Locations & Times

What if the thing keeping you stuck isn’t your past but the story you’re telling yourself about it? In John 5, Jesus meets a man who’s been stuck for 38 years and asks a question that feels almost offensive: “Do you want to get well?” This message digs into how labels, excuses, and a quiet victim mindset can keep us on the mat even when Jesus is standing right in front of us. It’s honest about real pain while confronting the patterns that shrink our faith and limit what we believe is possible.

This story isn’t just about healing legs. It’s about healing identity. Jesus doesn’t shame the man, but He does challenge him to move. When we stop letting our wounds define us and start trusting what Jesus can do, agency returns, faith grows, and hope comes back online. The Father is still working, and that means you’re not finished yet. 

Message Discussion Questions

Do you want to get well?

Jesse DeYoung
Feb 1st, 2026

// Bible References: John 5:1-3,5-17; Heb 4:12; Phil 4:13; 2 Tim 1:7; Rom 8:11,37

// Start the Conversation: As we’ve gone through John, has anything changed in the way you think, pray, or live…even in a small way? What’s one example?

// Discussion Questions:

1. When Jesus asks the invalid man, “Do you want to get well?”, it’s a surprisingly personal question. Sometimes healing requires change, and change can feel risky or uncomfortable. In what ways do you think we can resist real healing (maybe by settling into familiar patterns, routines, or excuses)? Is there an area of your life where you’ve grown more comfortable managing the pain than trusting Jesus to bring change, and what might be holding you back from taking that step?
2. Jesse shared how God’s Word acts like a mirror, revealing things about us we might prefer to ignore or blame on others. As you’ve been in Scripture recently, has anything surfaced that’s been hard to admit, wrestle with, or respond to honestly? What do you think God might be inviting you to see or trust Him with in that area?
3. Read John 5:17. When Jesus says, “My Father is working until now, and I am working,” he is reminding us that God has not stopped moving, even when we feel stuck. How does that challenge the way you think about what’s possible in your own life? Is there a situation you’ve quietly labeled as “too far gone” or “never going to change” that you need to surrender to God’s ongoing work?

4. Jesse encouraged us to continue (or re-engage) with the daily Bible reading in our Flatirons notebooks. Daily time in Scripture isn’t about checking a box; it’s about giving God space to shape how we think, respond, and live. Why do you think a consistent rhythm of reading the Bible matters in everyday life, and how have you seen (even in small ways) this practice influence your perspective, decisions, or posture as you move through your day?

Who is one person you know, who might benefit from stepping into biblical community this semester, and how could you simply share what being in community has meant for you? Take a moment to pray for them, and if the opportunity comes, invite them to explore community options here: www.flatironschurch.com/community/