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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
October 25, 2015
Doing the Work of God
Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56; John 6:22-40
Introduction
The latest edition of Answers magazine published by Answers in Genesis contained an article with some very disturbing statistics gathered by the America’s Research Group in late 2014 from people who are churchgoers most of whom do believe that the Bible is “inspired.” The article not only reveled what might be expected from an analysis of churchgoers as a whole since it would include many different types of churches and many who attend but do not believe what is taught, but more disturbing was a definite generational shift away from the truth of God’s word toward secularism. Of those surveyed who were in their twenties, there was a basic failure to understand the gospel with 43% not considering themselves to be “born again” and 65% believing you will go to heaven if you are a good person. Evolutionary thought showed a strong influence in these church going Millennials: 50% did not believe the earth was young; 23% believe God used evolution to change one kind of animal into another kind; and 19% believe that humans evolved from ape-like ancestors. More disturbing was the influence of secularism on their moral understanding in contradiction to the clear teachings of the scripture: Only 56% believe homosexual behavior is a sin; Only 58% believe premarital sex is wrong; and only 49% believe abortions should be illegal in most instances.
There are several major factors contributing to these monumental shifts including: the breakdown of the family in our society; the lack of Biblical preaching and teaching in churches by those who do believe the Bible to be the word of God and true; and the indoctrination of our children in secularism in our public schools and through media. Those of us who have been following these trends over many decades are disturbed by them, but we are not surprised. Those of us who have been careful to study our Bibles are not surprised either because there has always within religious groups factions that show major disconnects between what they say they believe and what they demonstrate by their actions that they actually believe. We will see that in our study today of the multitudes that sought out Jesus following His miraculous feeding of more than 5,000 with just five small loaves of barley bread and two small fish. This morning we will be examining Matthew 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56 and John 6:22-40.
People of Little Faith – Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56
We begin with Matthew 14:34, “And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.” This passage follows Jesus feeding the multitude of over 5,000 people near Bethsaida on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee (See: Ministering to the Multitude) after which Jesus had dismissed the people and sent the disciples back across the in a boat sea toward Capernaum while He went up the mountain to pray. You will recall from our study last week, that a wind storm arose while the disciples where out in the middle of the lake and were only able to go three or four miles by the fourth watch of the night, which would have been between 3-6 a.m., so though they had been rowing for eight hours or more, they had made little progress. It was at that time that Jesus came to them walking on water out to their boat. To say the least, that frightened them because they concluded that He was a phantom, a ghost of some sort because people do not walk on water and especially in the middle of a lake during a wind storm. Jesus identified Himself and calmed their fears whereupon Peter asked to join Jesus and he got out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus. Peter was doing great until he took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the wind and became afraid and began to plunge into the water. He cried out to Jesus to save him which Jesus did with a mild rebuke of his little faith that caused him doubt. After they got in the boat, they immediately came to the land to which they were going. (See: Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus)
Peter is often criticized for his little faith in this incident, but he is the only one of the disciples that got out of the boat and walked on water. Peter’s faith may have been little, but he did act on what he had and was blessed for it. The same thing is found in the people of Gennesaret. This is an area on the Western shore of the Sea of Galilee just south of Capernaum. The area is a fertile plain about 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide where intensive agricultural activity took place with orchards of walnuts, palms, figs, olives, grapes and up to three crops a year of some field crops. A farming area with no towns or villages in it would have been fairly quiet and peaceful. This may have been the reason Jesus landed there. However, it did not stay peaceful for very long.
Matthew 14:35-36, “And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; and they began to entreat Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.” Those working in the fields and orchards recognized Jesus and immediately sent into the surrounding area to tell everyone that He was there. The people then came to Jesus with their sick and they asked Him to heal them. Mark 6:55 adds the detail that this included carrying people on their pallets to Jesus, and Jesus did heal them.
The response of the men demonstrates that they believed something about Jesus. Possibly they had seen Him heal people in Capernaum or in their own village when Jesus had visited. They believed that Jesus could heal those who were sick among them, and so by faith they brought the sick to Him and pleaded with Him to heal them. Jesus again responds in compassion to their request and heals them of their physical infirmities. Mark 6:56 goes on to record Jesus’ ministry in that district that followed, “Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.”
