SPECIAL PREPARATION FOR SERMON – Have a medium sized basket with two Italian style loaves of bread in the basket (have the loaves showing at the top as though you were modeling it for a picture). Along with the bread hid in the bottom a large bag of M&M’s. Put this out of sight of the congregation until the appropriate time in sermon.
What is in Your Basket?
John 6:1-14
1. I almost met the President of the United States once. Well, actually I thought I was going to meet him. It was in 1999 during his run against Al Gore. George W. Bush was coming to our little town of Alton, Illinois for a rally. This was the first time I know of that a future president was coming to our town since the famous Lincoln Douglass debates. I remember the excitement of believing that I might actually get to shake the hand of the future President.
2. I had just started my first pastorate at that time had been discussing what had been happening in the Whitehouse under the current administration. The position that I highly regarded as a sacred position seemed to have been tarnished by the Monica Lewinski incident.
3. I had heard that this presidential hopeful was a pro-life Christian, and that he wanted to bring Christian values back into the Whitehouse. I can remember thinking that we had a chance to become one nation under God again.
4. I was told that the preparations for this event started four months in advance. For what seemed to be a simple chance to meet the president had actually employed some of the most talented and gifted people in our area. It cost the Republican Party over $150,000.
5. There were people that did set design, costuming; there were audio and video specialists. They had even had people to go out into the area perform door to door surveys to get the felt needs of the community.
6. The rally was to take place at 5:00 in the evening and I had been told that there were people there at five o’clock in the morning getting the best seats available, and bringing their food and families with them. The first couple of rows were of course reserved for the prominent leaders in the area and the leaders of the Republican Party. I also found out that the leaders got a special meeting with the presidential candidate after the rally.
7. It is amazing that I thought when I pulled up at ten minutes before five (parking almost a mile away) that I actually thought I would meet the future President. Even when I found a place to stand on a hillside almost a hundred yards away, I still had hope that somehow I would get to meet the man.
8. I suppose I thought that he would walk up the hill and shake our hands, or there would be a long line of over eight thousand people, each of us getting a chance to meet him. All I knew was there was a chance and I was not about to leave until he left.
9. Reflecting back on this memory helps me to picture what it must have been like at the Sea of Galilee. People were excited about the future with Jesus as king. They had seen him perform miracles, they had heard rumors that this was the Messiah, they had set by his feet while he taught, others had probably heard rumors about him becoming the new king and running Rome out of town. There is one thing for sure; as long as he was around, they were not leaving.
10. Hopefully you have caught the excitement of this event and now I would like for you to follow along with me as John tells us of the event through his eyes.
11. Read John 6:1-14.
12. Jesus knew the need of his followers. They needed spiritual food as well as physical food.
13. Mark tells us in his account that Jesus had compassion on them and taught them late into the day-and he also saw their need for food. But how in the world were they going to feed seven to ten thousand people – the account of the five thousand only gives us the number of the men present, not including the women and children.(Luke 9:10)
14. There is a millions of hurting and people thirsting after righteousness. America has changed. Some people could not tell you what has changed but they know that the moral values are different. They are longing for a righteous savior someone that will not just meet their physical needs but also their spiritual needs. We are in a hurry for everything but we don’t know what we need. We think maybe it will be in a new leader, a new government or a new job. The reality is, happiness and contentment is only found in Christ. He is the only one that can satisfy our innermost needs.
15. There is something in the daily grind of life that does not give us satisfaction. Leaves us hungry and thirsting for something more. There is a nameless emptiness that keeps drawing man back to something greater then themselves. Men in their chase for wealth reputation, power or wealth, and vast other idols, find that the power they acquire will never be enough, the wealth is never enough, their reputation is never good enough. Nothing will fill the deep hunger that only Christ can fill.
16. The great crowd that followed Jesus so far from home into the barren wilderness suggests these thoughts. They were, a little world in themselves, men, women, children, drawn from home searching for something that would fill the emptiness. These people had followed Jesus; they forgot their food, forgot shelter, and forgot everything to go with Him.
