Not by Greed but by Faith

Not by Greed but by Faith

Mark 8:1-13

□ Praise and Sharing

 [New Hymn] Chapter 563 Jesus loves me

 [New Hymn] Chapter 461 Can you bear the cross?

Above all

 

How did you spend last week?

 

The theme of March is ‘The path a disciple of Christ must take’ (week 1 ‘With faith, not desire’, week 2 ‘With service, not success’, week 3 ‘With truth, not public opinion’, week 4 ‘ ‘Not with show, but with devotion’, Week 5 ‘As a witness to the resurrection’). The ‘way of a disciple’ is a narrow and constricted path, different from the broad path that many people follow (Matthew 7:14). But on that path lies the glory of truth and the resurrection of eternal life.

 

□ Words and Sharing

1. Jesus feeds 4,000 people with seven loaves and a few fish (verses 1-10).

1) Why did Jesus take pity on the crowd (verses 2-3)?

"I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat.

"If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance."

 

Because if Jesus send them home hungry, they will faint on the road.

 

2) How many loaves and fish did the disciples bring (verses 6-7)?

And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people.

They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well.

Seven loaves and two small fish

 

3) How many people did Jesus feed with bread and fish? (verse 9)

About four thousand were there; and He sent them away.

about four thousand people

 

<Sharing 1> Jesus carefully examined the situation of the crowd and showed them mercy. Love began with careful consideration of the other person's circumstances and situations. If you have ever experienced the Lord’s attentive hand in meeting a need, let’s share it. Let's also talk about ways to identify the spiritual and physical needs of those around us.

 

When we ran out of rice, God supplied it through the hands of others.

By paying attention to SNS messages, you can understand the spiritual and physical needs of those around you.

 

<Sharing 2> Just as Jesus fed the Jews (6:35-44), he also fed the Gentiles. In this way, the blessings that God gives must flow beyond the walls of the church. Let’s talk about ways our community can share God’s blessings with our neighbors and community.

 

I wish we could visit our neighbors in need and share the gospel with bread.

2. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for demanding a sign (verses 11-13).

1) With what attitude do the Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign? (verse 11)

The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.

 

The Pharisees criticize and test Jesus and seek a sign.

 

2) What does Jesus answer to the Pharisees? (verses 12-13)

Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."

Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.

Jesus said to them, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

 

<Sharing 3> The reason the Pharisees sought a sign was not to believe in Jesus, but to deny Him. There is already enough evidence to believe in God and follow Jesus, but don't you hesitate to live as a disciple, saying it's still not enough? What attitude do we need today to avoid falling into the mistakes of the Pharisees?

 

Rather than seeking a sign like the Pharisees, we must seek to believe in Jesus as our Savior, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and become true disciples who follow the Lord.

 

□ Let's pray together

Lord, may Your heart that has mercy on us become our heart that has mercy on our neighbors!

Let us live by faith and not by desire(greed)!

Help us to believe in You as our Savior, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and become true disciples who follow You!

 

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