No text tells us whether theses people had great faith or little faith, but their actions demonstrate they had at least enough faith to believe Jesus could heal and would be compassionate to do so. They acted according to that faith and were blessed. However, we find out from John’s account that Jesus wanted to do more than just give people physical relief. He also wanted to minister to their spiritual need, but the incident that then occurred in Capernaum demonstrated that many did not in fact believe Jesus’ claims and quickly turned against Him. Turn to John 6:22. We will see in our studies of the rest of this chapter that just because a person claims to be religious and follows after a religious figure, it does not mean that they are actually interested in the things of God. There always have been and always will be those who are self-deceived. They think they are seeking after God, but in actuality, they are only after what they think will benefit them in this life.
The Search for Jesus (John 6:22-27)
It appears from this account that after Jesus had ministered in Gennesaret that later that day He had made His way back the short distance north to Capernaum. John 6:22, “The next day the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but [that] His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You get here?’”
It was near evening when Jesus had dismissed the people He had ministered to near Bethsaida. They had seen the disciples leave in the boat the evening before and Jesus go up the mountain. It would have been too far for them to return that night, so they either found places to stay or slept out in the fields that night. In the morning they begin to look for Jesus, but they cannot find Him. Jesus was not in the only boat left in that area and no one had seen Jesus walking around the lake. They would not have known that Jesus walked directly across the lake to join His disciples.
The Scriptures do not say exactly why the folks from Tiberias, which is on the southwest side of the Sea of Galilee, had come in their boats to this place near Bethsaida on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus had been the day before. Whatever the specific reason, the multitude could not find Jesus and took advantage of the boats from Tiberias and together they crossed over to Capernaum thinking He might be there. When they arrived in Capernaum, they found Jesus and then questioned Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
Their question is one of surprise that He was back to the other side of the sea and they had not even seen Him leave. Jesus did not answer their question or let them know He had walked three or four miles across the sea before catching up with His disciples in the boat and then got in for the rest of the journey. These people had already thought about making Jesus king and telling them about that miracle would have only incited them further toward that idea and Jesus was against it. He had come to establish a kingdom of a different nature. Instead, Jesus looks into their hearts and rebukes them for their wrong motives in searching for Him.
John 6:26-27, “Jesus answered them and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. 27 ‘Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, [even] God, has set His seal.’”
These people searched for Jesus because they had gotten a miraculous free meal and not because they were interested in spiritual things or the kingdom of God. They were looking for someone who would fulfill their desires. They had seen the signs that Jesus had performed and understood, at least to a small degree, the significance of them for they had concluded that Jesus was “the prophet who is to come into the world” (vs. 14). But they did not understand the nature of the Messiah or what He actually came to do. They were looking for a leader who would restore their nation to the glory and prosperity it had when David and Solomon were on the throne. They were looking forward to good times in the future with this man that could heal the sick and even provide food for them when they were hungry. Jesus rebuked them because their minds were stuck in the materialism of this life and they could not perceive the spiritual realities that were so much more important.
Jesus’ statement in verse 27 was designed to awaken them to the greater reality. Jesus called them to set a new goal for pursuing some thing eternal instead of temporal. Their lives revolved around working to earn a living. Their labor would be quickly consumed in just gaining the necessities of life like food, but food is quickly gone and its satisfaction is only temporary. You can have a great meal and enjoy it very much, but hunger comes again after a few hours or a day. Physical food also only sustains your life temporarily, but the spiritual food of Jesus would bring eternal life.
Jesus again designates Himself with the messianic title, “Son of Man.” He is the one that will give this food for God the Father had set His seal on Him which was explained in John 5. This seal of God on Jesus 5 was confirmed by the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of Jesus’ works, the witness of God the Father at Jesus’ baptism and the witness of the Scriptures themselves since Jesus was fulfilling the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
What Jesus said to those people at that time also applies just as well today. I mentioned this in my introduction that there are now so many people who have a disconnect between what they say they believe and what they actually believe as demonstrated by their actions. Many people who claim to be seeking after God are in reality just searching for what they think will benefit them in this life. This is most often displayed in our society by hedonism and materialism with moral relativism providing the excuses. The gospel message itself is often perverted by the many “churches” and “ministries” that cater to such people. But Jesus did not die on the cross so that people could “name and claim” in “Jesus’ name” the stuff they want in life. He did not shed His blood so that professing Christians would never be sick again. Jesus did not rise from the dead to assure those who claim to be believers of comfort and affluence. He did not come to fulfill our felt needs or make our lives on earth easier. Jesus came to break the bondage of sin so that you might live holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:4), and in living for Jesus, His followers will suffer persecution from the ungodly (2 Timothy 3:12).
It is a great tragedy that there are so many that profess faith in Jesus but still have lives that revolve around working for the pleasures and material things of this life instead of the food which endures to eternal life. They, like these crowds in our text and regardless of the particular reasons, do not yet understand the work of God.
