EVERY DAY CARRY · SEASON 1 · WEEK 02
Carry the Mat.
Four men tore a roof off to get their friend to Jesus. Five days on brotherhood that carries, bears burdens, sharpens with hard truth, and sometimes lets a brother carry you.
Five episodes · August 24–28, 2026 · Free discussion guide
KEY SCRIPTURE
Mark 2:3–5 (ESV): “And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him... And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
THE BIG IDEA
Four men tore a roof off to get a friend to Jesus, and Jesus responded to their faith. Real brotherhood carries men who can’t get there on their own. It bears burdens, sharpens with hard truth, and sometimes means letting a brother carry you.
THIS WEEK’S TEXTS
Mon Mark 2:3–4
Tue Mark 2:5
Wed Galatians 6:2
Thu Proverbs 27:17
Fri James 5:16
THE COMMITMENT
Five weekday episodes of about five to seven minutes each. If you’re meeting with other men, plan on about an hour together.
LISTEN · MONDAY TO FRIDAY
This week’s five episodes.
Newest on top, so start with Monday at the bottom. Want each new episode waiting for you?
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Bring the guide.
Two pages: an opening question, the week at a glance with all five daily Carries, six Go Deeper questions, the hard question, and notes for whoever leads. Use it on your own, with one other man, or with your group.
Free PDF. No signup required. Print it, forward it, or share this page.
STAY CONNECTED
Keep the next step in front of you.
Join the MensMinistry.online email list for Scripture-grounded encouragement, new Every Day Carry study resources, and The Sharpening, our weekly newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.
THE HARD QUESTION
Is there something you’ve been carrying alone that someone in this room should know about?
CARRY IT TOGETHER
Pair up. Each pair commits to one honest check-in call before you meet again.
Close in prayer: For the men outside this room who need carrying.
Name them.
Ways to use this week.
ON YOUR OWN | Listen each weekday, read the passage, and choose one action to practice before Friday.
WITH ONE OTHER MAN | Listen separately, then meet or call and answer the week’s hard question together.
MEN’S GROUP | Listen during the week, then work through the discussion guide when you meet. Plan on about an hour.
PASTOR OR MINISTRY LEADER | Send your men this page with a short introduction and a specific invitation to discuss it. The ready-to-send message is below.
WEEKEND WARRIORS TABLE | Open with the guide’s opening question, then move into your table’s prayer order.
For pastors and men’s leaders.
Everything you need to lead this week without extra prep.
-
5 minutes: Open. Ask the guide’s opening question.
10 minutes: The week at a glance. Which of the five Carries did each man actually do?
25 minutes: Go Deeper. Read the passage aloud, then work through the six questions. Pick three or four if time is short.
10 minutes: The hard question.
10 minutes: Carry it together, then close in prayer.
Your guides plan on about an hour. Adapt it to your group.
-
This week, we’re working through Carry the Mat, five short Every Day Carry devotionals. Listen during the week, then come ready to answer this: “Who’s a man who ‘carried’ you at some point, who showed up when you couldn’t get there on your own?” The episodes and free discussion guide are here: mensministry.online/edcpodcast/season-1/carry-the-mat
-
Friday’s charge is confession. Set ground rules before the hard question: what’s shared stays in the room, nobody is pushed to share, and leaders go first.
Your next step.
FIND A CHURCH
Use the MensMinistry.online map of recommended churches to find a congregation near you, then show up, serve, and stay.
Don’t see one near you? We’ll help you find one, just ask.
Get planted in a local church.
FIND YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE
Don’t carry this alone.
Weekend Warriors is a monthly, one-hour prayer breakfast. Men meet at a local restaurant and pray by name for each other, their families, church, community, state, nation, and world.