17. What was it that drew them? Some are always ready to answer, Curiosity. But it is a very deep, strong curiosity that will drive people so far and through so much. Some were sick and wanted healed. Some had friends they wanted healed. If you asked the people there that day I imagine the answers would be as varied and there were people. Each one would have their own reason.
18. John uses this word picture; a picture of the vast, hungry, discontented multitudes that fills the world, and the outstanding fact about them is that they are seeking, always seeking. Yet they no not what they seek.
19. The people today are seeking. The world and the media have promised so much but at the end of the day it just leaves them hungry and void. Deep beneath the selfish, sordid struggle, the grasping, the greed, there is restlessness, a world-weariness that will never be stilled until the soul finds rest in God.
20. A mighty urgent question screams out of these passage, that of feeding the multitude. Whole families, including children, find themselves far from home and without food. The situation was distressing and would become even more so, if something were not promptly done. Jesus take his followers to the side; there ensues an interesting conversation and we take bits and pieces from the different accounts. He asks Philip, who knows the neighborhood. “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” If there was a Shop-n-Save or Wal-Mart open 24 hours nearby, he would have known about it. He grew up just down the road in Bethsaida. Philip did a quick assessment of what it would cost for each one to have a bite!
21. “Wescottt starts with the assumption that a denarius was a day’s wages and ‘concludes that 200 denarii would buy 4,800 quarts of barley, or 1600 quarts of wheat (cited in Morris, p. 343). Modern currency translaton grope for some way to express the enormity of Philip’s problem” (cited from Holmen New Testament Commentary p.118).
22. Philip’s response was the same response you and I would have made; Even if Wal-Mart were nearby, it would cost too much money. I love the way the Living Bible puts it, “It would cost a fortune to begin to do it.” To Phillip the task was impossible, and guesses what, to you and I it would be impossible to.
23. Although it is not mentioned in John’s account, Mark tells us in his gospel that Jesus asked them how much bread they had. They responded, “I don’t know?” He told them to go find out and that is exactly what they did. (Mark 6:38).
24. The Bible leads us to believe that they all went out searching and but only one found anything, the other person from Bethsaida, Andrew. Maybe he knew the boy and had talked with him earlier. We don’t know all we know is he found a boy with a small lunch consisting of five small barley loaves and two small fish. Instead of Andrew taking the food himself to Jesus, he took the child with him. There is a great lesson with this; we need to take people to Jesus not just their concerns. Can you imagine the excitement of the little boy he was going to meet Jesus.
25. I love the accounts in the Bible about Andrew. It seems that every time he is mentioned, he is bringing someone to Jesus. Wouldn’t it be great if every time your name was mentioned it would be about you bringing someone to Jesus?
26. I love his faith too; he only finds a child’s lunch, but he willing to bring it to Jesus. I like to give Andrew a lot of credit but just as he gets to the masters feet hs says, “But how far will that go among so many?” (John 6:8) I is amazing what happens when we rely on what we can do instead of what Christ can do. He made the same mistake the Peter made when he was walking on the water. He took his eyes of Jesus and put them on himself.
27. The Bible says, “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.”
28. The hope of the world lies in the wonderful power of God to multiply the little things that we have and use them for his purpose. There are the things that you have in your basket (bring out the basket that you have prepared before the sermon). That you need to give to Jesus. They may represent a small Childs lunch in your hands but they could feed the multitudes in Christ hands. The question before you is this. Are you willing to give them to Jesus?
29. What are these small gifts that I have among so many? We, with our small gifts our time, our talents and our treasures what are they among so many lost people in the world today? What difference would it make if I gave them to Jesus? There has got to be people better then me that can offer more then a child’s lunch. Jesus is the answer to the lost and searching people around us and He has called you to be his messenger.
