Locations & Times

Your kid comes home from camp on fire for Jesus. A few weeks later, it's like it never happened.

In this message from Mark 2, we look at the story of four friends who carried a paralyzed man to Jesus because he couldn't get there on his own. It's a picture of what it takes to break a cycle of dysfunction in a family or a generation: someone has to grab a corner of the mat and carry the next person toward Jesus, because they can't force their way there alone.

Whether you're a parent watching your kid drift after a spiritual high, a leader wondering if your investment in a young person is actually landing, or someone still carrying the weight of what wasn't given to you growing up, this message is for you.

In this message you'll discover:

— Why a mountaintop moment like camp fades fast without people carrying a young person afterward

— The four "corners of the mat" every next generation needs: parents, friends, leaders, and the church

— The true story of a 14-year-old boy whose courage broke a cycle of abuse in his own home

— Practical ways to show up for the young people in your life this week, starting now

Aaron Schroeder & Jim Burgen

August 9th, 2026

// Bible References: Mark 2:1-12, Mark 2:1-2, Mark 2:3-4, Mark 1:1-45

// Community Question: Who was someone outside of your immediate family who made a meaningful impact on you growing up? What did they do that you still remember?

// Discussion Questions

1. In Mark 2:1-5, four friends carried a paralyzed man through a crowd and even tore open a roof just to get him in front of Jesus. What do you think it actually cost these friends — in time, effort, and reputation — to do that? And what does their willingness to 'look ridiculous' tell us about what it means to truly love someone?

2. Aaron talked about four 'corners of the mat' — parents, students, leaders, and the church — each playing a unique role in carrying the next generation to Jesus. Why do you think it requires all four corners working together, and what happens when one corner is missing or checked out?

3. Jim shared the story of Isaac Wagner, a 14-year-old boy who looked his dad in the face during a tense moment and said, 'Something's missing in your life and I think it's Jesus.' What gave Isaac the courage to say something that risky? And what does his story tell us about how God can use even young, imperfect people to carry others toward Him?

4. Jim referenced Jeremiah 29:11 — 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope' — and said that God doesn't just wish this for us, He declares it like a king. What is the difference between hoping something good happens and actually declaring it with authority? How does understanding God as a king who declares change the way you relate to His promises?

// Challenge: Who is someone in the next generation God may be inviting you to “grab a corner of the mat” for—and what would showing up for them actually look like?