Jesus Asked, “How Many Loaves Do You Have?”
Sermon Notes
TODAY’S PASSAGE:
Matthew 15:32-39 ESV… Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
I KNOW WHY YOU ARE ASKING THAT QUESTION
Many times people know “why” they are being asked a certain question!
The disciples had to have known why Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have?”... Matthew 15:32-38
This wasn’t the first time Jesus fed large crowds… Matthew 14:19-21
The most likely reason the disciples responded the way they did was that “human nature kicked-in”.
PEOPLE WHO KNEW EVEN A LITTLE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH
The little we have in our hands… is more than enough when placed in the hands of God!
God had miraculously fed the Israelites… Exodus 16:4-5
All things are possible for the one who believes… Mark 9:17-23
All Moses had to offer was a wooden staff…. Exodus 17:5-6
REASONS PEOPLE FAIL TO OFFER GOD WHAT IS IN THEIR HANDS
We have a bad case of the “onlys”… Luke 14:17; Exodus 3:11-12; Judges 16:15; Jeremiah 1:6
We get focused on the size of the problem, and not the power of God… Matthew 15:33; 1 Samuel 17:45-47; 2 Kings 4:2-7
God isn’t looking for those who have a lot to offer, just those who have the faith to offer what they’ve got.
God can use whatever you offer… for any purpose… 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What stands out to you from today’s passage?
Why do you think Jesus chose to feed the masses in the way that he did?
Have you ever given God a little and watched him turn it into a lot? Where? When?
What happens when our eyes are on the “size of the crowd” and not the “strength of our Lord”?