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Allowing Jesus to Speak to the Deepest Needs of My Life

AT SANDALS CHURCH, WE BELIEVE THAT GOD STILL SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WORD AND THROUGH HIS PEOPLE

JESUS DOES HIS BEST WORK IN LIFE’S MOST PAINFUL MOMENTS

As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. MATTHEW 14:13-14 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ROMANS 8:28 NLT

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. GENESIS 50:20 NLT

JESUS CAN MEET MY DEEPEST NEEDS OUT OF HIS ABUNDANCE

That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. “Bring them here,” he said. MATTHEW 14:15-18 NLT

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches,… PHILIPPIANS 4:19 NLT

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. MATTHEW 13:44 NLT

JESUS WILL ONLY BLESS WHAT I HAVE ENTRUSTED TO HIM

Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! MATTHEW 14:19-21 NLT

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” LUKE 6:38 NLT

We can leave here today like the:

Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” JOHN 6:8 NLT

My Notes

Discussion Questions

Use the following questions to reflect on the sermon and choose a couple from each section to discuss as a group:

  1. START HERE: When have you felt like life knocked the wind out of you, yet looking back, you can see how God was quietly at work?
  2. START HERE: What’s something that helped you stay connected to God during a painful season?
  3. START HERE: Have you ever experienced God “speaking” to you through another person? What was that like?
  4. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 14:13-14. How do you tend to respond when you’re hurting, but others still need you?
  5. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 14:15-18. Why do you think Jesus told the disciples, “You feed them,” when they clearly didn’t have enough to give?
  6. KEEP GOING: When have you felt Jesus asking you to do something that felt far beyond your capacity? What happened?
  7. KEEP GOING: If you were one of the disciples watching this story in Matthew 14 unfold, what might you have been thinking as Jesus turned from His own loss to help others?
  8. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 14:19-21. Why do you think Jesus asked them to bring what little they had before the miracle happened?
  9. LIVE IT OUT: If Jesus only blesses what we entrust to Him, what’s one thing you sense He’s inviting you to place in His hands today?
  10. LIVE IT OUT: Who in your life might need to experience Jesus’ compassion through you right now?