Doing the Work of God (John 6:28-29)
The people do catch what Jesus says about working for food, so they ask him about it in John 6:28, “They said therefore to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” They show interest in what Jesus was offering, and eternal life is a good thing to desire, but they missed the part that it was something He would give them. They think that they must somehow earn it and so want to know what work they should do in order to get this food which endures to eternal life. That was the basic premise which the religious leaders had been following. If you do certain things and refrain from doing other things, you would earn eternal life. They want the rules and duties spelled out. What are the works of God they must do?
Jesus is direct and to the point in John 6:29, “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’” They did not understand the meaning of what Jesus said which results in them misunderstanding nearly everything else Jesus says throughout the rest of this chapter.
They had a materialistic view of life and so wanted to work to earn eternal life. Jesus gave them an answer from a spiritual view of life. The work would be to believe in Jesus because God had sent Him. There would not be a list of rules and duties to keep and perform by which you would earn eternal life. It would come as a gift to those who believed.
Some have balked at the idea expressed here that faith is a work. I think that is because of a distorted idea of faith that has been advocated in which faith becomes an intellectual assent that does not have to effect the life of the individual instead of a core of belief that will radically change the individual.
Let me be clear here that salvation is a gift from God that comes entirely by His grace. That truth is presented throughout the gospel of John. I also believe that Ephesians 2:8 teaches that faith itself is a gift from God and not something the individual can somehow work up for himself. Faith comes only by the Holy Spirit working in the life of the individual. The unsaved person is dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) with a mind that is blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4) and an understanding that is darkened (Ephesians 4:17). The Holy Spirit must bring conviction of sin (John 16:8), illumine their mind (2 Corinthians 4:6) and regenerate the sinner (Ephesians 2:5; Titus 3:5) for them to believe and be saved. God is the one that does all this work, but the sinner must still respond to what God is doing. God has the truth presented and convicts the sinner, but the sinner must still repent and believe in Jesus. The work of faith is the work of receiving the gift of God.
What are some of the elements of this work?
1) Hearing the word of God – Romans 10:17, So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
2) Repentance from sin – Acts 17:30, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent.” 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Matthew 5:3-4 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
3) Believing what Jesus says, for to believe “in” Jesus you must first believe that what He says is true – John 6:40, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” This includes believing that Jesus is the Messiah, God in human flesh – John 8:24b, “for unless you believe that I am [He], you shall die in your sins.” If you do not believe what Jesus says, then there can be no saving faith – John 8:46b, 47, “If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear [them,] because you are not of God.”
4) Believing that Jesus’ death on the cross is the sufficient payment and substitute for your sins – 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, [the] just for [the] unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”
5) Believing that God raised Jesus from the dead – Romans 10:9, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.”
Some might balk at these requirements saying it sounds like works and not grace, but grace can make requirements and still be grace. For example, I will give this $10 bill to whoever believes that I will keep my word and will come up here and receive it. My offer to freely give this $10 is not dependent upon your deserving it, but on my grace to give it. The fact that I ask you to come up here to get it does not change the grace of my offer. In fact, your coming up here is simply the demonstration of your belief that I will keep my word.
God’s offer of salvation by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ is not changed by His requirement that you repent and believe, and neither of those are works that can earn you salvation. Repentance is changing your mind to believe the truth about yourself as a sinner and place your faith in Jesus as the only Savior. A lack of repentance demonstrates a lack of belief in the truth. The same is true of sanctification. The quest of a Christian to live a holy life is the consequence of belief and not a work to earn salvation. The lack of that quest is a demonstration of a lack of belief.
The Demand for Proof (John 6:30-33)
The crowd did not understand all of what Jesus was talking about, but they did understand that He was a claiming to be the Son of Man, a name for the Messiah. They demanded that Jesus give some proof of this claim. John 6:30-31, They said therefore to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”
They had seen many of the signs Jesus had performed including miracles of healing and the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish the previous day. Yet, what they wanted now was some proof that Jesus was really from God the Father by performing a miracle they thought would be equal with Moses. This was somewhat logical because the prophet spoken of in Deuteronomy 18 was to be similar to Moses. Their reasoning was along these lines. “Jesus had multiplied earthly bread, but if He really is the Prophet, the Messiah, then He should cause bread from heaven to come down as it did during the time of Moses.” This is logical, but fickle, since the day before they said He was the prophet after the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
Jesus corrects them and then again brings out the spiritual nature of what He is talking about. John 6:32-33, Jesus therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
First, Jesus emphasizes the truth and importance of what He was about to say by introducing it with the phrase, “truly, truly” or “verily, verily” in the KJV. Next He reminds them that it was not Moses that gave the manna, but God Himself. Moses simply gave the directions on how it would come and how to gather it. Finally, Jesus interjects again the spiritual nature of the food that He was talking about in verse 27. God was now sending the true bread out of heaven. The manna was only a type of the “true bread” which was to come. The manna only gave temporary nourishment, but the true bread would give life to the world.
