Neighbors
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“Be Like State Farm”
“Be Like State Farm”
welcome everyone
open up with Proverbs 11.25
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
talk a little on this
recap last weeks message about knowing who our neighbors are, anyone who enters into our oikos; our community, our household, our sphere of influence...
what do we do? how do we share christ, the gospel, with these neighbors? by first showing them christs love...
no need to be theologians, or biblical scholars, just be who christ has asked us to be and show his love...
today we are going to learn how to be a blessing to our neighbor. we are going to learn how not only to show Gods love, but to show Gods care as well...
lets stand and read scripture today
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
break down the context of this scripture
mark wrote it, believed to be John Mark cousin of Barnabas who joined Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey
his mother was the widow named Mary who would sometimes host the church in jerusalem
now it is believed John “Mark” recorded his gospel from the preachings of Peter and was not an eyewitness himself at least for the majority of the gospel
now heres some more knowledge, each author of the synoptic gospels had certain audiences in mind when writing their books
Luke to the Greeks; Matthew to the Jews; Mark to the Romans
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
break this down...
Matthew and Marks account of this passage both follow the death and beheading of John the baptists where Lukes account follows King Herod seeking out Jesus…Talk on this
however, both Luke and Mark start the passage off with the disciples coming back from their “missions trip” where, Matthew talks about Jesus going off by himself with the disciples to be alone and possibly mourn Johns death....
reason could be peter was the main eyewitness who was giving his account to both Mark and Luke where as Matthew was writing from his own account...
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
Jesus saw they were leaderless, they had a need and he was quick to meet it,
he was fulfilling Is 40.11
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
Jesus was not being the good neighbor, Jesus was being the good Shepard
Draw comparison to jesus meeting our every need and if we are to be like christ we too must try to be there for others in need as well, follow his example...
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
speak on this
And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
“you give them something to eat”...
Jesus is teaching his disciples right now how to be good neighbors...
in the disciples minds they were tired, they had nothing more to give, both physically, mentally, spiritually…
and the task jesus just presented them with felt impossible to achieve feed this crowed of thousands…how?
many times were are here, this holiday season we might be here,
how, with the little i have can i help those in need around me
lord help me preach it....
mark 6.38-44
And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
conclude
When Jesus asked the disciples to provide food for over five thousand people, they asked in astonishment if they should go and spend eight months’ wages on bread. How do you react when you are given an impossible task?
the disciples were in disbelief yet still obeyed Jesus and did what he asked
A situation that seems impossible with human resources is simply an opportunity for God.
The disciples did everything they could by gathering the available food and organizing the people into groups. Then, in answer to prayer, God did the impossible.
When facing a seemingly impossible task, do what you can and ask God to do the rest. He may see fit to do the impossible.
tell story of little girl handing out invitations to Christmas service
Preach...
HOLY SPIRIT TAKEOVER....