Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults

Listen to this week’s leader training podcast with Y Bonesteele, team leader for The Gospel Project for Adults, for a summary and guidance in leading your group.

This week’s additional resources for study and preparation:

• Article: “The Compassion of a Shepherd” by Alan Patrick 
• Article: “Life’s Interruptions Are Divine Opportunities” by Trevin Wax
• Sermon: “You Give Them Something to Eat” by Alistair Begg

Transcript of Leader Training Podcast:

Hi, this is Y Bonesteele, team leader of The Gospel Project for Adults, welcome to another Leader Training podcast. Today we are in Unit 26, Session 1: Jesus Provides, with the core passage of Matthew 14:13-21. And with the key concept of: Jesus is always able to provide for His people beyond what is needed.

Matthew 14 starts with Herod hearing about Jesus. But Herod had a false understanding of Jesus. He thought Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected as seen in Matthew 14:2: “2 “This is John the Baptist…. He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Matthew continues to explain in somewhat of a flashback, that Herod had beheaded John during a lavish feast, at the request of his daughter and wife.

When news arrived to Jesus, He withdrew by boat “to be alone” in verse 13. Though ministry is important, Jesus demonstrates the value of withdrawing for prayer, reflection, and communion with the Father. But the crowds heard this and followed Him by foot. Jesus must’ve gone out in a boat, not too far off, for the crowds could still see Him, and they followed Him on foot along the shoreline. When He came back to shore, He “had compassion on them, and healed their sick” in verse 14. Whether still sad about John’s death or pondering about Herod’s interest in Him, or both, Jesus had a lot on His mind, but He still thought of others first. He still had compassion on the people and healed their sick, which are miracles in themselves.

What challenges keep you from showing compassion like Jesus? Sometimes we’re burdened with our own problems or we’re just too busy that we have more compassion on ourselves than others. Or even sometimes life is going so well that we’re enjoying God’s blessings and living the good life so don’t even consider how our blessings can benefit others. Both our trials and our blessings can be challenges if we lose our compassion in serving and loving others.

It’s interesting to note that Matthew doesn’t choose to highlight the specific healings that Jesus does at the moment. Instead, he highlights the miraculous provision Jesus was about to perform. He does this to point to Jesus as Messiah.

So “evening came” and the disciples went to Jesus telling Him to send the crowds away. They had perfectly logical reasons: 1) “the place is deserted;” 2) “it is already late;” and 3) the crowds need time to “go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” In one sense, the disciples used wisdom, common sense, and were considerate in thinking about the crowds. Jesus, however, doesn’t need to work within the confines of our human strategy and wisdom. He told them, “They don’t need to go away…. You give them something to eat” in verse16. A very straightforward command.

The disciples, however, didn’t understand: “But we only have five loaves and two fish here” (v. 17). They only saw the limitations but Jesus saw the potential. The disciples had already seen Jesus perform miracles. He was healing people this whole time before this. Oh, yes, He can make people well but making something out of nothing? Well, that’s a whole other level of divine power, they might’ve thought. They still had a limited view of Jesus as God and Messiah, and they struggled to trust or have faith in what He was able to do.

What might having eyes of faith mean for your present reality? Sometimes we might want to do more for Jesus and His church, but we start with what the disciples said: “But…” But I don’t have time to serve in youth ministry, but I don’t know the Bible too well to share the gospel, but I don’t have enough money to give to that cause, etc. etc. We have a lot of ‘buts’ we give to God, but for all the buts we have, Jesus says: “Bring them here to me” in verse 18. That’s what having faith looks like. Bringing everything to Jesus.

That should be a memory verse. Matthew 14:18: “‘Bring them here to me,’ [Jesus] said.” Whenever we think we have a “but” for God, we can remember that He says, “Bring them here to me.” Even when we bring our little to the Lord, He can multiply it, use it, and make it sufficient for the needs at hand.

The story from there speeds up: “Then he commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them.” He thanked God, the Father, knowing everything is His. Then “He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” Jesus used the disciples as instruments through whom He provided for the people. He used them like He uses us, to teach us and to remind us that He works through us and in us. We are to be His hands and feet for serving others, yes in sharing the gospel, but also in caring for and providing for those in need. And “Everyone ate and was satisfied.” Ultimately, Jesus’s provision satisfies the deepest needs of those who trust in Him. More notably in His sufficient sacrifice that saved us from sin and death. We are satisfied in Him because He gives us all we need. And even more, the disciples “picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces.” Some commentators believe that the 12 baskets are symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel in that Jesus provides completely for His people. Others also comment that the 12 baskets represent the idea that each of the 12 disciples would have a leftover basket as a tangible lesson of Jesus’s sufficient provision. As Ephesians 3:20 states, He “is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.” This was true when Jesus was on earth and it is still true today. Jesus is the gift-giver who keeps on giving. We can never outdo His giving and service to us. He always goes above and beyond. Matthew ends with the numbers in verse 21: “Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children,” showing us that that original five loaves and two fish fed all these people. It truly was a grand miracle.

