The Bread of Life - Pastor Johnny Marten

Life is filled with many good things, but it’s easy to become weighed down by burdens that aren’t ours to carry. Sometimes, out of love or a sense of responsibility, we take on the struggles of others—whether it’s doing too much for our children, stepping in for someone who won’t take responsibility, or trying to fight someone else’s battles. Yet, we are reminded that only God can truly change hearts, and we must be careful not to assume a role that belongs to Him alone. Self-examination is crucial: we need to regularly ask ourselves if we’re carrying unnecessary guilt or burdens, and then bring those to God, casting our anxieties on Him because He cares for us.

But it’s not enough to simply empty our hearts of these burdens. If we leave our hearts empty, we risk falling back into old patterns or even worse ones. Jesus teaches that after cleaning out what doesn’t belong, we must fill our hearts with what is good and lasting—specifically, with the Word of God and obedience to it. Hearing God’s Word is not enough; transformation comes when we apply it, allowing it to shape our lives and decisions.

Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” Just as God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness, Jesus offers Himself as spiritual nourishment for our souls. This bread is not just for survival, but for abundant, eternal life. We receive this bread by faith—believing in the One whom God has sent—and by immersing ourselves in His Word, which is alive and active. Fellowship with other believers, sharing in communion, and encouraging one another are also ways we partake in this bread of life, nourishing our spirits together.

As we remember Christ’s sacrifice through communion, we are called to self-examination—not to see if we are perfect, but to remember that our worthiness comes from Jesus alone. Communion is a time to recall that without Him, we are lost, but through His broken body and shed blood, we are reconciled to God. This is not a celebration of our own goodness, but a remembrance of His grace and a proclamation of His death until He comes again.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Carrying Unnecessary Burdens: It’s easy to take on responsibilities and burdens that aren’t ours, whether out of love, guilt, or a desire to help. True spiritual maturity involves discerning what is ours to carry and what must be left to God, recognizing that only He can change hearts and lives. Self-examination and honest prayer are essential to lay down what doesn’t belong to us. [33:31]
• 2. The Danger of an Empty Heart: Removing sin or burdens from our lives is only half the journey; if we leave our hearts empty, we create space for even greater struggles to return. Jesus warns that a swept-clean heart, left unfilled, is vulnerable. We must intentionally fill our lives with God’s Word, His presence, and obedience to Him, so that what is good and lasting takes root. [40:57]
• 3. The Power of Application: Knowledge of God’s truth is not transformative unless it is applied. Many know what is right but fail to act, resulting in unchanged lives and repeated struggles. Blessing comes to those who hear the Word of God and obey it, allowing the Spirit to bring real change through practical steps of faith. [43:51]
• 4. Jesus, the Bread of Life: Just as physical bread sustained the Israelites in the wilderness, Jesus is the spiritual bread that sustains our souls. This bread is received by faith—believing in Jesus and trusting His Word. Our spiritual hunger is satisfied not by our own efforts, but by coming to Him daily, relying on His sufficiency and grace. [44:13]
• 5. Communion and Self-Examination: Communion is a sacred act of remembering Christ’s sacrifice and proclaiming His death until He returns. The call to self-examination is not about achieving perfection, but about humbly acknowledging our need for Jesus. Our worthiness is found in Him alone, and as we partake, we do so in gratitude, unity, and faith, not in our own strength but in His finished work. [59:46]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [30:34] - Introduction: The Bread of Life
• [32:14] - Opening Prayer
• [33:04] - Reflecting on Past Messages
• [33:31] - Carrying Burdens Not Meant for Us
• [34:34] - The Cost of Overstepping Boundaries
• [35:19] - Only God Can Change Hearts
• [36:55] - The Need for Stillness and Self-Examination
• [38:19] - Casting Our Anxieties on God
• [39:23] - The Danger of an Empty Heart
• [40:57] - Jesus’ Warning About an Unfilled Life
• [41:46] - Hearing and Obeying God’s Word
• [43:51] - The Power of Application
• [44:13] - Jesus, the Bread of Life
• [47:09] - The Feeding of the Five Thousand
• [48:38] - Seeking Jesus for the Right Reasons
• [50:28] - Receiving the Bread by Faith
• [52:59] - Jesus as Our Spiritual Manna
• [54:14] - Communion and Spiritual Fellowship
• [56:48] - Remembering Christ in Communion
• [59:46] - Self-Examination and Worthiness
• [69:39] - The Last Supper: Remembering Jesus
• [72:03] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
• [73:03] - Dismissal and Final Instructions

Bible Reading

John 6:35 (ESV) — > Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Luke 11:24-28 (ESV) — > “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
> As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

1 Corinthians 11:23-28 (ESV) — > For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
> Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Observation Questions

1. According to John 6:35, what does Jesus promise to those who come to Him and believe in Him?
2. In Luke 11:24-26, what happens to a person who cleans out their life but leaves it empty?
3. What does Jesus say is more important than simply hearing God’s word in Luke 11:28?
4. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-28, what are believers instructed to do before taking communion?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon talked about carrying burdens that aren’t ours to carry. Why do people sometimes take on responsibilities that belong to God, and what can be the result of this? [[35:19]]
2. Jesus warns about the danger of an “empty heart.” What does it look like in real life to remove something harmful but not fill that space with something good? [[40:57]]
3. The message emphasized that knowing God’s word isn’t enough—obedience is needed. Why do you think it’s so easy to hear truth but not apply it? [[43:51]]
4. When it comes to communion, the sermon said self-examination is not about being perfect. What does it mean to examine yourself in light of Christ’s sacrifice, rather than your own goodness? [[59:46]]

Application Questions

1. Can you think of a specific burden or responsibility you’ve been carrying that might not actually be yours to carry? What would it look like to give that over to God this week? [[37:51]]
2. The sermon mentioned that after removing burdens or sin, we need to fill our hearts with God’s word and obedience. Is there an area in your life where you’ve “cleaned house” but haven’t filled it with something good? What’s one step you could take to fill that space with God’s truth? [[41:46]]
3. Sometimes we know what the Bible says but don’t act on it. Is there a specific teaching or conviction you’ve been ignoring or putting off? What’s one practical way you can start applying it this week? [[43:51]]
4. Jesus calls Himself the “bread of life.” What does it look like for you to come to Jesus daily for spiritual nourishment, rather than trying to “feed” yourself with other things? [[44:13]]
5. The sermon talked about the importance of fellowship and sharing spiritual conversations with other believers. Who is someone you could reach out to this week for encouragement or to share what God is doing in your life? [[54:14]]
6. Before taking communion, we’re called to self-examination. What is one area where you need to remember that your worthiness comes from Jesus, not your own efforts? How can this change the way you approach communion or your relationship with God? [[59:46]]
7. When you think about Christ’s sacrifice, what is one thing you are especially thankful for right now? How can you express that gratitude in your actions or prayers this week? [[01:11:16]]