The Bread of Life (John 6:34-40)
They still do not understand the spiritual nature of what Jesus is talking about for like the woman at the well they could only perceive the physical. John 6:34, They said therefore to Him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.” This sounds like great bread to them so they ask Jesus to give it to them continually.
Jesus responds by clarifying the nature of this true bread. John 6:35, Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” It is Jesus Himself that is the true bread from heaven. He is the food from heaven that gives eternal life. The negation of the opposite (litotes) here stresses the positive. Jesus satisfies both spiritual hunger and thirst. Note as well that Jesus equates believing in Him and coming to Him.
Jesus knows their hearts and understands that they still are not receiving what He is telling them so He reveals to them in verse 36, “But I said to you, that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.” They had seen the miracles and heard Him teach, but they were still unbelieving. Their response recorded in verse 41 of grumbling at what Jesus says here proves that Jesus’ perception of them was correct.
Jesus continues on in the next few verses to explain the promise to those who do come to Jesus as well as His own submission to the Father and the Father’s will for them. First is the promise to those that do come to Him. John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” This is a promise of security. Jesus will not reject such a person in the present or in the future, but take note how a person comes to Jesus. It is because the Father gives them to Jesus. We will spend more time on this concept next week, but for today just keep in mind that God the Father is involved in a person coming to Jesus for salvation. Please also note that the offer is still universal even here, “and the one who comes to me.” No one should ever hesitate to come to Jesus thinking that perhaps they had not been given to the Son by the Father. Whoever comes to Jesus is welcomed and will not be rejected.
Jesus continues on to explain His own submission to the Father and the great security in His promise. John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” Jesus is in complete submission to the Father’s will and the Father’s will reveals promises of security and resurrection.
While the sovereignty of God in salvation is stated a second time in these verses in that He gives them to the Son, it must also be emphasized that it is not the Father’s moral will that “any should perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). It is clearly stated here that eternal life is given to “everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him.” Those who come to Jesus will be welcomed and they will never be lost. Those who do not come to Jesus for salvation have rejected His offer and cannot blame God.
Let me emphasize here that in carrying out the Father’s will, Jesus will not lose anyone given to Him and He will raise them up on the last day. That is the security of the believer. Once a person belongs to Jesus, He will never let them go. He will fulfill every one of His promises to them. Regardless of how you may feel when circumstances get tough, Jesus is still there. He is not a butterfingers who will drop you or absent minded that He will forget you. He who began a good work in you will complete it (Philippians 1:6).
Conclusion
The crowd was looking for a sign from Jesus that would match what occurred at the time of Moses when God provided manna in the wilderness. What Jesus gave them was much more. He Himself is the Bread of Life. They had challenged Jesus’ authority by demanding He prove Himself. Jesus’ response not only corrected their errors in thinking and pointed to the spiritual realities involved, but He also made it very clear that opposing Him was also opposing the will of God the Father.
Where do you stand this morning? I hope it is not in opposition to the will of Christ. Have you done the work of faith? Have you turned from your sins to believe in Jesus Christ as the only Savior from your sin? The offer of salvation is made to you, what has been your response to it? Will you believe if you do not already?
If you profess to believe, does your life demonstrate the reality of belief in Jesus Christ? Do not be like those in this crowd who thought they were seeking after God, but in reality were seeking for themselves. Jesus did not come to make your life comfortable, but to radically change it so that you would be like Him. Take a good look in the mirror and if the reflection is not that of Jesus Christ, then ask yourself why? Do the work of faith and then live according to what you claim to believe.
