The Gospel Feeds
Mark 6:30-44

30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.

33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

37 But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

1 Read vv 3-32. Discuss the principle of rest. Do you believe in it? How do you practice it?

2 Have you ever experienced burn out? If yes, discuss the circumstances and experience.

3 Is there a modern day equivalent of “sheep not having a shepherd” v 34. If so, how do you view and interact with them?

4 Have you ever had a conversation with the Lord similar to that in verses 35-38? What can we learn from this interaction?

5 Could Jesus have fed the multitude without the five loaves, two fish and the help of the disciples? Why do you think he did use those things?

6 Read Acts 2:46, Romans 12:13, II John 12. Why is it important to “feed together”?

7 Read vv 41-43. How was the need met? Discuss a time when God used someone to meet a physical need in your life and how it affected you.

8 Have you ever been on a missions trip? Discuss what was the basis, circumstances, needs and what did you learn.

9 What barriers are restricting or preventing you from being on mission right where you are?

Prayer Requests: