ENGAGE INSPIRE EQUIP

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Life Group Sermon Study

Feeding 5,000 October 11/12, 2014

Break the Ice:

ENGAGE

(The purpose of these first questions is to help your group open up. Please don’t feel like you have to ask each question. Once you feel like the group is ready, move onto the “Inspire” section.)

• What is your favorite home-cooked meal? What’s your restaurant of choice? • What did God teach you during the message this weekend? Did anything in particular stand out? Prayer: Take some time to pray for God to speak to your group through this week’s study. Questions:

IN SP IRE

(Since the group may need time to process each question, don’t let silence scare you. Try to avoid filling the space with unnecessary explanation or moving on from the question too quickly.)

As a group, read John 6:1-15 out loud before you start. 1. A large crowd of 5,000 men (approximately 15,000 people) followed Jesus onto a mountain while the Passover feast was approaching. • What was the issue that Jesus and His disciples were facing? • What input did Jesus receive from Philip and Andrew? • Philip and Andrew were tempted to not rely on Jesus when facing a difficult situation. How are you similar to them? • When has God stretched your limited resources beyond what you could have imagined?

2. We learned this weekend that God works powerfully when we come to Him powerless. • • • •

How does our culture view power? How does your perspective compare? What are some examples of power in our society, both positive and negative? When have you surrendered power to another person? What was the result? Think of a time when God was calling you to give Him control. Share with the group.

3. Through this passage, we see that when Jesus shows His power, He still gets us involved. Despite our faults, He is sufficient and works through us. • What examples have you seen of God turning your weaknesses into strengths? • How can this truth affect your role within the church and your willingness to serve others? Application:

EQUIP

(These questions will challenge your group members to apply the study to their daily lives. It is highly important that you go over this section with your group each week for the group study to be a success. Set aside 15-20 minutes at the end of your study to go over this section.)

In John 6, a boy allowed Jesus to take five small loaves of bread and two fish so that He could feed thousands of people. Jesus demonstrated that our little becomes a lot when we place it in His hands. • What aspects of your life can you trust God with more? • Identify a challenge you’re currently confronted with that you need to turn over to God. Prayer: Take some time to pray over each group member’s identified action steps and life issues. Equip Your Mind: “When the people saw the sign that He had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is come into the world!’” (John 6:14, ESV)