Jesus Did What? When Faith Feels Stuck!
John 5:1-9
What happens when you’re doing everything God told you to do—and you’re still in the same spot? What do you do when your faith is strong, your heart is sincere, your obedience is steadfast—and yet the breakthrough hasn’t broken through? Sometimes we’re waiting for Jesus to act, but He has already spoken—the miracle is in motion. The real question is: Will we trust Him enough to take the next step?
- Have you ever felt stuck in an area of your life, even though you were doing “all the right things”?
- Read John 5:5-6. Was this man looking for Jesus? Jesus enters the in midst of brokenness, hurt, and impossible situations. Why do you think Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to get well?” What does this question reveal about the man’s condition beyond his physical paralysis?
- Jesus confronts our patterns before bringing a breakthrough. How did Jesus disrupt the man’s way of thinking? Can you share a time when Jesus revealed or confronted a pattern in your life?
- Sometimes, you can sit in a situation for so long that you begin to build your identity around it. You stop expecting, stop dreaming, and stop moving forward. You still show up, but you’ve settled. You’ve learned how to survive in that “stuckness.” How does the resurrection of Jesus give hope to people who feel stuck in their situation?
- Read John 5:6-7. Jesus didn’t ask, “Why haven’t you been healed yet?” He didn’t ask, “Who’s been getting in front of you?” He didn’t ask, “What’s the method?” Instead, He asked a question that should’ve been simple: “Do you want to get well?” Rather than offering a yes or no, the man gives Jesus his expectation. “Here’s how it’s supposed to work, Jesus. I believe healing is possible… but it has to happen like this.” What are some excuses or beliefs you’ve held that have kept you spiritually paralyzed?
- The sermon mentions three symptoms of misplaced faith: frustration, exhaustion, and blame. Have you experienced any of these in your own life? How so?
- Why is obedience often the bridge between being stuck and experiencing a breakthrough?
- Read Matthew 11:28. Through His resurrection, Jesus proved that He is not only willing but able to carry our burdens. Because He lives, we are invited into a living, ongoing relationship where He continues to offer rest, not only for our bodies but also for our anxious, weary hearts. Why do you think it’s so easy to carry burdens that Jesus has already invited us to lay down? How can this group support or pray for you as you wait, believe, or take your next step forward?
- Read Jeremiah 17:5-6. You can be in the right place and still miss the movement of God. According to this passage, what three things identify a person who is cursed? Why do you think this is true? What does it mean to be cursed
- Read John 5:8-9. Let’s not miss the miracle here. The man believed his problem was paralysis, but his real issue was misplaced trust. He relied on a process. He depended on a pool. He put his faith in people. And despite all that trust, he remained stuck. Is there an area of your life where you might be placing your trust in a “method” or your own understanding rather than in Jesus Himself?
