INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES
What would a perfect picnic look like to you?
Leader note: Some people in your group may not like picnics. That’s ok, ask them if they could “move” the picnic inside, where would they take it.
Commentary: You may like the planning and execution of a great picnic. Preparing the food as well as all of the accompaniments is fun for some, or maybe it’s the thought of being outside somewhere – maybe the beach, or a green park, or in the mountains. It could be the company at the picnic that makes it perfect.
OBSERVATION – 20 MINUTES
Read Matthew 14:13-21. How did Jesus show he cared about the people? What was the response of the disciples?
Leader note: Make sure you put this passage in context. Remind your group that Jesus would have just found out about his cousin, John the Baptist, being beheaded in jail. He would have been in a state of grief. If you want you can read the passage (verses 1-12) to your group first and then proceed into the story for the study this week.
Commentary:
Even though Jesus would have been tired and in a state of grief he looked at the crowd and took compassion on them.
He healed the sick.
He gave them his attention.
Jesus wanted to serve them, make sure they were taken care of, fed.
Before giving the bread and fish to the disciples he looked up to heaven, and he blessed the food.
The response of the disciples was one of selfishness – send them away…gave reasons they couldn’t serve – there’s not enough.
Look at the passage again, but this time imagine yourself being one of the disciples. What would you be thinking? Then imagine yourself as someone in the crowd. What would you be thinking?
Leader note: As you go through the passage, take each verse and consider it from the viewpoint of the disciple and then as part of the crowd. Notice who Jesus told to “feed them”.
Commentary:
First consider the context of the passage – immediately follows Jesus and the disciples learning of John the Baptists death. The disciples even had the task of coming for the body and burying it. Then they were to Jesus to break the news. Consider their mood, their disposition as they faced the crowd.
As you look at the passage from the disciple’s point of view, take note that it was the disciples that fed the crowd. What would they have been feeling as they were being handed bread by Jesus? They had one basket each and most likely 20,000+ people looking forward to being served. What would they be thinking as they handed each family their share of food and then thinking they would be out of food turned to the next family sitting on the grass, and there in their basket was enough for that family. Again and again they found exactly what they needed to serve each family that waited for them. And what did they have at the end of their serving? Exactly what they had when they started! There was 12 baskets left over, one for each disciple. The served and served and yet they ended up with exactly the same as they had when they started. Notice where the miracle happened – it was with the disciples as they were feeding the crowd, not back with Jesus. They got to be part of the miracle. They got to witness the life change – possibly from doubt to faith, from skepticism to trust. Their faith most likely grew. They would have joy, perhaps even energy they were lacking when they started.
Next consider what it would have been like to be in the crowd. Think of being one of the first served, then how would it have been to be one of the last? Would you believe there was going to be enough for you? Would you start thinking that Jesus cared for those at the beginning, but maybe there wasn’t enough to go around? What would you feel like once you received your fill? What if you were a seeker? What if you were a cynic? What if you were starving, needy or sick?
UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES
Think of our weekends at church, what are all of the places you see volunteers showing people they care, before they even get to the service?
Leader note: Consider all of the volunteers you see each weekend you come to church. Think of it from the perspective of a first-time visitor. Who do they see showing them that they care they have come to our church.
Commentary: Church really begins as you pull onto the property. From those directing traffic, to those guiding you into a parking spot, those driving shuttles, the people that welcome you to Port Mariners and those who check in your kids, those who work with and love the kids, those who hand you bulletins on your way in, the people who work the patio tables. All of them show people that they care by their service.
APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES
Where do you want to serve and why?
Leader note: Consider again all of the volunteer opportunities you see on the weekends, but also consider other volunteer positions within the church ministries. Let your group explore various areas that interest them, ask them what difference their service would make to those that would be impacted by their commitment. Talk about how their lives would change if they got in the game. As you talk about it, consider the parallels to the disciples’ experience.
Pray: Ask God to bless those that serve so faithfully at church to make it the experience that it is for each person that attends. Pray that the Holy Spirit will prompt each member of your small group to see the crowds around them with compassion. Pray for a relaxing and refreshing summer and that each person will find the place to serve that best meets the need of the crowd and provides life change for both the servant and those who will be served.
LIVE IT OUT
How would we affect our community if we moved toward volunteering in this way?