Today in the Word for Sept 16-25
Today in the Word
Wednesday Sept 16, 2020
When Jesus fed 5,000 people, was that mostly about the crowd or mostly about his disciples? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. John 6:5-7 tells part of the story:
“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
The gospel story tells us that Jesus has his disciples in mind when preparing for this miracle. He has other purposes, including the affecting the crowd, but the passage will go on to say that the crowd misunderstood what the miracle meant (vs 14-15). It appears to mostly be about the disciples.
Jesus was testing his disciples with a challenge to feed the people. He wants to affect their thinking about the Kingdom of God. And he is still testing us today. He challenges us in order to expand our thinking about the Kingdom of God. Will you take up the challenge?
Join us tomorrow for more on this miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly. Join our Wednesday adult Bible Study at 6:30 for more of the Word.
Today in the Word
Thursday Sept 17, 2020
How do we respond when Jesus calls us to do something for the Kingdom of God? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. When Jesus prepared to feed the 5,000, John 6:5-7 reads:
“” …[Jesus] said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew…spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?””
When challenged, one disciple calculated how much money (that they likely did not have) it would take to feed the crowd. Another compared their small supply with the huge need. Both men were explaining to Jesus that it would take more resources than they’ve got.
This is an important realization for us as Christ-followers. We do not command enough resources to solve all of our problems by ourselves. We are not truly self-sufficient. The world simply needs more than we have got to give. And that need not be depressing. It is a realistic assessment that humbles us and prompts us to look to Jesus for help with life’s problems.
And that is a move in the right direction.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Sept 18, 2020
How does the story of the feeding of the 5,000 turn out? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. After his disciples explain that they do not have the resources to feed the crowd, John 6:11-13 reads:
“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted…When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”
Jesus was not on an anti-litter campaign. He was providing his disciples a vivid illustration. Each of the twelve disciples was holding more pieces of bread than Jesus started out with. Of course the disciples did not have the physical resources to feed the crowd. But Jesus was asking them to let him multiply what they had. Jesus was demonstrating his ability to take a small supply and supernaturally expand it to meet the great need.
And he is still doing that today.
And that’s the Word. You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:30 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana. We have missionary Steve Fry from Kosovo in the service.
Today in The Word
Monday Sept 21, 2020
Have you ever felt like the Ferris wheel ride is over and it is just time to go back to ‘regular life’? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. I think Peter felt like this in the days after Jesus’ death and resurrection. John 21:3 tells of Peter’s comment to 6 other disciples:
““I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”
Peter was not just wanting a day of recreational fishing. His life before he met Jesus some 3 years prior was that of a commercial fisherman. Several of the men he asked to go with him had the same occupation. He was saying that he thought it was about recreational time get out the boat and go back to his ‘regular job.’ The ride with Jesus was great, but it was over.
Jesus had other ideas for Peter on that day long ago, and he has other ideas for us when we feel like him now. Our experiences with Jesus are not a brief carnival ride, they are a genuine change that can last past our natural lifetime. If Jesus has called you, don’t revert back to your old life just because things are strange and difficult. Don’t go back to the boat.
And that’s The Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Sept 22, 2020
Do you think that sometimes when Jesus talks to us, there is a sharp barb in his words? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. John 21:3-6 records one of Jesus’ barbs to friends soon after his resurrection:
““I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore…He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” No.” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
Jesus asks them how their plan to return to their old jobs as fishermen was working out. That is what they thought they were good at, but he points out that they weren’t so great at it that night! Then he provides a supernatural catch for them. I think he was challenging to not abandon their supernatural work of the Kingdom of God. I think he was telling them that it was not his will for them to go back to the natural job. He had a supernatural path for them to take. And he used the barb, “Catch anything?” to set them up!
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Sept 23, 2020
Do you question if you have what it takes when you fail God? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Peter is only a few days from denying he ever knew Jesus, when the following conversation occurs in John 21:15-17:
“…Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me [sacrificially] more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know I love you [like a friend].”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me [sacrificially]?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know I love you [like a friend].” Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me [like a friend]?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me [like a friend]?” He said, “Lord you know all things; you know that I love you [only like a friend].” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
Peter keeps explaining that he has let Jesus down and he does not love Jesus in an ‘all-in’ sacrificial way. He only loves him like a friend. But Jesus keeps pressing him with the same call: feed my sheep’. We think because we fail, we are of no use to God. Might as well quit. But Jesus calls us to get back up and go back to work for the Kingdom. Never quit. There are sheep that need feeding.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly. Join our Wednesday adult Bible Study at 6:30 for more of the Word.
Today in the Word
Thursday Sept 24, 2020
Have you found yourself explaining to God what he knows? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Peter does this in a conversation with Jesus in John 21:17-19. Jesus has asked Peter if he has the highest kind of sacrificial love. Peter explains:
“…Lord you know all things; you know that I love you [only like a friend].” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep…when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will…lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!””
Peter knows he does not have what it takes to follow Jesus. But Jesus shares what he knows. He can see Peter following God all the way to the end--all the way to his own martyrdom. God can see in us more than we can see in ourselves. God calls us to follow him despite our weakness. In the following, we can become more than we know.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Sept 25, 2020
Is it easier to believe God can do an outer miracle than an inner one? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In John 6:11, Jesus takes a boy’s small lunch and:
“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted…” Puny resources fed 5,000.
Yet in John 21:17-19 when Peter has explained that he has puny inner resources—that he is more likely to blow it than to help, Jesus responds:
“” …Feed my sheep… when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will…lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!””
Is it easier to believe God can take a little lunch a feed a crowd than he can take our little inner resources and feed the world spiritually? Yet he can do both supernatural miracles. Little is much when surrendered to God’s multiplying power, whether it a few pieces of bread or the fragments of our courage and love.
So, follow Jesus regardless. There are people to feed.
And that’s the Word. You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:30 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.