Sermon Study: “Feeding of the Five Thousand”  

INTRO:
Christ often asks us to do things that seem very difficult, even impossible. What are some of the hardest things you have had to do as a Christian? What did you learn about Christ through that experience?

Read Mark 6:33-44

Notice Jesus tells the disciples to do something seemingly impossible. How do the disciples first attempt to obey Jesus’ command?

Why would Jesus ask the disciples to do something they absolutely cannot do?

How much did the disciple bring to Jesus? How greatly did He use it?
“They all ate and were satisfied”. Why is that phrase so awesome? What did Jesus want the disciples to learn from this miracle? How can we be sure? (Hint, verses 42 and 43)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

The disciples brought Jesus five loaves and two fish, but in the end each of them stood before Jesus with a full basket. What do we learn about the sufficiency of Jesus and His desire to use even the little we bring Him?

The Prosperity Gospel movement could easily attempt to take this verse and seek to apply it to their movement. How would you correct such an abuse of this text?

TRANSPARENCY QUESTION(S)

What areas of your life are you looking to your own resources? How is that working out for you? How can you change that this very moment? What other passages of Scripture remind us of the sufficiency of Christ in all of our needs?

Jesus desires to use even the little we have to meet the needs of others and in the end He grants us even more. What areas would Christ have you give more of? How can you trust Him more with the little you have to offer?

CARE GROUP MEMORY VERSES

2 Corinthians 8:2-5
for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.