Feeding The 5,000 | Tables | Erin Johnston
When was the last time you chose Jesus over scarcity? Jesus cares for your needs, provides enough for today, and does more than you can ever ask or think. From five loaves and two fish, Jesus took what seemed little and fed a crowd of 5,000 men. Jesus took the impossible and turned it into good for the people of God, and he will do the same for you! Where do you need to believe God for what seems impossible?
If you’re ready to take a step into hospitality and invite people to your table, don’t forget to check out the Tables Resource Guide to start planning a night full of memories and great conversation!
KEY VERSES
Mark 6:30-44 NLT: The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”“How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass.So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share.They all ate as much as they wanted and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.
Mark 6:30 NLT: The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.
Mark 6:31 NLT: Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
Mark 6:32-34 NLT: So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Mark 6:35-37 NLT: Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”
Philippians 4:6 NLT: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Mark 6:38-40 NLT: “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass.So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
Mark 6:41 NLT: Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share.
Mark 6:42-44 NLT: They all ate as much as they wantedand afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish.A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.
Ephesians 3:20 NLT: Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Psalms 23:1-6 NLT: The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING
One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.
Recap
+ Reconnect
To begin the study, each person answers these questions:
- What are you thankful for?
- What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
- What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?
+ Recap
- Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
- Did you live out your response from last week?
- Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?
Discovering What God Is Saying
+ Read and Retell the Bible Story
- One person reads the story out loud to the group.
- Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.
+ Read and Look
- Read the passage again (different version if possible)
- What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?
+ Read and Look Again
- Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
- What does this passage say about people in general?
Doing What God Is Saying
+ Consider
- What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
- How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
- Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.
Sharing what God is saying
+ Praying Together
- Take prayer requests
- Pray together
+ Share
- Who in your life needs to hear this story?
- Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?
Become a Partner
Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.