Message Title:  Feeding of the Five Thousand
Series:  Signs

Key verse:
John 6:5-6; 33-35

Sermon Notes

“If I only had __________ I’d be happy.”

 

Surprises in this story:

1. The disciples don’t expect Jesus to feed all these people. (John 6:1-13)
2. Jesus leaves at the point the crowd is most excited and willing to follow. (John 6:14)
3. The crowd leaves when he isn’t willing to fill in their “blanks.” (John 6:26-35, 66)

Why we shouldn’t be surprised:

1. God loves us and cares about our most basic, daily needs.
2. Jesus didn’t come to exert worldly power and influence but to solve our greatest problem.
3. Jesus’ plan isn’t to fill in our blanks and give us whatever we want; his plan is to offer us the one thing we truly need.

Follow-up Questions from Sunday:

 

Getting to Know You:
Share a time when someone did a small favor for you, but it made you feel cared for.

 

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

Digging Deeper:
 

1. Read John 6:1-13. Jesus took a small amount of common food (barley loaves and some fish) and miraculously made it enough to feed thousands of people. He did it after a long day of healing diseased and crippled people. Imagine you were there to see it happen, and then were able to share in that meal, but didn’t know Jesus. What would your conclusions about him be? What do people think about Jesus today, in our culture at large?
2. Read John 6:14; Matt 9:30; Mark 1:43-44; 5:43. Jesus didn’t want people following him simply because he could do miracles (signs). Why do you think that was the case? A sign can be read in different ways. How did Jesus want his signs interpreted?
3. Read John 6:26-27. Jesus explains that their motives are wrong. Why is it a mistake to expect God to give us what we want and solve all our problems in the way we think is best? Have you ever felt disappointed that God didn’t give you something you wanted? How can Jesus’ words help us as we face difficult times in the future? Will we follow him even if our dreams don’t all come true?
4. Read Psalm 78:12-22. The writer is talking about Israel’s lack of faith after God’s provision in rescuing them from Egypt. It’s the same attitude that Jesus faces in John 6, and it’s the same struggle we face today, bringing the gospel to a world that’s self-centered and only interested in what others can do for them. How can we share Christ with people we know who think that way? How can you avoid thinking the same way yourself?

 

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message? How can this group remember you in prayer this week?

Message Title:  Healing the Official’s Son
Series:  Signs

John 4:43-54

Key verse:
John 4:50

Sermon Notes

1. 
   It is possible to believe in Jesus as Healer, but not as Messiah.
2. It is possible to believe in Jesus in some areas of our lives, but not in all areas of our lives.
3. You can trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior whether or not you see the answer to your prayers.
4. With God, our wait time is not what’s important. Life change is what’s important.
5. When your faith is real, others will see and follow.
   Conclusion:

 

Signs are designed to communicate. This second sign tells us that:

6. Jesus doesn’t need to be present physically in order to work a miracle.
7. In order for God to work, we need to take Jesus at His word.

 

Follow-up Questions from Sunday:

 

Getting to Know You:
When you were a child, what was the most serious injury or illness you ever had?

 

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

 

Digging Deeper:
 

1. Read Mark 1: 21-34. At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, He performed many miracles starting in the town of Capernaum.  The royal official already knew about Jesus from either personal witness or from the daily news, but now he needs the power of Jesus in a very personal matter.  In your spiritual journey, when do you move from hearing/knowing about Jesus to seeking Him in a personal way?  What were the circumstances that prompted you to seek out Jesus?  Please share?
2. Read John 4:46-47. On a scale of 1-100, what percentage of your problems do you entrust to God? Why do you think that is?  Has this percentage gone up or down since you first became a follower of Jesus?  How has He shown himself to you on this journey?
3. Read John 4:48-49. If you were the royal official, how would you have responded to Jesus knowing He was your son’s only hope and He refused to come with you? Explain.
4. Read John 4:50. When you take a person at “their word” what does that tell you about how you feel about that person? If you made a list of people that you have learned to “take at their word”, who would that be and why? Is Jesus on that list?  Why or why not?
5. When you bring your problems to God (such as a sickness in the family), do you tend to accept His word or keep fretting and worrying? Why do you think you respond in that way?
6. Read John 4:51-53. Can you remember a time in your life when you were desperate and you trusted in Jesus and He answered your prayer? Or perhaps He answered your prayer in a manner you did not expect? How did you feel about it? How did it affect your spiritual life and the spiritual lives of those around you?  Please share.
7. It’s been said that all prayers are answered, but they fall under 1 of 3 answers: Yes, no, and wait. Do you think this is true why or why not?

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?

Message Title:  Palm Sunday

Message Title:  Visions of the Future and the Miracle of Prophecy

Series: Visions of the Future

Key verses:  Daniel 8:20-21

Sermon Notes:

Daniel Ch 8 predicts:

1. The coming of the Medo-Persian Empire by name before it came to power. (Daniel 8:20)
2. The coming of the Greek Empire by name before it came to power. (Daniel 8:21)
3. The coming of the Jewish revolt against the Greeks before it happened. (Dan 8:13-14)

 

How does the Bible do this?

4. The God of the Bible is real.
5. Jesus says that prophecy is persuasive for faith.

 

Follow-up questions from Sunday:

Icebreaker: As you look at the current events of the world, are you an optimist or a pessimist?

1. What are your impressions of Daniel chapter 7 and 8 which has been shared these last two weeks by Pastor Frank? Why do you think God had Daniel write these two chapters?  How do you think God has used these last two chapters to speak to His people for the last 2,500 years?
2. It is said that every person, even an atheist, has some degree of faith. Do you agree with this?  How do you know that what you believe is true?  What evidence or facts do you stand on in believing in Jesus?
3. Read Acts 9:20-22,17:1-4, 26:21-28, 28:23-24. From the moment the Apostle Paul/Saul became a believer in Jesus, he would use prophecy in Scripture to persuade people to faith.  How has prophecy been used to persuade you to faith early in your journey and today?  Have you ever used prophecy to share your faith with others?  Why do you think that some people aren’t persuaded by prophecy?  Please share.
4. Read Daniel 7:28, Daniel 8:27, John 21:18-19. There are times when God trusts us enough to reveal that difficult times are ahead.  Daniel was horrified at what God was telling him was going to happen to his people, and Jesus told Peter how he was going to die.  Has God ever trusted you enough to reveal hard things to you and how did you deal with it?  How did it affect your relationship with God?
5. When God looks at the current events of the world do you think He is an optimist or a pessimist?

End your time praying for each other.