Jesus Feeds the 5000

Here’s what happens…….

Jesus attempts to get some solitude but large crowds follow him and He compassionately heals the sick. But, it’s getting late and the disciples are concerned that the crowd needs to be fed. Jesus say “You give them something to eat”. What follows is an amazing miracle where, not only is the crowd fed, but 12 baskets of food are left over!!

Talk about…………….

- What was your most favourite picnic? Why was it so special?

- Why was Jesus seeking solitude at this time?

- Why do you think Jesus said to his disciples “You give them something to eat”?

- When the loaves and fish were brought to Jesus – what did He do before distributing them? Do you think this would be a normal response from Jesus with anything we might bring to Him? Why?

- What do you find MOST significant about Jesus’ miracle?

- As we think about Stewardship, what can we learn from this story?

Jesus Commits to God’s Will

Here’s what happens…

Jesus knows he’s about to be arrested and killed. He goes to a garden to pray. He asks that God would take this cup of suffering away from him but prays, “I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Talk About This…

• When have you seen good come out of doing hard things?

• What emotions do you think Jesus felt in Gethsemane?

• What does he ask of the disciples? What does he ask of God?

• What is God’s will (v39 & 42)? What model for our prayers does Jesus give here?

• What do you appreciate about Jesus most in this passage?

• What’s something you have to do in the next week that you don’t want to do?

• How can Jesus help you? Who can keep you accountable during hard times?

Do you have a place to pray at home (your own Gethsemane)?

Jesus went to the garden to pray about the hard thing he had to do. You might like to set up your own prayer spot at home…

• Find a quiet place for a prayer spot, it could be inside or outside.

• Make it a bit private by adding a screen, or blanket or some other sort of wall.

• If you like, add real or fake flowers or plants to make it feel like a garden.

• Whenever you (or someone in your family) has to do something they don’t want to do, or anytime you choose, use the prayer spot to pray, pouring out your heart to God, and asking him for help.

• Jesus also took his friends with him to the garden; consider getting together in your prayer spot with others to pray.

Jesus Is the Vine

Here’s what happens…

Jesus describes his relationship with us using a plant metaphor. He says he is the vine and we’re the branches. As we remain attached to him, like branches are attached to a tree, his love grows in us and we produce good fruit!

Talk About This…

• If vine branches were human, what pain might you expect during ‘pruning’?

• Jesus repeats the words ‘remain in me’, ‘love’, and ‘bearing fruit’. What significance do these words have?

• What is the ‘fruit’ that will last?

• How does our relationship with Jesus change once we start practicing the example of love given in verses 12-13?

• What’s one way you’ve noticed, or you think someone could, grow in Jesus’ love?

• What is the link between obedience and prayer (v 7 &16)?

• As a branch on Christ’s vine, how would you describe the fruit in your life? Juicy? Green? Wormy?... Why?

• If the quality or quantity of your fruit is less than desirable, what will you do to improve this? How can someone keep you accountable to this?

• What’s your key learning from this passage?