Moving Forward in Faith: The Power of Community

There is always a reason to shout and give God praise, no matter what we’re facing. Even when life feels stagnant or we’re weighed down by burdens, God calls us to movement—forward motion in faith. The story from Luke 5 of the paralyzed man and his friends shows us the power of community and determination. The enemy loves stagnation, but God honors those who refuse to let obstacles or the indifference of others keep them from pressing into His presence. Sometimes, it’s not about having the perfect plan, but about having the right people around you—people who will carry you when you can’t move yourself, and who will push through the crowd to get you to Jesus.

We also see in the feeding of the five thousand that Jesus didn’t curse what wasn’t enough; He looked up to heaven, blessed it, and began to move with what He had. The miracle happened in the movement, in the distribution. When we move in faith, even with what seems insufficient, God multiplies it. Too often, we curse our “not enough” instead of blessing it and trusting God to be more than enough.

Another key truth is that we must be careful what we carry. Many of us are weighed down by things that don’t belong to us—anxieties, fears, and burdens that the enemy tries to hand us. We start to claim them as our own, but we’re not authorized or equipped to carry them. God gives us grace and authority for what He’s assigned to us, not for what the enemy tries to load us down with. We need to put down what isn’t ours and carry only what God has given us.

Community is vital. When one of us is in trouble, we’re all in trouble; when one rejoices, we all rejoice. We’re called to be a people who celebrate together, mourn together, and push each other forward. Don’t let the world or critics set your standard—extend grace, set the tone, and keep moving toward God. Whatever has been carrying you, by God’s grace, you’re about to carry it. God is the God of more than enough, and He’s surrounded you with the right people to help you move forward into all He has for you.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Movement breaks stagnation and invites God’s power. The enemy thrives when we’re stuck, but faith-filled movement—no matter how small—opens the door for God to work. Don’t let the indifference or criticism of others keep you from pressing into God’s presence; radical faith finds a way, even when the way is blocked. [04:02]
• 2. The people you surround yourself with matter more than the plans you make. In critical moments, it’s not the perfect strategy that brings breakthrough, but the presence of faithful, committed people who will carry you to Jesus when you can’t get there yourself. Invest in relationships with those who will move with you toward God. [08:21]
• 3. God multiplies what we move in faith, even when it’s not enough. Jesus didn’t curse the little He had; He looked up, blessed it, and began to distribute. The miracle happened as He moved—so don’t despise small beginnings or limited resources. Bless what you have, look to God, and step out; He is the God of more than enough. [13:08]
• 4. Carry only what God has authorized you to carry. Many burdens we bear—fear, anxiety, shame—don’t belong to us and weigh us down because we’re not equipped to handle them. Learn to discern what is yours to carry and what you need to lay down; freedom and movement come when you release what isn’t yours and walk in the authority God has given you. [24:14]
• 5. Community is God’s answer to isolation and stagnation. When one suffers, all suffer; when one rejoices, all rejoice. True spiritual family means we share each other’s burdens and victories, refusing to let anyone be left behind or stuck. Celebrate the people God has placed around you, and be the kind of friend who helps others move forward in faith. [35:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:37] - Always a Reason to Shout
• [02:23] - The Power of Community and Friendship
• [04:02] - Breaking Through Stagnation
• [08:21] - Players Over Plays: The Importance of People
• [09:51] - Facing Criticism and Moving Forward
• [13:08] - Blessing What Isn’t Enough
• [15:03] - The Mouse Trap: Lessons in Community
• [17:01] - When One Hurts, All Hurt
• [19:02] - A House of Celebration
• [23:11] - Carrying What Isn’t Yours
• [24:14] - Authorized to Carry: Laying Down Burdens
• [26:14] - Setting the Standard: Extending Grace
• [32:22] - Releasing Grace and Moving Forward
• [33:37] - From Being Carried to Carrying
• [35:01] - The Power of Spiritual Family
• [38:25] - Prayer and Release

Bible Reading

Luke 5:17-26 (ESV) — > On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

Matthew 14:15-21 (ESV) — > Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Observation Questions

1. In the story from Luke 5, what obstacles did the paralyzed man and his friends face when trying to get to Jesus? How did they respond to those obstacles? [02:23]
2. According to the sermon, what was the difference between the people in the house with Jesus and the friends who brought the paralyzed man? [04:02]
3. In the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14), what did Jesus do with the little that was available before the miracle happened? [13:08]
4. What did Jesus tell the healed man to do after he was healed, and why is that detail important? [19:02]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the friends of the paralyzed man were so determined to get him to Jesus, even when the way was blocked? What does this say about the kind of community God wants for us? [02:23]
2. The sermon says, “Movement breaks stagnation and invites God’s power.” Why is movement in faith so important, even when we feel stuck or don’t have enough? [04:02]
3. Jesus didn’t curse what wasn’t enough—He blessed it and moved with it. What does this teach us about our attitude toward our own “not enough” moments? [13:08]
4. The pastor talked about carrying burdens that don’t belong to us. How can we tell the difference between what God has given us to carry and what the enemy tries to load us down with? [24:14]

Application Questions

1. Think about a time when you felt stuck or stagnant in your faith or life. What was holding you back? What is one small step of movement you could take this week to invite God’s power into that area? [04:02]
2. Who are the “players” (people) in your life who help you move toward Jesus when you can’t do it on your own? How can you invest more in those relationships, or be that kind of friend for someone else? [08:21]
3. Is there an area in your life where you feel like you don’t have enough—time, money, energy, faith? Instead of cursing it, what would it look like to bless it and trust God to multiply it? [13:08]
4. Are you carrying any burdens—like anxiety, fear, or shame—that don’t belong to you? What is one practical way you can lay those down this week and only carry what God has given you? [24:14]
5. The sermon said, “When one of us is in trouble, we’re all in trouble; when one rejoices, we all rejoice.” How can your small group better live out this kind of community? Is there someone in your group or church who needs to be carried right now? [17:01]
6. The pastor shared about not letting the “vibe” or attitude of others set your standard. Is there a situation where you’ve let someone else’s negativity or criticism affect your faith or actions? How can you set the tone and extend grace instead? [26:14]
7. What is something that has been “carrying you” (a habit, a fear, a circumstance), that by God’s grace, you want to start carrying instead? What’s one step you can take to walk in that freedom this week? [33:37]