Daily Caring: Embracing Our Call to Serve
Summary
Today’s focus is on what it truly means to care as followers of Christ, not just as a one-time act, but as a daily assignment. Drawing from John 6 and the feeding of the five thousand, the call is to see caring as central to our identity and mission. Jesus models for us a life that is always spiritually prepared, expecting opportunities to care for others. He never hid from the needs around Him, but intentionally noticed and responded to the crowds, even when He was tired or interrupted. This is a challenge for each of us: to be spiritually ready, to look up from our routines, and to see the people God has placed in our path.
Caring requires more than just noticing needs; it demands empathy, not just sympathy. Jesus didn’t just acknowledge the hunger of the crowd—He felt it, and He acted. We are called to do the same, to move beyond surface-level concern and step into the lives of those around us, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. This means being willing to cross the street, to engage with neighbors, and to serve in ways that may stretch us.
Fear often keeps us from caring deeply. Like Philip, we can be overwhelmed by the size of the need or the smallness of our resources. But Jesus calls us to operate in faith, not fear, trusting that He can multiply even the smallest offering. Every person and every gift matters in God’s economy. We are not spectators in the work of the Kingdom; we are participants, called to bring whatever we have and trust God to use it.
Gratitude is essential. Jesus gave thanks for the little that was offered, and God multiplied it beyond what anyone could imagine. We must learn to be thankful for small blessings and to give freely, knowing that God cannot be outgiven. When we hold back, we limit what God can do through us. But when we surrender all—our time, our energy, our resources—God brings an overabundance of blessing, not just for us, but for those we serve.
Finally, the call is to slow down, to see the people around us, and to ask the right questions: not just “What can God do?” but “What can God do through me?” The world is full of people living in quiet desperation, and God has placed us here to be His hands and feet. The challenge is to lay aside our fears, our excuses, and our busyness, and to boldly pick up the mantle of caring and serving. God is not done with us. The harvest is ready, and He is calling each of us to step forward and say, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.”
Key Takeaways
- Spiritual Preparation Opens Our Eyes to Opportunities
Being spiritually prepared means living each day with an expectation that God will present opportunities to care for others. If we do not intentionally spend time with the Father, we risk being consumed by our own tasks and missing the divine appointments He sets before us. Reflecting on God’s past faithfulness gives us courage to step into the unknown, trusting that He is already present in our tomorrows. Our daily posture should be one of readiness, seeking to glorify God and make His name known in every action. [33:03]
- Empathy, Not Just Sympathy, Is the Heart of Christlike Caring
Jesus didn’t just acknowledge the needs of the crowd; He felt their hunger and acted with compassion. True caring requires us to look up from our routines, notice those around us, and enter into their struggles. Empathy moves us to action, to walk alongside others and share their burdens, rather than simply offering words or distant concern. This is the difference between being a neighbor in proximity and being a neighbor in love. [36:43]
- Faith Must Triumph Over Fear in Our Service
Fear is a powerful force that can paralyze us, whether it’s fear of inadequacy, rejection, or the magnitude of the need. Jesus challenges us to operate in faith, believing that God can do far more than we can imagine with what little we have. When we focus on the challenge instead of the Savior, we miss the miracle. Faith is not the absence of fear, but the decision to trust God and step forward anyway. [39:08]
- God Multiplies What We Surrender, No Matter How Small
The miracle of the loaves and fishes reminds us that God delights in using what we offer, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Every person and every gift has a role in God’s plan; it is not about the size of the offering, but the willingness to give it. When we hold nothing back and place everything in God’s hands, He multiplies it for the blessing of many. Our limitations are never a barrier to God’s abundance. [44:20]
- Caring Requires Slowing Down and Asking the Right Questions
In a hurried world, it is easy to rush past those in need, missing the opportunities God places before us. Jesus modeled a life of deliberate compassion, moving slowly enough to see and respond to the hurting. The essential question is not “What can God do?” but “What can God do through me?” We are called to lay aside our idols of fear, busyness, and self-preservation, and to boldly step into the lives of others with the love and hope of Christ. [52:30]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Introduction: The Need for More Servants
[03:45] - Series Overview: What Does It Mean to Care?
[06:20] - John 6: The Daily Assignment of Caring
[10:05] - The Role of Deacons and Ministers
[13:30] - Jesus and the Crowds: Expecting Opportunities
[17:15] - Spiritual Preparation and Remembering God’s Faithfulness
[21:40] - Glorifying God in Everyday Actions
[24:55] - Noticing and Empathizing with Others
[29:39] - Faith Versus Fear: Overcoming Obstacles to Caring
[33:03] - God’s Multiplication: Using What We Have
[36:43] - The Power of Gratitude and Surrender
[41:16] - Preparing for Overabundant Blessings
[47:34] - The Spiritual Harvest and Our Collective Responsibility
[51:38] - Slowing Down to See and Serve
[54:57] - The Challenge: How Can God Use Me?
[58:19] - Laying Aside Excuses and Embracing the Call
[01:03:12] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Caring as a Daily Assignment
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### Bible Reading
John 6:1-15 (ESV)
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
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### Observation Questions
1. In John 6:1-15, what did Jesus notice about the crowd before performing the miracle? How did he respond to their need?
