How to know if you have the right motivations for following Jesus – John 6:22-51, Part 5

If you are following Jesus, why are you following him? This week on the blog, starting here, we’ve been studying Jesus’ interaction with a crowd of people whom he had miraculously fed a free meal (aka “The Feeding of the 5,000”). We examined that miracle last week here. The next day, the crowd wants JesusContinue reading “How to know if you have the right motivations for following Jesus – John 6:22-51, Part 5”

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”

Questioning Miracles – John 4:43-5:15, Preview

Have you ever experienced a miracle?  I’m talking a bona fide miracle?  I’m not talking about the non-supernatural way we can use the word “miracle”.  If we’re honest, we can use the word “miracle” in some very mundane situations.  For example, “It was a miracle I got to work on time because Route 30 wasContinue reading “Questioning Miracles – John 4:43-5:15, Preview”

Did Jesus really do miracles? – John 3:1-21, Part 2

In the previous post, we met a new character in the Gospel of John. The powerful and respected Nicodemus, who is both a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish Ruling Council. As we continue studying John 3:1-21, we read in verse 2 that Nicodemus visits Jesus at night. We are giving no context toContinue reading “Did Jesus really do miracles? – John 3:1-21, Part 2”