Sermon nugget Tues April 8, 2008
Theme- Feeding of the 5,000
Verses- John 6:5-10 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. (NIV)
INVOLVEMENT
We find out more about the story of the feeding of the multitude by the other gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke that fill in the details. It’s the only miracle included by all four Gospels. Mark tells us after a full and active day they set aside to be by themselves. Jesus was teaching them and when the large group came. Jesus had compassion on them.
Because of the time limitations most of my teaching is from the pulpit, lectern or chair with a circle of people. I read, preach, lecture, discuss and tell stories. Jesus did that as well. I realize worship was done differently that discipling individuals or groups of people. But we are told the least effective way to teach something is to have people listen to what is said.
When Jesus was with the disciples they saw Him in life experiences throughout the week. It wasn’t just a class 35-40 minutes once a week. They lived with Him, followed Him, asked questions and watched what He did and how to talked with others as their days were spent with Christ. He would then get them aside and sit them down and talk, lecture, and explain the Scriptures. Small group Bible studies where people could ask questions was a common practice of Jesus. It works also today.
This day, however, was quiz day. Now they were “tested” to see how they would answer the essay problem. How would you feed a multitude? Phil came up with the first answer- "impossible." His solution was to dig into their pocket books and come up with the cash and go to the market and buy the food and bring it back. But they didn't have the money, time and resources to do all that, so it was impossible. Jesus wasn’t interested in finding where to buy food. He already what he was going to do.
Andrew came up with the second answer. Let’s see who and how many have food with them that might be shared. But what is this among so many people? Jesus is involved His disciples into action. They moved into getting involved. They looked for a solution to a problem, but even trying to find food was way too limited to the task.
God takes what we have and does the rest. We have two fish and 5 loaves of bread with compliments from a little boy. That is all God needs when it is given to Him.
Involvement in ministry is a far better way to learn faith than taking notes in class. Obedience followed. They instructed the people to sit and divided them up into groups, just as Jesus told them.
What is the test God presents to you today? Where does He want you to get involved? I doubt that you have enough for God’s task, but so did they. Then they watched God at work!
Pastor Dale
