NLC LIFE GROUP Through the Bible Study Week of February 28, 2016 Sermon: Feeding of the Five Thousand
LIFE GROUP SCHEDULE 15-20 Min Eat, Meet & Greet (Please take attendance in F1) 5-10 Min Ice Breaker Game: 52-Card Shuffle Each person receives a card from a normal deck; include the jokers as wild cards. Have all group members stand in an open area, holding their cards. Instruct the group to move into a variety of configurations and introduce themselves to the new person or group of people. Give the group a short topic to discuss, such as favorite food, book, movie, etc. Ideas for configurations: Cards with the Same Number, Suits, Straight, Full House. (Note: When some people are left without a match, help these orphans make a group of their own or join an existing group.) Scripture: Mark 6:30-44 This day was the single most packed ministry day in Jesus life, with many appointments, much purpose, and little elbow room. Other than the crucifixion, this may have been his most intense, emotional day, with weeping, running, shouting, cursing, and praising This is the only miracle of Jesus that was recorded in all four Gospels. Mark 6:30-32 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. Just prior to this passage, Jesus had just grieved over the death of a friend, then his life was threatened (extreme lows) He then celebrated the return of his disciples and their ministry success (extreme high) Mark 6:33-34 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Point: Jesus had a relaxed intensity to him, walking through this day with much grace. Jesus needed an evening to chill, but 15-20,000 people wanted to hear Him so badly they ran on foot from several towns, carrying the sick on mats, with families in tow. When Jesus stepped off the boat, He stepped into chaos. Q1. Have you ever had a day like that, with extreme highs and lows? Have you ever had a day when you needed a break, but when you got home, you stepped into chaos? How did you react?
1. JESUS gives compassion Jesus is motivated by His love for people, and He sees our everyday needs. Even when you feel like you are inconveniencing Him, He is not frustrated. You are not a hassle. He is not tired of you. Psalm 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Mark 6:35-37 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. This is a remote place, they said, and it s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat. The disciples, on the other hand, were ready to send everybody home. They were thinking about themselves, not the heart of Jesus. If you want to be like Jesus, take care of people. 2. JESUS knows your limit without him The world has a lot of huge problems and challenges. If you measure the problem according to your own abilities, your solution won t measure up. Don t measure things in your life according to what you can do, but according to what Christ can do with you. You can t forget that Jesus is in the challenge. He is in the story. Most of us feel insecure in what God calls us to do. You should feel insecure if you are going to do it without Christ. When you forget about Christ, you will shirk responsibility, casting it on someone else. You will often feel small next to a challenge from Christ. God doesn t mind you thinking you can t, as long as you know you can with Christ. Impossible situations make you keep your eyes on God. Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. When you face something that seems impossible, it stretches underdeveloped faith. Every time you face terrible odds in life, it s a test. POINT: God never tests you to grade you. He tests you to grow you! Q2. Have you ever had a day like this, or are maybe facing something like this right now: Someone close to you walked away from you or your family, and you felt abandoned. Someone didn t pay the bill or the child support, and you were the one who had to cover. A business partner got greedy and destroyed your dreams with their foolish choices.
You didn t mean to get addicted to that thing the pain meds or the porn or something else and you woke up one day realizing you have a real problem. Your son or daughter made (or continues to make) a bad decision; and it affects you deeply. You have a secret you just can t shake. Q3. Write down the biggest problem you face, the one huge thing that intimidates you. Invite Jesus into that. 3. JESUS CAN MAKE A MIRACLE OUT OF A LITTLE Mark 6:38 How many loaves do you have? Go look! John 6:7-9 Philip answered him, It would take more thank half a year s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite! Then Andrew, Simon Peter s brother, spoke up. There s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd? Philip measured the problem, put a price tag on it, and declared it would cost too much. This would have cost about $30,000-$50,000 today Many Christians think the cost to reach souls is too much. POINT: the compassion of Christ will never be distracted by what makes more sense. Andrew weighed the lack without faith. He could have said, Look! Five loaves! Two fish! You can do it, Jesus! Instead, he says, But what good is that with this huge crowd? Andrew saw this as an impossible situation. Jesus loves the impossible. God can do a lot with a little! Sometimes you ll make this great statement of faith, then put a qualifier behind it: God can do anything, if He really wants to. We do that because we re self-protective and want to give ourselves an out. Q4. Is there something in your life that you believe is too big for God to accomplish? Leadership says Let s look at this through the eyes of faith One kid s act of obedience touched 15,000 people. One act of obedience can influence millions. God rewards generosity more than just about anything else. True Story: An old Sunday School teacher, Edward Kimball, didn t think he had much to offer, but he stepped out of his shell and volunteered to teach Sunday School. Edward Kimball led Dwight L. Moody to Christ, who led J Wilbur Chapman to Christ, who led Billy Sunday to Christ, who led Mordecai Ham to Christ, who led Billy Graham to Christ.
One Sunday School teacher put his little into the hands of God, and affected 170 years of Christianity in our nation. Q5. How would you fill in these blanks? When I get more then I m going to. Examples: more time, energy, money, confidence, experience, then Mark 6:39 Tell everyone to sit down, Jesus ordered. So all of them the men alone numbered five thousand sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward He did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. God can fill thousands of people with the very thing I don t think I have enough of! Take your little and give it to Him. 4. Jesus will leave you with enough to carry on Mark 6:42-43 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces. 12 baskets of broken pieces, and 12 disciples - Jesus wanted his disciples to carry this miracle around for a while. Aren t you glad that Jesus will send someone who learned from his word to pick up the broken pieces? Q6. What are some great things God has already done for you? Describe them to your group. Q7. What do you need God to do for you in 2016, whether in your relationship with God or your family, your finances, your work, or something else? Q8. What are You personally dreaming about for 2016? What do you believe are God s dreams for you for this year? When you have a Packed Day: Just like the Israelites, God gives us daily manna. We need to carry it daily. Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. In Leviticus these past couple of weeks, we ve been reading about how God commanded the Israelites to bring their first and their best sacrifices from their resources to Him. your time and your schedule as your resources your herd and your crops. Q9. Are you spending the first of your time and the best of your time with Him? What in your schedule needs to be reprioritized, or even dropped, to accomplish this?
Challenge: Take some time every day this week, (and try first thing in the morning!), to get alone with God about your dreams and the day you re facing. Submit them to His Lordship and authority in your life. Share your thoughts with a friend. Take Prayer Requests & Pray Over Needs Campus Specific Announcements Refer back to newlifechurch.tv for campus specific events or check out your weekend service guide.