30. (The following is not exposition of the text but application of the truth found in the exposition of the text. The Time, Talent, and Treasure are not in the text but the truth is and was designed to meet a need with my congregation)
31. He has also called you to use what you have. Your time, talent and treasure. What could happen if you would dedicate your time to Jesus? The people were willing to sit all day without eating just to spend a little time with Jesus. What are you giving up so that you can spend time with Jesus? Are you even spending time him? If not what needs to change in your life so you can?
32. On the night that Jesus was to be betrayed, he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to be alone with God. As he prayed and agonized about what was about to come, he walked back over to where Peter, James and John were and found them sleeping. The Bible tells us in Matthew 26:40b, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?”
33. Could we not give God one hour of our day so we, as Christ told Peter in the next verse, “so that you will not fall into temptation?” We need to spend the first hour of our day alone with the Lord. For some people like me, it is the first hour in the morning. For others, like Brett (our youth pastor), who are not morning people, it is later in the day. The fact remains that your need to give the Lord his time as you pray for your family, friends and your own life. Are you giving God at least one hour of your life?
34. During your quiet time with the Lord you need to spend time in His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says this, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We need to spend time alone with God in His word so that we may be thoroughly equipped.
35. It is useful for teaching: that is instructing us how to live our lives. For Rebuking: that is how we defend ourselves against sin. For Correcting: that brings us back to the truth; it lovingly yet firmly brings us back to the fold when we have strayed away. Training in righteousness: that is maturing us into what God wants our lives to be. All this so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
36. During our quiet time with the Lord we need to meditate on all he has taught us. Psalms 1:2 tells us that we need to meditate on the things he has taught us all day long. Psalms 119 tells us in verse 15 to meditate on his precepts, verse 27 on his wonders, verse 48 on His decrees, verse 99 on His statutes, verse 148 on His promises and verse 97 tells us to do it all day long.
37. How are you doing with your quiet time alone with the Lord? Are you giving him the first of your fruits, at least one hour a day alone in prayer, Bible study and Meditation? If not, why not? Is this something that you need to make a priority in your life?
38. Not only do you have time in your basket, you also have talent in there also. You have a special giftedness that God has given you to be used in the body for the edification of all the Saints. Dr. Rick Warren the author of The Purpose Driven Life calls this your SHAPE. Dr. Warren stated in his book, “Before God created you, he decided what role he wanted you to play on earth. He planned exactly how he wanted you to serve him, and then he shaped you for those tasks. You are the way you are because you were made for a specific ministry.” (p. 235,236) You will not be content in life until you start using your SHAPE to serve God.
39. S in SHAPE stands for your spiritual gift. You were given a spiritual gift that is to be used for God. You may have multiple gifts, but you will not have all the gifts. And you do not choose your gifts… God does. A gift is given to us to help the entire church. You can find how that works in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 where Paul lists different kinds of gifts. In verse 11 he states, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives to them (the gifts) to each one, just as he (God) determines.”
40. H stands for the Heart. Dr. Warren states that “Your heart reveals the real you – what you truly are, not what others think you are or what circumstances force you to be.” He also says, “figure out what you love to do – what God gave you a heart to do-and then do it for his glory.” (p233, 239)
41. A stands for your Abilities. God would not give you the ministry of fixing cars if you are not mechanically inclined. He would not give you the ministry of Sunday School director if you are not organized. You get the point. God gives you certain abilities and he wants you to use those for his purpose.
42. P stands for Personality. You’re a unique individual created by God for his purpose. There is no one else just like you. God wants to use you in ways that fits your personality. If you’re introverted and shy you probably will feel uncomfortable being a greeter or going door to door. If you are extroverted and outgoing, God will probably not expect you to be an accountant. You get the point: God designed you with a purpose in mind and that purpose will fit your personality.