But beyond the grand miracle of provision in itself, we see that there’s a lot of correlating Old Testament Scripture here. We see the allusion to manna and quail that God provided the Israelites in the wilderness back in Exodus 16. We remember God using Elijah to provide for the widow in Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:8-16, where her flour jar never went empty. We remember God using Elisha to multiply twenty loaves of bread to feed a hundred men during a famine in 2 Kings 4:42-44. These all point to Jesus as prophet and Messiah as Jewish expectations associated the coming Messiah with miraculous works that would surpass those of Elijah and Elisha.

Why do you think Matthew wanted his readers to remember these stories from Israel’s history? To point to Christ as Messiah. To give evidence to His Lordship. And to remind them that He is a God who provides.

How have you experienced satisfaction in Christ? Your group will have varying answers here.

The Gospel Connection is short but to the point: Jesus is a provider, providing salvation from sin and death. And I’ll add that He is so, because He is the Messiah, as pointed to throughout Scripture. We can trust in Him for that salvific provision.

On to the Group Experience, start with the icebreaker about surprised generosity. Move to the Context, pointing to Pack Item 2: Jesus’s Ministry Map, near the Sea of Galilee where today’s passage took place.

Recap, like how I did, by going through the passage and a few of the Discussion Questions and ask for any highlights or questions from those who studied beforehand.

Move on to the Group Activity to dive deeper, recreating the chart From Scarcity to Surplus on the board. Have someone read Matthew 14:13-17.  If your group is large, divide into smaller groups. Have each group identify what the disciples saw in the situation and what Jesus did. For example, in verse 13-17:

The Disciples Saw: Jesus withdraw by boat, the crowds following on foot, Jesus healing the sick, the large crowds gathering, that they were far from the village in a deserted place, that they only had five loaves and two fish, that they had a problem on their hands that seemed impossible.

What Jesus Did: He withdrew initially, but then came to shore; He had compassion on the people; He healed them; He told the disciples to feed the crowds.

Then have someone read verses 18-21. Answers may include:

The Disciples Saw: themselves bringing 5 loaves and 2 fish to Jesus; the crowds sitting on the grass; Jesus blessing the food, breaking it, and giving it to them to feed the crowd; everyone satisfied with 12 baskets left over; the crowd being about 5000 men, plus women and children.

What Jesus Did: He told the disciples to bring to Him whatever resources/food they had; He blessed the food; He broke the loaves and gave it to the disciples to feed the crowds who were satisfied.

Regroup and share answers. Then ask: “What stands out to you as we consider the disciples’ perspective side-by-side with Jesus’s actions?” The disciples focused on what they lacked and the size of the crowd; but Jesus saw an opportunity to provide for the people and to teach His disciples that His resources are limitless. Also, the disciples could not see beyond the impossible versus Jesus who was confident in His ability and power. The disciple’s perspective was also that they saw people needing compassion and provision versus a Messiah, willing and ready to provide the ultimate provision, life everlasting through His own sacrifice.

Lead the group to identify at least one practical area in which they can trust Jesus’s abundant provision. And Debrief by asking: Why do you think Jesus asked the disciples to bring what they had, even though it wasn’t enough? Possibly to show them that even their little can be used for much impact; or that whatever they have, if brought to Jesus, can become impactful; or that Jesus is powerful and can do much with little.

Where do you tend to see “what the disciples saw” in your own circumstances? Answers will vary here.

Summarize and head into the Head, Heart, Hands section, answering just the Hands question if time is limited: How will you make yourself available this week to be used by God to meet the needs around you? Meeting with neighbors and friends to see what needs you could serve; asking your church pastors if they know of needs you can fulfill; going to local nonprofits to see where you can volunteer, etc.

Point out some additional Next Steps for the week and end with prayer requests and praises. And if time permits, pray through Psalm 100:1-3: “Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his — his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Hey, thanks for joining me on another Leader Training podcast. Write me at [email protected] and hope you have a great group time!