Faithful Engagement Amidst Grief and Division

In the midst of a season marked by grief, fear, and even outrage—especially following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk on campus—we are reminded of the deep burdens many are carrying. The pain is compounded by the disturbing reality that some celebrated this act, revealing the brokenness and spiritual sickness in our world. As followers of Jesus, we are called to weep with those who weep, to create space for lament, and to resist the temptation to respond with contempt or division. The impulse to silence those who disagree with us is not just a social phenomenon but a spiritual one, rooted in the human heart. Jesus warns us that contempt, not disagreement, is what truly divides us. Our calling is to love one another, even as we grapple with difficult truths and differing perspectives.

Turning to John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000, we see a crowd driven by a hunger for immediate relief and national restoration. Their fervor is heightened by the Passover, a time of remembering God’s deliverance, and they seek to make Jesus king by force, hoping he will fulfill their political aspirations. Yet Jesus resists being co-opted into their agenda. He is not interested in being a pawn for any political vision, but in calling forth faith from his disciples. Philip and Andrew’s responses to the crisis—one practical and overwhelmed, the other offering a seemingly insignificant solution—mirror our own tendencies in times of desperation. Jesus invites us to bring what little we have, to turn to him first, and to trust that he already knows what he will do.

Faith, even as small as a mustard seed, is not passive resignation but active engagement with God. It is not about manipulating God to serve our plans, but about being transformed so we can participate in his purposes. The miracle of the loaves and fish is not just about meeting immediate needs, but about pointing to Jesus as the true bread from heaven, the one who satisfies our deepest hunger. In our current climate, it is easy to confuse political solutions with spiritual ones, to judge others by their alignment with our vision, and to let fear drive us to forceful or divisive actions. Instead, we are called to seek first the kingdom of God, to bring our “five loaves and two fish”—however small—and to trust Jesus with the outcome. Let us be a people marked by prayer, unity, and a non-anxious presence, bearing witness to the risen Christ in a fractured world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Grief, outrage, and fear are real and valid responses to tragedy, but we must resist the temptation to let these emotions turn into contempt for others. Contempt, not disagreement, is what divides families, churches, and nations. The spiritual battle is not against those who differ from us, but against the forces that seek to pit us against one another and blind us to Christ in our neighbor. [33:39]
• 2. The crowd’s desire to make Jesus king by force reveals a common temptation: to use God as a means to our own ends, especially in times of crisis. When we try to fit Jesus into our political or personal agendas, we miss the larger work he is doing and risk settling for short-term relief over lasting transformation. True discipleship means seeking Jesus himself, not just the signs or solutions we want from him. [44:26]
• 3. Faith is not passive or naive; it is the courageous act of bringing what little we have to Jesus, trusting that he already knows what he will do. Like Andrew, we may feel our resources or prayers are insignificant, but God delights in using small offerings to accomplish his purposes. Prayer is not about convincing God, but about allowing him to convince us and prepare us for the part we are to play. [58:54]
• 4. In moments of national or personal crisis, it is easy to let fear and urgency drive us to quick fixes or to judge others by their political alignment. Jesus calls us to a non-anxious presence, to slow down, pray, and seek his kingdom first. Our unity is not based on uniformity of opinion, but on our shared allegiance to Christ and our willingness to wrestle together in love. [76:53]
• 5. Politics, like bread, has its place, but it is not ultimate. We are called to bring our Christian values into every sphere—including politics—but never to confuse political solutions with the kingdom of God. When we seek Jesus first, our actions, words, and votes become offerings of faith, not weapons of division. Let us bring our “five loaves and two fish” to Jesus, trusting him to multiply them for his glory and the good of the world. [75:41]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Acknowledging Grief and Outrage
• [03:19] - The Tragedy of Charlie Kirk
• [05:39] - The Spiritual Roots of Division
• [08:09] - The Danger of Contempt
• [11:09] - Invitation to Prayer and Slowing Down
• [15:09] - Reading John’s Account of Feeding the 5,000
• [18:08] - The Political Atmosphere of Passover
• [21:24] - The Crowd’s Motivations and Our Own
• [24:04] - Jesus’ Test of Philip and Andrew
• [27:31] - Faith in the Face of Crisis
• [31:27] - The Power of Small Offerings
• [35:10] - The Crowd’s Attempt to Make Jesus King
• [39:02] - The Temptation to Force Jesus into Our Agendas
• [44:04] - Politics, Faith, and the Kingdom of God
• [47:35] - Seeking First the Kingdom
• [49:58] - Closing Blessing and Prayer Invitation

Bible Reading

John 6:1-15 (ESV) — 1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
5 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?”
6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,
9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
10 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.
11 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.
12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”
13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.
14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
15 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.

Observation Questions

1. What were the different motivations of the crowd following Jesus, according to John’s account? ([44:26])
2. How did Philip and Andrew each respond when Jesus asked how to feed the crowd? What do their responses reveal about their thinking? ([51:51])
3. What did the crowd want to do after Jesus performed the miracle, and how did Jesus respond? ([44:26])
4. According to the sermon, what was unique about John’s telling of the feeding of the 5,000 compared to the other Gospels? ([42:08])

Interpretation Questions

1. The crowd wanted to make Jesus king by force after seeing the miracle. What does this reveal about their expectations of Jesus and their understanding of his mission? ([44:26])
2. Philip’s and Andrew’s responses to the crisis were very different. What might their reactions teach us about our own tendencies in times of need or crisis? ([51:51])
3. The sermon says that Jesus “already knew what he was going to do” before asking Philip. What does this suggest about how Jesus involves his followers in his work? ([56:26])
4. The pastor described how faith, even as small as a mustard seed, is not passive but active. How does this challenge common ideas about what it means to trust God in difficult situations? ([58:54])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about the temptation to let grief, fear, or outrage turn into contempt for others, especially in times of tragedy or division. Have you noticed this in your own heart or in your community? What would it look like to “weep with those who weep” instead of letting pain turn into contempt? ([33:39])
2. When have you been tempted to fit Jesus into your own agenda—whether political, personal, or otherwise? How can you tell when you are seeking Jesus himself versus just seeking what he can do for you? ([49:04])
3. Think about a time when you felt your resources, prayers, or efforts were too small to make a difference. What would it look like to bring your “five loaves and two fish” to Jesus in that situation? ([58:54])
4. The sermon challenged us to resist judging others by their political alignment or response to crisis. How can you practice unity and love with people in your life who see things differently than you do? ([01:09:02])
5. The pastor described prayer not as convincing God, but as allowing God to convince and prepare us. How might this change the way you approach prayer, especially when you feel anxious or powerless? ([01:00:10])
6. In what ways do you feel pressure to react quickly or have strong opinions about current events? How can you cultivate a “non-anxious presence” and seek God’s kingdom first in those moments? ([01:16:53])
7. The sermon said that politics, like bread, has its place but is not ultimate. How can you bring your Christian values into your engagement with politics or other areas of life, without confusing them with the kingdom of God? ([01:15:41])