43. E stands for Experiences. One of my favorite statements in the book is this, “God never wastes a hurt.” (p. 246) Some of the greatest lessons we have learned in our short time on this earth have been taught through pain. One of my favorite Bible Teachers is Steve Brown and he stated one time, “You will never know what it is like to lose a child until you have lost one of your own. You will never know what it is like to struggle with an Alcoholic Parent until you have had one.” God uses the experiences in our life to help others who are going through the same type of experiences.
44. God gave you a SHAPE: a Talent to be used for his Kingdom. How do you find that talent? Spend Time with him and examine how he made you and what experiences you have gone through. Are you spending your Time with the Lord? Are you letting God use your Talents?
45. The other thing in your basket is your treasure. For the Boy it was 2 loaves of bread and 5 little fishes. The disciples knew that in their hands it couldn’t do much, but look what it did in the hands of Jesus. A little boy’s lunch fed over five thousand people when it was given to Christ. What are you doing with your Treasure?
46. I think that one of the most difficult things for us to give up to God is our money. Did you know that the Bible speaks of money more then it does about Heaven or Hell? Why do you think that is? It is because we will either serve it or God. Money can serve you or you can serve it, and most people serve it.
47. Did you also know that in the book of Malachi it says that you can actually test God? It is the only place in the Bible where God gives you the right to test him. Listen as I read Malachi 3:8-10, “Will a man rob God? But you rob me. But you ask, “How do we rob you?” In your tithes and offering. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring your whole tithes into the storehouse. “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
48. Did you get that, bring your whole tithes into the storehouse and test me on this. See if I don’t take care of your needs. See if I don’t bless you because of your faith. You want to see the full power of God in your life, trust him with your treasure.
49. Illustration: (Move to the front where you have placed the basket as a focal point) Not long ago my son and I were on our way to church. I stopped by Moto-Mart to get some gas. Troy asked me if he could have a dollar to get some candy. I gave it to him and he went inside while I continued filling up. He then appeared out of the store with a bag of M&M’s. I love M&M’s. As we drove toward the church I asked Troy to give me some.
He said, “No.”
I said what any loving father would, “What did you say?”
“I said No, they’re my M&M’s” he replied.
(Take the bag M&M’s out of the Basket and rip it open and eat one, this also produces a pause while you chew and swallow.)
You see Troy didn’t understand, I gave him the dollar. So actually I owned the M&M’s. And I wasn’t asking for all of them I only wanted a handful. Just a few but he said “No.”
The second thing that he didn’t understand is that I am 5’10” and weight about 200 pounds. He is only about 5’ and weights 90 pounds. I am almost twice his size and I think I can take him. You see if I wanted to I could have just reached in the back seat and taken all his M&M’s and there is nothing he could have done about it.
There is a third thing that he didn’t understand. In my wallet there were three $20.00 dollar bills. If I wanted to I could go back into that store and buy all the M&M’s they had and bless his socks off with them.
God does not want all your money, he only asks for the ten percent that is his: his tithe. And he says if you will give it to him, he will open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you won’t have enough room for it. This doesn’t mean that you will get rich, well not according to earthly standards, but then again James tells us not to store up earthly treasure but to store them up in heaven. He does give you a promise though. If you place your finances in His hands he will multiply them and take care of your needs.
50. Conclusion: What do you have in your basket that you have not given to God? Your time? Your talent? Your treasure? I have one final question for you. Are you willing to trust God with what’s in your basket?
I never did get to meet the president, but I did get to hear him and I based my vote on what I believed about him. What about you? Are you willing to place your trust in what you know about Jesus Christ? Are you willing to trust him with your basket so that your life can help feed the multitudes?
Bibliography:
The Holy Bible, New international Version, 1996, Zodervan, Grand Rapids, MI.
Holman New Testament Commentary, 1984. Nashville, TN.
Quick Verse Deluxe, Parson Techniolgy, 1999, Hiawatha, IA.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary, 1985, Thomas Nelson Publisher, Nashville, TN.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, 1986, Word Publishing, Iowa Falls, IA