2. What was Philip’s reaction when Jesus asked him about feeding the crowd? What does this reveal about his perspective?
3. What did Andrew contribute to the situation, and how did Jesus use what was offered?
4. According to the sermon, what is the difference between empathy and sympathy, and how did Jesus demonstrate empathy in this story? [[36:43]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus asked Philip where to buy bread, even though he already knew what he was going to do? What might Jesus have been teaching his disciples in that moment? [[39:08]]
2. The sermon says that caring is not just a one-time act, but a daily assignment. What does it look like to be “spiritually prepared” to care for others every day? [[33:03]]
3. The pastor mentioned that fear often keeps us from caring deeply for others. What kinds of fears might keep someone from stepping out to help, and how does faith help us overcome them? [[41:16]]
4. Jesus gave thanks for the small offering before the miracle. Why is gratitude important when we feel like what we have to offer isn’t enough? [[44:20]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenges us to “look up from our routines” and notice the people God has placed in our path. Who is someone in your life right now that you might be overlooking? What is one step you can take this week to notice and care for them? [[36:43]]
2. Think about a time when you felt like you didn’t have enough—time, resources, or energy—to help someone. How did you respond? What would it look like to trust God to multiply what you have, even if it seems small? [[44:20]]
3. The pastor said, “Fear often keeps us from caring deeply.” What is one specific fear that holds you back from serving others? How can you take a step of faith to move past that fear this week? [[41:16]]
4. Jesus was willing to be interrupted and to serve even when he was tired. Are there areas in your life where busyness or exhaustion keep you from caring for others? What could you change to make space for compassion? [[52:30]]
5. The sermon calls us to ask, “What can God do through me?” instead of just “What can God do?” What is one area of your life where you sense God might want to use you to care for others? How will you respond? [[54:57]]
6. The pastor talked about gratitude for small blessings. What is one “small” thing you can thank God for this week, and how might you use it to bless someone else? [[44:20]]
7. The message ended with the challenge, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.” What would it look like for you to say “yes” to God’s call to care and serve in your current season of life? [[58:19]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray, asking God to open their eyes to opportunities to care, to give them courage to step out in faith, and to use whatever they have—big or small—for His glory and the good of others.
Devotional
Day 1: Caring as a Daily Assignment: Expecting Opportunities to Care
Caring is not a one-time event but a daily calling, where we must be spiritually prepared and expect God to present us with opportunities to serve others. Jesus, in John 6, saw the crowds coming and was ready to meet their needs, reminding us that we cannot hide ourselves away or only surround ourselves with other believers. Instead, we are called to intentionally step out, meet the Father where He is, and reflect on His faithfulness in the past so we can step confidently into the future. If we do not spend time with God and prepare our hearts each day, we will miss the opportunities He places before us to care for those around us. Our lives should be marked by glorifying God and making His name known in every action, everywhere we go. [33:03]
John 6:1-4 (ESV)
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally prepare your heart each morning this week to notice and respond to opportunities to care for someone outside your usual circle?
Day 2: Attuned to the Needs of Others: Empathy Over Sympathy
To truly care as Jesus did, we must look up from our own routines and distractions and become attuned to the needs of those around us. Jesus noticed the crowd and empathized with their hunger, not just acknowledging their need but feeling it and acting on it. We are called to do more than simply recognize when someone is struggling; we are to walk with them, get our hands dirty, and offer real help. God may have placed us in our neighborhoods, workplaces, or schools for the very purpose of being a light and a source of care to those around us. Empathy means entering into another’s experience, and it is through this kind of caring that we reflect the heart of Christ. [37:52]
John 6:5-7 (ESV)
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
Reflection: Who is someone in your neighborhood or daily path whose needs you may have overlooked? What is one practical step you can take this week to move from sympathy to empathy with them?
Day 3: Operating in Faith, Not Fear
When faced with overwhelming needs or challenges, it is easy to let fear or a sense of inadequacy keep us from acting. Jesus tested His disciples by asking how they would feed the crowd, knowing already what He would do. Philip saw only the impossibility, but Jesus calls us to operate in faith, trusting that God can do what seems impossible. Fear often takes the place of faith, paralyzing us from stepping out to care for others or to share our faith. But God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and is able to multiply even our smallest efforts. We are called to trust Him, not to be limited by our own resources or anxieties. [39:08]
John 6:8-9 (ESV)
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
Reflection: What is one fear or sense of inadequacy that has kept you from caring for someone or serving in a new way? How can you take a step of faith this week, trusting God to use what you have?
Day 4: Giving What You Have: God Multiplies Our Offerings
God does not ask us to give what we do not have, but to offer what we do—no matter how small it may seem. The boy’s five loaves and two fish were insignificant in the face of thousands, yet Jesus gave thanks for them and multiplied them to meet every need with abundance. We often underestimate what God can do through our small acts of service, our limited time, or our modest resources. When we give with a willing heart, God multiplies our offering and uses it for His glory. The only way to miss the blessing is to refuse to believe and to hold back. [46:11]
John 6:10-13 (ESV)
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
Reflection: What is one “small” thing—your time, a talent, a resource—that you can offer to God this week, trusting Him to multiply it for the good of others?
Day 5: Answering the Call: “Lord, Send Me”
The call to care is not for a select few but for every follower of Jesus. We are challenged to stop making excuses, to lay aside our idols of fear, busyness, or past hurts, and to boldly pick up the mantle of service. Jesus asks, “Why do you call me Lord and do not the things I say?” (Luke 6:46). The world is full of people living lives of quiet desperation, and God has placed us here to be His hands and feet. The question is not what God can do, but what He can do through us. Will you answer, “Here am I, Lord, send me”? [54:57]
Luke 6:46 (ESV)
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
Reflection: What is one area where you have been hesitant to say “yes” to God’s call to care or serve? What would it look like to respond with a wholehearted “Here am I, Lord, send me” this week?
Quotes
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