Red Letter Questions, Part 2: “What Do You Want Me to Do For You?”

Brian Behrends, Creative Pastor

Matthew 20:29–34
²⁹ As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
        ³¹ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
        ³² Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
        ³³ “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
        ³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Your notes

Luke 18:10–14
¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
        ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
        ¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
        ¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Your notes

2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Your notes

1 Timothy 4:14–15
¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through prophecy when the body of elders laid hands on you. ¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone can see your progress.

Your notes

Next Step

Hebrews 4:16 says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

This week, spend some time asking God to 1) show you what it is that you need and 2) give you the boldness to ask. When you sense that you’ve heard from him, take the opportunity to ask him out loud, even if only a whisper, for a desire of your heart that comes to mind. It could be a simple request—or a deep desire that you have withheld from God or denied.

Small Group Questions

1. When you shop at a big store like Costco or Home Depot, are you the kind of person who asks for help to find what you’re looking for, or do you like to hunt it down yourself?
2. Why do you think God asks us what we need if he already knows?
3. What’s the primary reason you don’t ask for help from people? From God?
4. What does it mean for you to boast in your weakness?
5. What do you want Jesus to do for you this week?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?