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Study Guide: Caring, Sharing and Multiplication

Sunday August 19, 2007 | Greg Boyd

Focus Scripture:


Brief Summary:

As Kingdom of God people, we are called to care and share with others. When Jesus commands his disciples to feed the crowd with only five loaves and two fishes in Luke 9:10-17, he is showing them that nothing is impossible with God, as everyone was fed and there were leftovers remaining. Our call is to trust and listen to how God would use us. No matter how much or little we have, God can use our faithfulness to abundantly bless others!


Extended Summary:

As Kingdom of God people, we are called to care and share with others. When Jesus commands his disciples to feed the crowd with only five loaves and two fishes in Luke 9:10-17, he is showing them that nothing is impossible with God, as everyone was fed and there were leftovers remaining. Our call is to trust and listen to how God would use us. No matter how much or little we have, God can use our faithfulness to abundantly bless others!

In a world where we see hunger, wars and injustices, it is very easy to feel helpless and overwhelmed. “What can we possibly do?” becomes the question and mindset to the natural mind. We give up, center on ourselves, or spend time trying to get organizations to solve these problems.

Jesus challenges these assumptions. Our hope is not found in this world, but in living for Jesus. Through the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Jesus shows us that he is the Creator. Like all miracles, this is a foretaste of the coming Kingdom, showing that they’ll be no more hunger when the Kingdom is established.

Jesus tells his disciples to not think about how they can provide the resources of the fish and bread. Rather, he encourages them to obey and just start giving out of what they had. Jesus is calling us to do the same. Don’t use the fact that you have limited resources to justify not caring or sharing with others. Our main responsibility as Kingdom people is to assume it’s our responsibility, to obey God and be faithful. Jesus asks us to live in the question, “What would God have me to do?” (see 2 Corinthians 9:7-8).

As the disciples obeyed Jesus, the loaves and fishes began to multiply. Everyone was fed and there was still more left-over. God calls us to obedience. We are called to be a people who share, and trust that the more we share, the more we have to share. The amazing thing is when we obey God and share what little we have, he multiplies it to meet the needs of those he’s called us to address.


Reflection Questions:

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