Jesus: Our Eternal Bread of Life

Summary

In today's gathering, we focused on the profound truth that Jesus is the "Bread of Life." This concept is not just about physical sustenance but speaks to the spiritual nourishment that only Christ can provide. We began by reflecting on the importance of praising God continually, recognizing His faithfulness, kindness, and patience. We then moved into a time of worship and affirmation of our faith, acknowledging the foundational beliefs that unite us as Christians.

The central theme of our time together was drawn from John 6, where Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life." This statement is a powerful reminder that Jesus is not just a provider of temporary needs but the eternal sustenance for our souls. We explored the story of the Israelites in the wilderness, who were provided manna from heaven, and how this foreshadowed the true bread from heaven, Jesus Christ. The crowd that followed Jesus was initially interested in the miracles and the physical bread He provided, but Jesus challenged them to seek the spiritual nourishment that only He could offer.

We discussed the human tendency to seek God's hand rather than His heart, to desire the blessings without understanding the blesser. Jesus invites us to a deeper relationship, one where we are filled not just for a moment but for a lifetime. This requires us to believe in Him, to trust in His provision, and to allow Him to be our daily bread.

As we concluded, we were reminded that Jesus wants to be more than just a Sunday experience; He desires to be our constant source of life and strength. Whether we are facing hunger in the natural or the spiritual, Jesus is the answer. He is the bread that fills every void and satisfies every longing.

Key Takeaways:

- Continuous Praise and Worship: Our lives should be a constant reflection of praise to God, acknowledging His faithfulness and kindness. This attitude of gratitude keeps us connected to His presence and reminds us of His goodness. [05:46]

- Jesus as the Bread of Life: Jesus offers Himself as the eternal sustenance for our souls, inviting us to seek Him not just for what He can do but for who He is. This relationship is about more than temporary satisfaction; it's about eternal fulfillment. [43:12]

- Spiritual Hunger: Just as physical hunger can drive us to desperation, spiritual hunger should lead us to seek Jesus with urgency. He is the only one who can truly satisfy the deep longings of our hearts. [44:45]

- Seeking God's Heart Over His Hand: It's easy to focus on the blessings and miss the blesser. Jesus calls us to know Him deeply, to understand His character, and to trust in His provision beyond the immediate needs. [59:16]

- Daily Dependence on Christ: Jesus desires to be our daily bread, not just a Sunday snack. This means living in constant reliance on Him, allowing His presence to fill and sustain us every day. [01:10:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [05:46] - Call to Worship
- [10:31] - Affirmation of Faith
- [14:06] - Prayer and Thanksgiving
- [22:45] - Scripture Reading: Exodus 16
- [29:30] - Announcements and Concerns
- [32:01] - Offering and Giving
- [39:31] - Introduction of Sermon Series
- [43:12] - Jesus: The Bread of Life
- [54:04] - The Miracle of Feeding the 5000
- [59:16] - Seeking God's Heart
- [01:06:49] - Jesus as Our Provider
- [01:10:14] - Daily Bread, Not Just Sunday Snack
- [01:17:08] - Invitation to Salvation
- [01:26:43] - Communion and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 6:31-35
- Exodus 16:9-18

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Observation Questions:

1. In John 6:31-35, what does Jesus mean when He refers to Himself as the "bread of life"? How does this relate to the manna provided to the Israelites in the wilderness? [43:12]

2. According to the sermon, what was the crowd's initial reaction to Jesus' miracle of feeding the 5000, and how did their understanding of Jesus' message evolve? [57:14]

3. How does the sermon describe the difference between seeking God's hand and seeking His heart? What examples were given to illustrate this point? [59:16]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of daily dependence on Christ, as opposed to only seeking Him during times of need? [01:10:14]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean for Jesus to be the "bread of life" in the context of spiritual nourishment, and how does this concept challenge the way people often seek temporary satisfaction? [43:12]

2. How does the story of the Israelites receiving manna in the wilderness serve as a foreshadowing of Jesus' role as the true bread from heaven? What lessons can be drawn from this parallel? [24:01]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that spiritual hunger should lead us to seek Jesus with urgency? How can this urgency be reflected in our daily lives? [44:45]

