low expectations

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LOW EXPECTATIONS To start your time together, share the evidences of God’s grace you have experienced this past week. Share and discuss: How have you been challenged through scripture and prayer this past week? Invite 1-2 individuals in your group to share one of the greatest challenges they have experienced in life, since choosing to be a follower of Jesus. Our next Baptism and Ministry Partnerships will be taking place on Easter Sunday (March 27th). Encourage those considering these steps to fill out the form available online and at our Welcome Centres. _____________________________________

OPENING COMMENT After the very first Passover, Moses was used by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, into freedom, and eventually into the Promised Land. When Jesus fed the 5000 as the Passover was approaching, He revealed Himself to be not only the supplier of bread for the hungry, but the all-satisfying Bread of Life to everyone who believes. What was the truth or lesson that impressed you most from Sunday’s sermon?

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OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND READ: John 6:1-15 1After

this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberius. 2And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Phillip,

“Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little,” 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many? … with your bible continue to read to verse 15.


I: JESUS SATISFIES COMPLETELY Recognition of Need
 Asking Jesus to Meet Your Need
 The Sufficiency of Jesus 1. As you read the text were you able to recognize the problem and identify the need? Discuss how the need was satisfied. 2. Share a time when you had a problem or need and how the situation was satisfied. 3. Philip couldn’t wrap his mind around how everyone would get fed - but Jesus fed the crowd and everyone was satisfied. Have you ever felt like Philip, unable to wrap your head around a way to satisfy the need in front of you? Share. 4. Once you recognize your need, where do you normally turn? Do you turn to a habit (good or bad); a substance; do you lean on denial and avoidance; are you self reliant and declare “I can do it myself? Where do you turn first? For a disciple of Jesus why would it be critical to begin by recognizing our need before Jesus? 5. Read together Philippians 4:19 - If any of you have a need that you have been afraid or reluctant to give to Jesus to satisfy, share it if you are able, then together have your group pray over you and take time to draw from the sufficiency of our Lord Jesus.

II: JESUS USES MEANS He Tests Us for Our Good 
 He Multiplies Our Feeble Gifts
 He Uses Us to Draw Others 1. Who is Philip? What was the question Jesus asked Philip? What does the text tell us about the question Jesus asked and why he asked it? Have you ever been asked a question or prompted by Jesus, with a question, about a situation, that seemed impossible to answer? Share.

2. Why do you believe Jesus put Philip in this kind of situation? How did Philip respond? Why do we get put in similar situations? How do we respond? The teaching that Jesus tests us for our good can be hard for some to accept and easier for others to accept. Why do you think a person would have a hard time accepting the idea of “testing”? What scripture passages reassure you, when faced with a “test” in your life? 3. In light of the text and Sundays message discuss the following: Jesus uses Philip’s knowledge & money but not on their own. Placed in Jesus’ hands they become much more. Jesus uses the small gifts of the boy… placed in Jesus hands, the gifts grow beyond need. Andrew brought the boy to meet Jesus, his gift was used to bless many. 4. How can we help people meet Jesus? Why do we think our gifts need to be “great” to be used by God? Looking to God first, following Andrews example; how can we use our knowledge, our money or anything else God gives to us to bring people to meet Jesus? What does this look like in your life? Does it require steps of faith?

III: JESUS ON HIS TERMS
 
 A Greater Prophet - A Greater King - A Greater Priest
 1. Looking at v14-15 Discuss the following statement: “It’s not that they don’t think highly of Jesus, they just don’t think high enough of Him” What did the people see? 2. Jesus was not just there to lead them out of Roman occupation, but to greater freedom. Jesus was not to lead a revolt, but to lay His life down, for a kingdom not of this world. Jesus didn’t come just to give them bread, but to be your bread. Jesus came to be our Bread, Our sustenance. Our ultimate hope and satisfaction. 3. How hard is it to allow Jesus into our lives, to let Him lead our lives on His terms? Why is it so hard for many of us? 4. Like Andrew, who is Jesus asking you to bring to Him today?


SHARE & PRAY • Pray in response for those who need to be introduced to Jesus. Pray for those who are in need of true understanding of the Gospel message. • Pray for courage and understanding as you walk life in freedom, on Jesus terms. • Conclude by spending some time praying for one another, for the growth in the grace you want to experience, and the needs among you.