Selfish Christian views about Jesus, worship and church – John 6:22-51, Part 3

Would you be surprised to learn that some people weren’t buying what Jesus was selling? I’m not talking about the religious leaders who often confronted him. I’m talking about the crowds of people who followed him. As we continue studying John 6, the people who just the day before wanted to make him king, nowContinue reading “Selfish Christian views about Jesus, worship and church – John 6:22-51, Part 3”

Jesus’ surprising idea about work – John 6:22-51, Part 2

In our study this week, Jesus doesn’t seem too thrilled with the idea that people want more of him.  You’d think Jesus would be ecstatic that a crowd was seeking after him, right?  Isn’t that the goal?  That more people would want Jesus in their lives?  As we continue with the rest of the passage,Continue reading “Jesus’ surprising idea about work – John 6:22-51, Part 2”

When it’s wrong to want more of Jesus – John 6:22-51, Part 1

If you attend church worship services, why do you go to them? Whether you wake up on a Sunday morning in time to participate, or whether you give up valuable free time on Saturday night, or any time you attend a worship service, why do you go? I suspect that there are a variety ofContinue reading “When it’s wrong to want more of Jesus – John 6:22-51, Part 1”

Have you ever felt like a relational vending machine? – John 6:22-51, Preview

How would you like to be a human vending machine?  I’m talking about a situation in which you feel used.  It can happen to all of us, and we usually don’t like it.  Maybe in your job, you feel like people are constantly asking more and more of you.  Parents can really slip into thisContinue reading “Have you ever felt like a relational vending machine? – John 6:22-51, Preview”

If you believe in miracles, then how do you respond? – John 6:1-21, Part 5

This week we’ve been studying two of Jesus’ most famous miracles, which we read about in John 6:1-21. I don’t know which miracle is more astonishing.  The feeding of the 5000 or Jesus walking on water?  They’re both amazing.  But notice the disciples.  They have seen each of these astounding miracles…in the same day. HowContinue reading “If you believe in miracles, then how do you respond? – John 6:1-21, Part 5”

When fear gets the best of you – John 6:1-21, Part 4

Fear can be crippling. As a kid, I was afraid of our dark basement. If I had to go down there alone at night, I would turn on all the lights, quickly do what I needed to do. Then in one final motion, I would turn off the light and race up the stair, takingContinue reading “When fear gets the best of you – John 6:1-21, Part 4”

The real purpose of Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 – John 6:1-21, Part 3

A boy is standing right in front of Jesus, and the boy has a packed lunch of five small loaves of bread and two small fish. He looks across the hillside and sees the crowd of hungry people that, like him, have come to experience the miracle-worker. How is it possible that he, a boy,Continue reading “The real purpose of Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 – John 6:1-21, Part 3”

What will Jesus do when a hungry crowd is following him? – John 6:1-21, Part 2

We Americans tend to default to thinking that bigger is better.  But is bigger always better? No. Not always.  “More people, more problems,” as the saying goes.  On a mountainside in Galilee, Jesus has a problem…well…5,000+ problems, and he asks his disciples what they should do about it.  What I am referring to is oneContinue reading “What will Jesus do when a hungry crowd is following him? – John 6:1-21, Part 2”

Do miracles still happen? – John 6:1-21, Part 1

Have you ever had a miracle in your life?  I’m not talking about how it was a miracle that you got a front row parking spot at the mall on Black Friday.  I’m talking about a time you know God intervened and there was either no doubt or very little doubt.  I don’t know thatContinue reading “Do miracles still happen? – John 6:1-21, Part 1”

How supernatural does our faith need to be? – John 6:1-21, Preview

Over a decade ago, Faith Church sent a mission team to work with sister churches in another country, during which time we attended worship services in a couple local churches.  In the middle of the first worship service, the entire congregation was vigorously singing praise to God, and a worshiper one row in front ofContinue reading “How supernatural does our faith need to be? – John 6:1-21, Preview”