You Got To Pay The Price
Adopting a "Whatever It Takes" Mentality in 2026
A "Whatever It Takes" mentality is a spiritual commitment to pursue Jesus Christ regardless of the cost, obstacles, or resistance you face. Based on the biblical account of the Healing of the Paralyzed Man in Mark 2, this mindset requires paying a price in four specific areas: making a firm decision, carrying burdens for others, pushing through the crowd, and tearing down limitations to access God's presence.
What does the Bible say about paying the price for a miracle?
In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2, we see a vivid illustration of determination. Jesus Christ was preaching in a house in Capernaum, packed so tightly that no one could enter. Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat, but they were blocked by the crowd.
Instead of giving up, they climbed the roof, dug through it, and lowered their friend right in front of Jesus. Pastor Travis Hearn teaches that these men didn't just stumble into a breakthrough; they decided their way into it.
We often want the miracle without the mess. However, scripture makes it clear that there is no such thing as a "cheap miracle" or "convenient obedience". Before the crowd praised God for the healing, someone had to pay a price privately.
Why does spiritual growth feel so heavy?
If you are feeling exhausted in your walk with God, it might not mean you are failing; it might mean you are faithful. In the story, the four friends had to physically carry the invalid man. This implies their shoulders were sore, their arms were cramping, and they had to slow their own pace to help someone else.
Pastor Travis Hearn shared a deeply personal illustration regarding the "cost of carrying." After suffering a massive hemorrhagic basal ganglia stroke, he lost his speech, memory, and motor skills. For six months, he endured six different therapies every single day.
He had to adopt a "whatever it takes" attitude not just for himself, but because he still wanted to be a husband, a daddy, and a pastor.
He notes that "weight always comes before the win". Just as Simon of Cyrene was pulled from the crowd to carry the cross for Jesus, we are often called to carry burdens that feel heavy because they are sacred.
What are the costs of a "Whatever It Takes" Christian mindset?
To move from being a "casual Christian" to a "courageous Christian," you must be willing to pay the price. The sermon outlines four specific costs you will encounter when pursuing a breakthrough.
Table: The Four Prices of a Miracle
The Price,Description,Biblical Context
1. The Cost of Decision,You must decide before you see the result. Faith that waits for proof isn't faith; it's just sight.The friends made up their minds to get to Jesus before they knew if He would heal the man.
2. The Cost of Carrying,"A vision or calling is heavy. It requires energy, margin, and sacrifice to help others.",The friends had to physically bear the weight of the paralyzed man to bring him to Jesus.
3. The Cost of the Crowd,"The crowd isn't always evil; sometimes it's just ""good people"" blocking your access to God.","The crowd filled the house, preventing the man from entering via the door."
4. The Cost of Tearing,"You must rip off the ""roofs"" (limitations) of fear, pride, or addiction that keep you covered.",The men dug through the roof to lower the mat down.
How can I break generational curses in my family?
Many of us carry patterns we didn't choose. You might think, "I have anxiety because my mom had anxiety," or "I struggle with alcohol because my dad did." That kind of weight has a name — and you're not alone in carrying it.
Pastor Travis Hearn declares that 2026 is the year those chains get broken. Generational curses are real, but they stop with you when you decide to do whatever it takes to exchange the curse for a blessing.
This requires tearing off the roof of your history. Whether it's a pattern that goes back generations or a habit that started closer to home, the power of Jesus Christ is stronger than your family history. You just have to be willing to look a little foolish to the crowd to get the healing you need.
If you're in Scottsdale or anywhere across the greater Phoenix area — Tempe, Chandler, Paradise Valley, Peoria — and any of this resonates, you don't have to keep carrying what was handed to you. At Impact Church, we've sat with people from all across the Valley who walked in carrying weight they didn't even know had a name. Real questions are welcome here. No perfect background required.
How do I overcome distractions and "The Crowd"?
The "crowd" in Mark 2 represents anything that crowds God out of your life. It could be a schedule that is too full, a relationship that pulls you away from faith, or an addiction to a screen.
Pastor Travis points out that once you have "access" (like a VIP pass to the Phoenix Suns locker room), you never want to go back to sitting in the stands. Similarly, once you have access to the presence of Jesus, you realize that the crowd is just an obstacle.
To get unstuck, you must stop negotiating with the crowd. You cannot be a "half-in, half-out" Christian in 2026. It is time to move from being a pretender to a surrenderer
Frequently Asked Question
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"Whatever It Takes" is the 2026 theme for Scottsdale Impact Church. It focuses on having a relentless Christian mindset to overcome obstacles, break generational curses, and pursue Jesus Christ with total abandon, regardless of the cost.
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The story teaches us that spiritual and physical healing often requires community (friends to carry you) and persistence. Jesus Christ forgave the man's sins first, showing that spiritual paralysis is a greater problem than physical paralysis, but He ultimately restored both.
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Impact Church in Scottsdale, led by Pastor Travis Hearn, is dedicated to helping families find freedom from anxiety, depression, and addiction through biblical teaching and community support. Plan your visit below and join us ona Sunday.
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