4. How does the sermon address the human tendency to focus on the blessings rather than the blesser, and what practical steps can be taken to shift this focus? [59:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current spiritual hunger. Are there areas in your life where you are seeking temporary satisfaction instead of eternal fulfillment in Christ? How can you address this? [44:45]

2. Consider the concept of daily dependence on Christ. What practical steps can you take to ensure that Jesus is your "daily bread" and not just a "Sunday snack"? [01:10:14]

3. How can you cultivate a heart that seeks God's presence and character rather than just His blessings? What changes might you need to make in your prayer life or daily routine? [59:16]

4. Think about a time when you focused more on what God could do for you rather than who He is. How did that impact your relationship with Him, and what can you learn from that experience? [59:16]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust in Jesus' provision. How can you actively practice this trust in the coming week? [01:00:28]

6. How can you incorporate continuous praise and worship into your daily life to keep you connected to God's presence and remind you of His goodness? [05:46]

7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about spiritual hunger leading to desperation. How can you channel this desperation into a deeper relationship with Jesus? [44:45]

Devotional

Day 1: A Life of Continuous Praise
Our lives should be a constant reflection of praise to God, acknowledging His faithfulness and kindness. This attitude of gratitude keeps us connected to His presence and reminds us of His goodness. Praise is not just a Sunday activity but a daily practice that aligns our hearts with God's heart. When we praise God, we are reminded of His character and His promises, which strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with Him. [05:46]

Psalm 34:1-3 (ESV): "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!"

Reflection: What is one specific way you can incorporate praise into your daily routine, even during mundane tasks or challenging moments?

Day 2: Jesus, Our Eternal Sustenance
Jesus offers Himself as the eternal sustenance for our souls, inviting us to seek Him not just for what He can do but for who He is. This relationship is about more than temporary satisfaction; it's about eternal fulfillment. In John 6, Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life," emphasizing that He is the source of spiritual nourishment that transcends physical needs. By seeking Jesus for who He is, we find a deeper, more meaningful connection that satisfies the longings of our hearts. [43:12]

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.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from seeking what Jesus can do for you to seeking a deeper relationship with Him?

Day 3: The Urgency of Spiritual Hunger
Just as physical hunger can drive us to desperation, spiritual hunger should lead us to seek Jesus with urgency. He is the only one who can truly satisfy the deep longings of our hearts. Spiritual hunger is a gift that draws us closer to God, prompting us to seek His presence and His word. When we recognize our spiritual hunger, we are invited to turn to Jesus, the true bread from heaven, who fills every void and satisfies every longing. [44:45]

Matthew 5:6 (ESV): "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you feel spiritually hungry. How can you intentionally seek Jesus to satisfy that hunger today?

Day 4: Knowing the Blesser Over the Blessings
It's easy to focus on the blessings and miss the blesser. Jesus calls us to know Him deeply, to understand His character, and to trust in His provision beyond the immediate needs. This requires a shift in perspective, where we prioritize our relationship with God over the material and temporal blessings He provides. By seeking God's heart, we discover the richness of His love and the depth of His grace, which transforms our lives and aligns us with His purposes. [59:16]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a recent blessing in your life. How can you use this blessing as an opportunity to deepen your understanding and relationship with God?

Day 5: Daily Dependence on Christ
Jesus desires to be our daily bread, not just a Sunday snack. This means living in constant reliance on Him, allowing His presence to fill and sustain us every day. Daily dependence on Christ involves seeking His guidance, strength, and provision in every aspect of our lives. It is an invitation to walk closely with Him, trusting that He will meet our needs and lead us in His ways. By making Jesus our daily bread, we experience the fullness of life that He offers. [01:10:14]

Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'"

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take to cultivate a daily dependence on Jesus, allowing Him to be your source of strength and guidance?

