

And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, …

He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’

6. A Place Religious Barriers Are Exposed

False motives and faulty belief systems get exposed.

What matters most?

You’re Forgiven!!!

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

7. A Place Where The Miraculous Is Manifest

We see people carrying what they used to lie on. Now it’s a testimony!

Amazed (existēmi):— to throw out of position, to astonish, throw into wonderment, to be out of one’s mind.

Luke 7:16-17 (Message)

“They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, ‘God is back, looking to the needs of his people!’ The news of Jesus spread all through the country.”

At Impact Church we carry mats.

We do circles and rows.

1. Get Connected

2. Stay Connected

3. Make Connections

John 1:17-18

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” Jesus Is God!!!