OPENING POINT: IF HEAVEN AND HELL ARE A REALITY THEN REACHING THE LOST HAS TO BE THE PRIORITY
Luke 9:10-17 - 10 “When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 12 Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.” 13 “You give them something to eat,” he told them. “We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 (For about five thousand men were there.) Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 They did what he said, and had them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces.”
SERMON TITLE: “SIT WITH ME”
1. AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WE CAN’T SHIFT OUR RESPONSIBILITY
Luke 9:12-13 - 12 Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.” 13 “You give them something to eat,” he told them. “We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”
1 Peter 3:15 - 15 “but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”
2. AN INVITATION TO “SIT WITH ME” IS AN INVITATION TO THE MIRACULOUS
Luke 9:14-15 14 (For about five thousand men were there.) Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 They did what he said, and had them all sit down.
John 6:44 - 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
3. WHEN YOU REACH OUT TO OTHERS KEEP YOUR SOURCE IN MIND
Luke 9:16- 17 - 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces.”
1 Corinthians 3:6 - 6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”
John 6:35 - 35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.”