Quotes

1. "Do you know what it feels like to be hungry? I'm not talking about like I just, you know, I got busy and I couldn't, you know, I had to skip through my lunch. So I have to wait till I get off work to eat. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about a real deep hunger. A hunger that's so real in your life that it starts to change the way you act. I don't know about you, but everybody in my family knows that you better make sure I eat by a certain time. Because if I don't eat, I transition from being hungry to hangry. You don't get the best work. You don't get the best work out of me when I haven't eaten. It's no telling what my response will be when I'm hungry. It changes even the way I think." [43:12] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "But the question is, I know we understand this hunger in the natural. But have you ever felt this hunger in the spiritual? Have you ever been hungry for something? Have you ever had an appetite for something more? Have you ever said, I'm showing up at church this Sunday. Not just because it's Sunday, but because I'm hungry. I'm showing up at Bible study, not because I like what the lesson is, but because I'm hungry. I'm showing up at prayer meeting, not to hear what everybody else has to say, but I'm showing up because I'm hungry. I need something that I don't have. I've got an appetite that needs to be filled. I'm hungry for something." [44:45] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If you're hungry for something, you're in the right place. Because there's bread in the house. I am the bread of life. Now, although this sermon series is in the Gospel of John, and we'll be in the Gospel of John for seven weeks. I mean, you'll know all about it before we're done. And although this sermon series will be in the Gospel of John, it really doesn't start there. It really starts in the Old Testament, in Exodus chapter three with Moses. Moses was in his father-in-law's field. It was on Mount Horeb. And the Bible says that while Moses was there, that the Lord intervened in the form of a bush, a burning bush that was burning, but was not fully consumed." [45:32] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We get so consumed by the product of the miracle that we often miss the person of the miracle. We get so caught up in the blessings that we miss the opportunity to get acquainted with the blesser. Jesus says, I know, I know you know what I've done, but I want to know, are you interested in who I am? Because who I am is greater than what I've done. Can you understand that this morning, that who he is is so much greater than what he has done? But oftentimes we chase God's hand and we ignore God's heart. We want God's power, but we don't want God's presence. We want God's rations, but we reject God's relationship. We want what's in God's hand, but we refuse what's in God's heart." [01:00:28] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "He'll change your life if you let him. He'll turn it around if you let him. He'll remake you if you let him. He'll feed you if you let him. He'll hold you if you let him. He'll contain you. If you let him. Jesus discerned their true intentions. Jesus never took the testimony of men because he always knew what was in their hearts. Jesus discerned their intentions, but more than discerning their intentions, why they were really coming after him, he discerned their needs. Even if they didn't really know." [01:01:24] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Jesus says, I don't just want to give you bread. I want to be your bread. He says, I'm more than manna. I'm a whole message and a meal. I'm the living, the breathing embodiment of Jehovah Jireh. I am the Lord. I'm the Lord, your provider. You keep looking up and I tell you to just look ahead because I'm right here. Before Moses was, I am. Before Abraham ever trusted God, I am. Before Jacob ever wrestled, I am. Before Noah ever preached a sermon, I am. Before Esther ever walked before the king, I am. And if you just let me be who I am for you, I'll show you great and mighty things that you know not of." [01:06:49] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "If you're a believer today, I want to tell you that Jesus wants to be our daily bread, not just our first Sunday snack. God wants to tabernacle with you. God wants to live on the inside of you. And if you're not saved, if you're seeking the Savior today, I want to tell you, you're seeking after all the wrong stuff, stuff that will never be able to fill you. You keep chasing the snack when all you need is a Savior. I want to tell you, you're seeking after all the wrong stuff, stuff that will never be able to fill you. Yeah, you keep looking for snacks when all you need is a Savior, but there's bread in the house today." [01:11:33] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "God deserves a praise because you might feel broken, but his house still has bread, bread for the broken, bread for the weary, bread for the hurting, bread for those who've been left out, bread for those who've been pushed out, bread for those who've been cast out, bread for those who've been knocked down. thank you if you need a deliverer says I already am if you're looking for a way out he says I already am if you're looking for a way through he says I already am if you're looking for a way over he says I already am if you're looking for a way around he says I already am God says I just need you to stop wasting your appetite on snacks when I've come to be a savior to stop wasting your appetite on snacks when I've come to be your sustenance." [01:17:08] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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