Summary
In week three of the series 'What Do You Want?', the pastor explores John chapter 5, focusing on the story of a paralyzed man who had been ill for 38 years and was waiting by the pool of Bethesda for healing. Jesus approaches this man and asks a pointed question: 'Do you want to get well?' Rather than answering with hope, the man responds with excuses, revealing that his identity had become completely wrapped up in his condition. The pastor connects this ancient story to a modern concept called 'illness engulfment, where a person allows a diagnosis, wound, or brokenness to fully define who they are. The sermon challenges listeners to examine whether they have allowed their brokenness, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, to become their identity. Jesus does not simply offer physical healing; He invites people into a new identity as transformed followers of Him. The pastor emphasizes that healing is rarely instant and usually comes through a process of vulnerability, community, and allowing Jesus to redefine who we are. The call to action is clear: stop living in your doubts and start living in your decisions, because Jesus works in our decisions, not our doubts.
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together today. As we open Your Word and discuss what it means to pursue healing and a new identity in You, we ask that You soften our hearts and open our minds. Remove any walls we have built around our brokenness, and help us to be honest with You and with each other. May Your Spirit guide every word spoken and every thought shared in this group today. We surrender our doubts and our fears to You, and we ask that You meet each of us exactly where we are. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What is one hobby or activity that you picked back up after a long break, and what motivated you to return to it?
Key Verses
John 5:1-8
John 9:3
James 5:16
Philippians 2
Questions
Jesus asked the paralyzed man, 'Do you want to get well?' rather than simply healing him
immediately. Why do you think Jesus asked this question, and what does it reveal about how He
approaches people?
The man by the pool responded to Jesus with excuses about why He could not get into the water. Have you ever responded to an opportunity for change or healing with reasons why it was not possible? What held you back?
The sermon introduced the concept of 'illness engulfment,' where a person's condition or brokenness becomes their entire identity. In what ways do you see this happening in our culture today, and how does it affect people's ability to find healing? The pastor pointed out that social media can reinforce false identities built around diagnoses or struggles. How do you think we can be more discerning about the voices and influences we allow to shape how we see ourselves?
Jesus told the healed man to 'stop sinning or something even worse may happen.' What does this tell us about the connection between spiritual health and physical or emotional well-being? The sermon stated that 'Jesus doesn't work in our doubts, He works in our decisions.' What is a decision you feel God may be calling you to make right now, even if doubts are still present? James 5:16 says we should confess our sins to one another so that we may be healed. Why do you think confession within community is so important for healing, and what makes it so difficult for most people?
The pastor challenged everyone to leave the gathering with a new connection, someone who could eventually become a safe person to be vulnerable with. What does it look like practically to build that kind of trust with someone in your community?
Life Application
This week, take one intentional step toward healing by investing in a relationship. Reach out to someone in your church or small group and set up a time to connect, whether over coffee, a walk, or a phone call. You do not need to share your deepest struggles right away. Simply begin building the kind of friendship where, over time, you can be honest and vulnerable. As you do, ask God daily to help you release any part of your identity that is rooted in your brokenness and to replace it with the truth of who He says you are.
Key Takeaways
Allowing brokenness, illness, or a diagnosis to define your identity is a real and dangerous pattern that Jesus directly confronts with the question, 'Do you want to get well?'Jesus offers more than physical healing. He invites us into a completely new identity as people transformed and defined by our relationship with Him. Healing is often a process that requires vulnerability, community, and the willingness to let others into our struggles, not just a single miraculous moment. Jesus works in our decisions, not our doubts. We can carry our doubts, but we must still choose a direction and take a step of faith. Our culture, including social media, can reinforce false identities built around wounds and diagnoses, making it even more important to anchor our identity in what God says about us.
Ending Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the truth we have wrestled with today. Thank You that You do not define us by our brokenness, our past, or our diagnosis. You see us fully and You still walk toward us with healing and a new identity. We ask that You give each person in this group the courage to take the next step, whether that means reaching out to someone, being vulnerable in a relationship, or simply making a decision to trust You more deeply. Help us to stop hiding behind our doubts and to step forward in faith. Remind us daily that our identity is found in You alone. Carry us forward as a community that pursues healing together. In Your name we pray, Amen.
