March 22 2026
The heart of a Rust City Group is to care for people and carry the culture of Rust City Church.
You don’t have to follow this guide like a script! Use discernment from the Holy Spirit as you lead your group discussion.
If you notice that someone in your group needs additional care or support that’s beyond your capacity, please let a pastor know.
ICEBREAKER QUESTION OPTION:
What’s your dream vacation?
barely breathing pt. 3
SPEAKER: Pastor Wes Washington
Scriptures—
John 9:1-3, 6-12, 18-21, 28-38
Key Takeaways—
Meeting Jesus often brings life disruption rather than immediate ease, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Peter, Paul, and the Samaritan woman
Jesus disrupts our cyclical patterns of behavior (sin cycles, emotional cycles, relationship cycles, addiction cycles) to bring transformation
Expect disruption before transformation—God must shake things up to rebuild them according to His design
Full obedience is the path to breakthrough; partial obedience yields no breakthrough; we cannot "hack" God's instructions or find shortcuts to His will
Stop walking around with "mud in your eyes"—go where God has called you to go
The blind man experienced two healings: physical sight restored first, then spiritual sight when he recognized Jesus as Lord
Your transformed life should intrigue others and point them to Jesus
Discussion Questions—
Why do you think Jesus chose to use mud and require the blind man to walk to the pool of Siloam rather than healing him instantly on the spot?
How can we prepare ourselves and new believers for the reality that life may become more challenging after encountering Jesus rather than easier? How can we encourage them to focus on the benefits of their relationship with Jesus, despite the challenges they face?
What is the difference between partial obedience and full obedience, and how might partial obedience be preventing breakthrough in your spiritual life?
Are there patterns or cycles in your own life that might Jesus be calling you to disrupt in order to experience transformation?
The blind man's parents distanced themselves from him when he testified about Jesus. What relationships or comforts might following Jesus cost you, and how do you reconcile that sacrifice?
What might having and sharing a genuine testimony about God’s transforming work in our lives cost us?
Practical application—
Remember to join the Rust City Bible plan for this sermon series
Consider implementing the following this week:
step 1: Reflection
Identify the Cycle You’re Trapped in
Think about and write down the specific pattern you're stuck in, something that you can’t seem to break out from.
Pray for God to disrupt it
step 2: accountability
Enlist a spiritual ally
Share with one trusted person the area where you need breakthrough and ask them to check in with you on your progress in breaking the cycle
Ask them to pray with and for you
step 3: action
Let Your Faith Have Movement
Identify the excuses you’ve been making and commit to obedience instead
Then, take one step God has been asking you to take toward breaking the cycle but that you've been avoiding
Closing Prayer—
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving us enough to disrupt our lives to enable them to be transformed by your power. Please give us the courage to fully obey God, even when it's uncomfortable and the spiritual sight to see Jesus clearly, not just physical or material blessings. And grant us boldness to share testimonies without shame in order to glorify you and help others who might be struggling or in need of encouragement. Lord, give strength for those experiencing disruption in their lives right now, especially the new believers in the church who are navigating life after saying yes to Jesus.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.