Feeding of the Five Thousand

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?