Sermon Notes: Doing the Work of God
Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56; John 6:22-40
Introduction
There is a disturbing generational shift away from Biblical truth among churchgoers toward _____________
_____ do not consider themselves born again 65% believe you get to heaven by being a good person
_____ do not believe the earth is young 23% believe God uses evolution to change kinds
_____ believe humans evolved from apes Only 56% believe homosexual behavior is sinful
Only______ believe premarital sex is wrong Only 49% believe abortion should be illegal in most cases
Factors include family breakdown, lack of __________teaching in churches, secularization of children
There has always been a subset within religious groups whose professed and actual beliefs ____________
People of Little Faith – Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56
Jesus fed the 5,000+ near Bethsaida, then ________across the sea to meet the disciples in the boat that night
Peter had “little faith,” but he acted on what he had and ____________of the boat
Gennesaret is a farming area on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee ___________of Capernaum
Matthew 14:35-36, – The people of Gennersaret acted on the ________they had and brought people to Jesus
Mark 6:56 – Jesus continued a ministry of ____________in the region for some time
The Search for Jesus (John 6:22-27)
Those who stayed in the vicinity overnight ___________for Jesus in the morning but could not find Him
Boats from _____________came to where Jesus had been the day before, then they all went to Capernaum
Jesus does not answer their question and instead rebukes them for their __________motives – John 6:26-27
They understood that Jesus was the prophet predicted in Deut. 18, but they _________________its meaning
Jesus’ prodded them to think beyond the physical world which perishes to the _______world which does not
“Son of Man“is a _______________title and God has set His seal on Jesus – John 5
Jesus came to break the bondage of sin and make us ________, not to give us a nice life in this world
Doing the Work of God (John 6:28-29)
A false basic religious premise that still remains is that you must work somehow to _________eternal life
Their ________________worldview blinded them from understanding the gift of eternal life based on belief
That belief in Jesus is a work does not negate salvation being the ________of God by His grace – Eph. 2:8-9
God does all the work of salvation, but the sinner must still respond in ____________to its offer
We are born dead in sin (Eph. 2:1) with ________minds (2 Cor. 4:4) & darkened understanding (Eph. 4:17)
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, illumines the mind and _____________the sinner to believe and be saved
1) ______________the word of God – Romans 10:17
2) ______________from sin – Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 5:3f
3) Believing what Jesus ___________- John 6:40; 8:24, 46-47
4) Believing that Jesus’ death is the ______________payment and substitute for your sins – 1 Peter 3:18
5) Believing that God _____________Jesus from the dead – Romans 10:9
Repentance to follow Christ is the _________of belief, a lack of such repentance demonstrates lack of belief
The Demand for Proof (John 6:30-33)
John 6:30-31, they ____________that Jesus perform a miracle of the same nature as Moses
John 6:32-33, Jesus _______them (God gave manna) and again points to the spiritual nature of His message
The Bread of Life (John 6:34-40)
John 6:34, they want this bread, but they only perceive it from a ____________perspective
John 6:35, Jesus clarifies the nature of this true bread – it is Himself as ___________food for spiritual life
John 6:36, Jesus acknowledges they _______believe though they have seen His miracles & heard Him teach
John 6:37, Jesus promises ______________to those who come to Him
John 6:38-40, Jesus is in __________to the Father’s will which includes promises of security & resurrection
God is sovereign in salvation, but there is also an _________to “everyone who beholds the Son & believes”
Jesus will not lose ___________given to Him and He will raise them up on the last day
Conclusion
Jesus carries out and fulfills the Father’s will, so opposing Him is to ___________the Father’s will
Salvation from sin is freely offered, but it requires the work of ________- what do you believe about Jesus?
The reality of your belief in Jesus will be demonstrated by your ________- be sure you are not self-deceived
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times “believe” is mentioned. 2) Discuss with your parents the what it means to believe in Jesus.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What is your reaction to the generational shift in churchgoers away from Biblical belief and toward secularism? Why do you think this is happening? How did Peter demonstrate that his “little faith” was greater than the other disciples? How did the people of Gennesaret demonstrate their faith? Why were the people surprised that Jesus was gone? Why did the people search for Jesus? What is your interest in Jesus? What do you want Him to do for you? What is the purpose of salvation? What is the “work of God” (vs. 29)? Can you earn salvation? What are some of the prerequisites of salvation? What is repentance? Where does it fit in salvation? Can grace have a requirement and still be grace? Why did the crowd demand Jesus perform another sign (vs. 30)? What corrections did Jesus give them? What contrasts are there between “manna” and the “true bread?” What kind of bread does vs. 34 indicate they were looking for? What kind of bread does Jesus say that He is? What is the benefit of this bread? What is the tragedy about the crowd? What is Jesus’ promise to those that come to Him? How does someone “come” to Jesus? What is Jesus’ response to the Father’s will? What is the Father’s will for people? What is His will for you? What do you believe about Jesus? How does your life demonstrate your faith?
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