John 6 Little Boys Lunch
John 6:1-14
Little Boys Lunch
Opening Reading:
Jesus talks about a master leaving his slaves… his servants and entrusting them with a portion of his wealth….
Matthew 25:15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' 21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' 23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' 26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
Secular:
MacGyver… private spy agency… the good guys…
Was extremely resourceful
Made the most out of what he was given…
Like:
Bubblegum…
A Shoelace…
And a piece of tin foil… and a calculator…
He would rig it all up and use it to disarm a sophisticated military computer that was set to launch nuclear weapons…
David - Simple Shepherd boy…
Made the most out of what he was given…
Like:
Take his heart
and passion…
dedication
and slingshot capabilities
His gifting…
Biblical:
After the battle over the Sabbath and after declaring the fact that the Prophets…The Father and the Word (even the Words of Moses) all testified to him…
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?" 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little." 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?" 10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost." 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
Personal:
- Last minute invite (kids / husband)
- You root around in the pantry
- Find you have very little
- but you take a bit of leftover this…
- and a bit of that…
- and craft the best you can…
- and despite your fears… you even recognize that you were able to pull it off…
Bridge:
- Like the master who left the gold talents… coins…
In the hands of his servants…
- Jesus has entrusted us with an incredible message… an eternally valuable message and a treasure trove of personal resources to manage…
- Whether our resources are time, relationships, or personal wealth…
- We have been called to make the most out of what we have been given… to the glory of God.
- But we have NOT been called to give more than we have…
- We have been called to make the most out of what we have been given…
Body:
The People
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.
- About a year later…
- They have had Jesus with them…
- Teaching them
- Performing miracles
- He really draws a crowd…
- Jesus has groupies…
- some who are following his fame…
- some who are following is tricks…
- some who are following his teaching…
- and his disciples… who are beginning to understand that they are following the Son of God…
- Who are you following…
- Jesus… because 2 billion others follow him
- Jesus… because your folks followed him
- Jesus… because he was a good man and good teacher
- Or have you come to realize you are following Jesus… Son of God… Saviour and Lord…
- Following Jesus is a good idea… Accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour… is making the most out of what we have been given… an opportunity to glorify God and enjoy him forever…
- We have been called to make the most out of what we have been given
The Plan
3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples.
- Strong leadership… He was in communication…
- Success like failure is tiring… He could read his people… restore / regroup / rest
- Make a plan...
- Encourage, strengthen… (even when great things happen)
- Churches
- Leadership
- Families
- Big things…. Big projects… Big mission…
- Big plans… (take the time)
- Take the time… to Hear God… Hear his People… to Draw close…
- We have been called to make the most out of what we have been given
- Big things…. Big projects… Big mission…
- Big plans… can bring Big problems
The Problem
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?" 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little."
- Lots of travellers… (Passover)
- Thinking ahead!.... being prepared… (Identify!!)
- Drawing on the experts… Phillip
- 200 days wages… not enough!! (about a year)
- Challenging his people… “He was saying [this] to test him…” * Encourage others for action….
- Preparing them for the miraculous….
- To See God work!
- God is still active… we need to keep looking!
- It is not about their own resources…
- What they have is so little in comparison to the need… 200 denarii
- Like Gospel ministry
- Our words… versus God’s Word
- Our power… versus God’s Power
- Our resources… versus God’s Resources
- God uses our words…
- God uses our will…
- God uses our resources…
- So much more than we can do….
- But we have been called to make the most out of what we have been given and trust the big problems… to a bigger God!
The Providence
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?" 10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost." 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
- Big problem…
- No dumb ideas… Think Big!! (early brainstorming)
- Big faith…
- Andrew says… "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?"
- God of the miraculous….
- Men 5,000… estimate up to 20,000 total…
- It is about numbers… in regards to impact…
- It is about numbers… in regards to opportunity
- Gives thanks… recognizes his Father… and his Providence
- Can do the amazing with so little…
- The young lad…offered relatively little….
- God took his offering… gave thanks and multiplied it…
- We have been called to make the most out of what we have been given
- What have we not offered…
- What does God want to do in your life…
- What incredible things has God done with a little that you sacrificially offered…
Conclusion:
The People
- The question to the multitude is…Who are you following?
- Eternal Fire Insurance…
- A Good Man
- Or the Son of God your Saviour
- We need to demonstrate which Jesus we follow…
- We need to preach Him…
- We need to build relationships in the name of Jesus…
- Life changing Jesus
- Perfect… sinless holy Jesus
- Loving Jesus
- Jesus our Judge
- Jesus our Saviour…
- We need to take the few years that we walk the globe and make the most for Christ and in turn for our world
- We have been called to make the most out of what we have been given
The Plan
- Within our ministries:
- Listen
- Encourage
- Strengthen
- It is not ALL about the task itself
- Prayer
- Relationship
- Edification
- Loving one another
- Hearing God
- Big things… Big Projects… the Big Mission
- Big plans take time…
- We have been called to make the most out of what we have been given… that’s the plan!
The Problem
- Looking ahead…
- a church of 230 or so… if everyone showed up on a single Sunday about 300
- in an exploding community
- Recognize our resource alone are not enough
- WE need God to take what we offer and use it to the glory of his Kingdom… expand it grow it use it
- We need to be continually prepared for the Miraculous!!
- We need to continually depend on God!!
- Ministry apart from God “is not sufficient for them”… it is not siffiecient for those to whom we have been called to minister… just as was the 200 denarii of bread… we need the miraculous… not just what we can pull together…
- We need to offer what we have… and trust in God
- We have been called to make the most out of what we have been given… that’s the plan!
The Providence
- Think Big… God does…
- Look at the book of Acts!!
- Bring the Ideas…
- Take the opportunities to Minister…
- Give thanks to God!!
- Offer your “Little Boys Lunch”
- Give What You Have
- And Expect the Great Things God Can Do!!
- And God will the most out of what we have been given…when we give it to him!!