The Law of Leftovers: Trusting Jesus to Multiply

Today’s focus is on the “law of leftovers”—a principle seen in the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000, which reveals how God multiplies what we surrender to Him. We began by reflecting on the importance of investing in the next generation, both in our nation and in our church, and the need to shape young lives with Christ-centered values. This led us to the heart of the message: God’s abundant provision and the spiritual truth that when we give what little we have to Jesus, He not only meets needs but exceeds them, leaving more than enough for others.

Drawing from John 6, we see Jesus confronted with a massive, hungry crowd. The disciples, overwhelmed by the impossibility of the situation, focus on their lack—no food, no money, no time. Yet, Jesus asks for what they have, not what they don’t. A young boy’s simple lunch—five barley loaves and two fish—becomes the seed for a miracle. The boy’s willingness to give everything, not just a portion, is the turning point. Jesus takes what is offered, gives thanks, and multiplies it so that all are satisfied, and twelve baskets of leftovers remain.

This miracle is not just about food; it’s about faith. The disciples’ greatest obstacle was not the lack of resources, but the lack of trust in Jesus’ sufficiency. The boy’s small offering, insignificant by human standards, became invaluable in the hands of Christ. The story challenges us to consider what we are holding back from God—our time, talents, resources—and to trust Him enough to surrender it all. The value of what we give is determined not by its size, but by whose hands it’s in.

Ultimately, the miracle points to Jesus as the true King and the Bread of Life. He calls us to follow Him not for what we can get, but out of gratitude and surrender. He will not be a king on our terms, but on His. When we give Him everything, He blesses, multiplies, and uses it for His glory and the good of others. The invitation is to trust Him fully, to bring our “sardines and saltines,” and watch Him do more than we could ever imagine.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God Multiplies What We Surrender When we place what little we have—our time, talents, or resources—into Jesus’ hands, He multiplies it beyond our imagination. The miracle of the loaves and fish shows that God’s abundance begins where our resources end. Our willingness to surrender, not the size of our gift, is what unlocks His provision. [52:53]
• 2. Faith, Not Resources, Limits God’s Work The disciples’ problem was not a lack of bread, but a lack of faith. Jesus often allows us to face situations beyond our strength to reveal His power. When we reach the end of ourselves, we discover the beginning of God’s sufficiency. Our trust, or lack thereof, determines how much of God’s work we experience. [45:16]
• 3. The Value of Small Offerings in God’s Hands The boy’s lunch was meager, but its value was determined by its availability to Jesus. God delights in using small, humble offerings to accomplish great things, because it brings Him glory and grows our faith. What seems insignificant to us can become a blessing to many when surrendered to Christ. [55:25]
• 4. Jesus Demands Our Whole Heart, Not Just a Portion The boy gave all he had, not just a part. Jesus calls us to total surrender, not partial commitment. He will not be a king on our terms, but on His. True discipleship means giving Him every area of our lives—our hearts, our calendars, our resources—trusting that He will bless and use it for His purposes. [59:47]
• 5. Following Jesus for the Right Reasons Many followed Jesus for what they could get, not for who He is. The call is to follow Him out of gratitude and surrender, not just for blessings. When we come to Jesus on His terms, He satisfies our deepest hunger and exceeds our needs, but He also calls us to serve and trust Him fully. [62:22]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [29:06] - Opening and Scripture Invitation
• [29:37] - Honoring Veterans and Next Generation
• [30:04] - Announcing New Youth Ministries
• [31:04] - Thanksgiving Memories and Leftovers
• [34:11] - The Law of Leftovers Explained
• [36:06] - Introduction to the Feeding Miracle
• [36:32] - Reading John 6:1-15
• [38:54] - Four Steps of the Law of Leftovers
• [41:11] - Jesus’ Compassion and the Crowd
• [44:46] - Jesus’ Test and Our Faith
• [45:59] - Excuses and the Call to Surrender
• [50:24] - The Boy’s Lunch and True Value
• [54:27] - Jesus Gives Thanks and Multiplies
• [57:48] - Twelve Baskets: God’s Abundant Supply
• [59:47] - Total Surrender and True Discipleship
• [62:22] - Why Are We Following Jesus?
• [66:23] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

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 did Jesus ask Philip when he saw the large crowd approaching, and why did he ask this question? ([44:46])
2. How did the disciples respond to the problem of feeding the crowd, and what resources did they focus on? ([45:59])
3. What did the young boy offer, and how was his offering described in the sermon? ([52:01])
4. What was the result after Jesus took the loaves and fish, gave thanks, and distributed them? ([57:57])

Interpretation Questions

1. According to the sermon, what was the real obstacle for the disciples—lack of resources or lack of faith? How does this shape our understanding of the story? ([45:37])
2. The boy gave all he had, not just a portion. What does this total surrender teach us about the kind of faith Jesus desires? ([59:47])
3. The sermon says the value of what we give is determined by whose hands it’s in. How does this challenge our view of what we have to offer God? ([52:53])
4. Why did Jesus refuse to become king on the crowd’s terms, and what does this reveal about following Jesus for the right reasons? ([01:02:22])

Application Questions

1. The sermon began by talking about investing in the next generation. What is one specific way you could invest your time or resources to help shape young lives with Christ-centered values this month? ([30:04])
2. Think about something you feel is “not enough” in your life—your time, your abilities, your finances. What would it look like to surrender that to Jesus this week, trusting Him to multiply it? ([52:53])
3. The disciples made excuses about why they couldn’t meet the need. Are there areas in your life where you tend to focus on what you lack instead of what God can do? How can you shift your focus this week? ([47:00])
4. The boy gave his whole lunch, not just a part. Is there something you’ve been holding back from God—maybe a talent, a relationship, or a part of your schedule? What would it look like to give it all to Him? ([59:47])
5. The crowd wanted to make Jesus king on their terms. Are there ways you try to fit Jesus into your plans or expectations, rather than surrendering to His? How can you let Him be King in every area of your life? ([01:02:22])
6. The sermon mentioned that God often uses small, humble offerings to accomplish great things. Can you share a time when something small you offered to God made a bigger impact than you expected? ([55:25])
7. Jesus calls us to follow Him out of gratitude and surrender, not just for what we can get. What motivates you most in your relationship with Jesus right now—gratitude, need, or something else? How can you grow in following Him for the right reasons? ([01:03:22])