BUILT DIFFERENT WEEK 2: What To Do If You’re Spiritually Stuck

May 4, 2025

“Has anyone ever told you they loved you and you KNEW they were lying? How did you know? Maybe someone said they had prayed for you and you knew they hadn’t. What gave you that feeling? I’ll bet it was because what they said, didn’t match what they did.”

“The Big Idea: Genuine Faith Can’t Do Nothing”

[James 2:17 NLT] “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

THE STORY: FOUR FRIENDS AND A PARALYZED MAN

[Luke 5:17-26 NLT] “One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘Young man, your sins are forgiven.’ But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, ‘Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!’ Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, ‘Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 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, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, ‘We have seen amazing things today!'”

“Because these guys did 3 things most won’t do, they experienced 3 things most won’t experience.”

STEP UP — AND BE PART OF SOMEONE ELSE’S MIRACLE

“The paralyzed man never would have made it to Jesus without someone willing to act. His miracle started when his friends stepped up.”

“They didn’t wait for a title, permission, or ideal conditions — they saw the need and moved.”

[1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT] “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.”

“Real faith doesn’t just feel compassion; it takes responsibility.”

“The moment you step up, you put yourself in a position to be used by God to change someone else’s life.”

“The miracle God wants to do around you starts with your willingness to do what you already see needs to be done.”

“What if someone’s eternal destiny was hinging on you taking your next step of obedience. You don’t have to have all the answers, just say something.”

CARRY THE WEIGHT — AND SEE GOD WORK THROUGH YOU

“The paralyzed man couldn’t get to Jesus alone. His friends had to carry weight he couldn’t carry. His friends couldn’t heal him, but they could carry him — and they did.”

“They carried what he couldn’t, and their faith opened the door for Jesus to move.”

[Galatians 6:2 NLT] “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”

“Who around you is carrying something too heavy, alone — and how can you help carry it with them?”

GO THE EXTRA MILE — AND EXPERIENCE MORE OF JESUS

“When the friends saw the crowd blocking the door, they didn’t give up — they got creative. They climbed a roof, dug through it, and lowered their friend down.”

“They did more than expected, because love always goes further than convenience.”

[John 13:34-35 NLT] “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

“Sometimes the greatest encounters with Jesus happen after the effort.”

[Matthew 5:41 NLT] “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.”

“If that was for our enemies, what do you think he expects for us toward our neighbors?”

CONCLUSION

“These four friends refused to just believe in theory that Jesus could change someone’s life — they believed it enough to do something about it. They stepped up, carried real weight, and went the extra mile. Because of their faith, someone else’s life was changed forever.”

“Where is your faith stuck in neutral right now? Where do you feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit to move from believing something to getting personally involved in something?”

“Genuine faith can’t do nothing – not because we’re trying to earn something – but because we’ve already received everything.”

“OR…maybe today, you feel like you’re the one stuck on the mat. You’re not the friend doing the carrying – you’re the one who needs to be carried.”

“Jesus doesn’t just stare at you in need. He arranged for you to be here. NOT to say, ‘Clean yourself up and walk.’ Jesus says, ‘Your sins are forgiven… Get up… I’ve got you.'”

“You don’t need to carry the weight of shame, guilt, or fear anymore. Jesus already carried it for you — to the cross. You also, can be forgiven, healed and given a new start.”

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