MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.

I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism

I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point

I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups

I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve

Dig Deeper:
1. Describe in your own words what a miracle is. What characteristics does it have to include in order to be miracle?
2. Read John 6:1-4. Imagine being in the crowd. Who do you think you would see? What would you hear?
3. Read John 6:5-6. Why do you think Jesus asks this question? Why doesn’t He just immediately spring into action and show them how to feed the people?
4. What does it mean that Jesus “asked this to test him”? What kind of test is the text referring to?
5. Read John 6:7-9. If you could describe Philip’s answer in one word, what word would you choose? How about Andrew’s answer? Explain why.
6. Can you relate to Philip and Andrew? Explain how.
7. Describe a time in your life when you witnessed God do something amazing only to doubt Him immediately afterwards regarding something else. What caused you to doubt?
8. What do you think was going through the boy’s mind when he shared his food? What impact would this have on him?
9. Why do we need to be reminded daily of God’s strength, power, and ability?
10. Read John 6:10-11. What is the significance of Jesus giving thanks before distributing the bread? What is the significance of Jesus allowing everyone to have “as much as they wanted”?
11. Read John 6:12-13. How much of the boy’s food (five barley loaves and two fish) did they use? How much food was left over after everyone had eaten? Why didn’t they just end up with nothing at the end…or the same amount as they started with? Why was there more than enough left over?
12. The miracle in John 6:1-13 is the only miracle that shows up across all four Gospel accounts (besides the resurrection). Why do you think Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wanted to share this miracle specifically?
13. The boy who sacrificed generously does not get much recognition in this story. Who is the main character in this story? Why? How does that relate to when we give?
14. Read 2 Corinthian 9:7. What does it mean to be a cheerful giver? Why does our heart matter to God when it comes to giving?
15. Read Mark 12:41-44. Why does Jesus notice her giving specifically? Discuss what it means to be a cheerful giver (means “hilarious” in the Greek).
16. Read Matthew 6:25-27. How is giving an act of worship?
17. Is generosity a by-product of being in close proximity to Jesus? Why?
18. Why did God create Adam? Why did God create us? What is our reason to exist? Knowing that, what is our response?
19. What’s at stake if we don’t live with open hands to God?

Live It Out:
Jesus calls us to bring what we have to Him and let Him multiply it. Generous people give willingly, sacrificially, and as an act of worship. What we give, no matter how small, can make a big difference in His hands.

1. Identify in your own life if you are giving your time, talents, and treasure to glorify God. Are you living your life with open hands to God, recognizing that He is the provider of ALL things?

2. If you identify areas of your life that are closed off to God, dig deeper. Examine why you are not able to give that part over to Him by answering the questions:
a. Am I giving willingly? If not, why?
b. Am I giving sacrificially? If not, why?
c. Am I giving out of a heart of worship? If not, why?

3. Pray! Spend time with your Heavenly Father, the one who provides abundantly. Confess to Him the areas of your life you aren’t surrendering to Him. Pray for Him to give you a generous heart, one that that is solely focused on Him.

Reading Plan:
Monday: John 6:1-13
Tuesday: 1 Timothy 6:18-19, 2 Corinthian 9:7
Wednesday: Mark 12:41-44
Thursday: Matthew 6:25-27, 33
Friday: Ephesians 3:20-21
Saturday: 2 Corinthians 8:9-15