Small Offerings, Great Impact: Trusting God's Multiplication
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth that our spiritual journey is not about the magnitude of what we bring to God, but rather what He can do with the little we offer. We began by acknowledging the presence of God and inviting Him to dwell among us, reminding ourselves of the collective confession that Jesus is Lord. Our hearts are turned towards Him, seeking His anointing and guidance as we strive to become more like Christ.
Reflecting on the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fish, we see a powerful illustration of how God can multiply our meager offerings. This miracle teaches us that little is much in the hands of Jesus. Our spiritual practices, like prayer, fasting, and reading scripture, are not ends in themselves but means to draw closer to Jesus. They are the trellis that supports the growth of our spiritual lives, not the fruit itself.
We are reminded that consistency, not intensity, is key in our walk with God. It's about the small, daily decisions to love, forgive, and extend grace that build a strong foundation in our spiritual lives. This is akin to the small nudges that keep a car on the road, rather than the dramatic swerves. Our spiritual journey is a long game, requiring patience and perseverance, especially in a culture that values immediacy.
As we navigate our spiritual practices, we must avoid the trap of striving to meet perceived requirements. Instead, we should focus on the relationship with Jesus, who loved us first and meets us in our insufficiency. Our offerings, no matter how small, are significant when given with a full heart. We are called to bring our loaves and fishes, trusting that God will use them to accomplish His purposes.
In the spirit of Saint Helier, who stood as a guardian and protector, we are encouraged to lift our heads and be bold in our faith. Jersey has a history of overcoming under God's protective hand, and we are called to continue this legacy. Now is the time to awaken from spiritual slumber and stand firm against the invading ships of culture, holding fast to the truth of the gospel.
---
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Small Offerings: Our spiritual journey is not about the quantity of what we bring to God but about what He can do with our small offerings. Just as Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fish, He can multiply our meager contributions when we offer them with a full heart. [50:06]
2. Consistency Over Intensity: In our walk with God, consistency in small, daily practices is more sustainable and impactful than sporadic intense efforts. Like a car that stays on the road with small nudges, our spiritual life thrives on regular, intentional actions. [01:03:57]
3. Avoiding Spiritual Striving: Our spiritual practices should not become a checklist of requirements but a means to deepen our relationship with Jesus. It's not about how proficient we are in these practices but about the intimacy we cultivate with Christ. [01:03:57]
4. The Legacy of Saint Helier: Jersey's history of spiritual defiance and overcoming challenges under God's hand inspires us to stand firm in our faith. We are called to be bold and vigilant, lifting our heads and proclaiming the gospel in a culture that often opposes it. [01:03:57]
5. Awakening to Spiritual Renewal: Now is the time to awaken from spiritual slumber and align our lives with God's purposes. As we lift our heads and call upon Jesus, we position ourselves on the front line of spiritual renewal, trusting that God will provide what is needed. [01:03:57]
---
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:02] - Opening Prayer
[0:04] - Introduction and Personal Reflections
[0:10] - Observations on Freedom Church
[0:15] - The Call for Spiritual Awakening
[0:20] - The Importance of Spiritual Practices
[0:25] - Consistency in Spiritual Life
[0:30] - The Story of Loaves and Fishes
[0:35] - The Role of Spiritual Practices
[0:40] - The Power of Small Offerings
[0:45] - The Legacy of Saint Helier
[0:50] - Awakening to Spiritual Renewal
[0:55] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 6:1-14
- Psalm 23:1-2
---
Observation Questions:
1. In John 6:1-14, what was the initial reaction of the disciples when Jesus asked them how to feed the large crowd? How did this reflect their understanding of Jesus' capabilities? [50:06]
2. How does the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 illustrate the concept of "little is much in His hands"? [50:06]
3. What role did Andrew play in the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and how does this reflect on his character? [50:06]
4. How does the imagery of Psalm 23:1-2 relate to the setting of the miracle in John 6, where Jesus had the people sit on the grass? [50:06]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the miracle of the loaves and fishes teach about the nature of Jesus' provision and the importance of faith in His abundance? [50:06]
2. How does the sermon suggest that spiritual practices should be approached in our daily lives? What is the danger of turning them into a checklist? [01:03:57]
3. In what ways does the sermon encourage believers to focus on consistency rather than intensity in their spiritual journey? How does this relate to the concept of "radical incrementalism"? [01:03:57]
4. How does the legacy of Saint Helier serve as an inspiration for standing firm in faith against cultural challenges, according to the sermon? [01:03:57]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt your offerings to God were too small. How can the story of the loaves and fishes encourage you to trust in what God can do with your contributions? [50:06]
2. What small, consistent spiritual practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to strengthen your walk with God? How can you ensure these practices remain focused on deepening your relationship with Jesus rather than becoming mere tasks? [01:03:57]
3. Consider the cultural challenges you face in your community. How can you, like Saint Helier, stand firm in your faith and be a bold witness for the gospel? [01:03:57]
4. How can you shift your mindset from striving to meet spiritual requirements to focusing on your relationship with Jesus? What practical steps can you take to cultivate intimacy with Christ? [01:03:57]
5. Identify an area in your life where you tend to rely on your own resources rather than God's abundance. How can you begin to trust more in God's provision and less in your own calculations? [50:06]
6. How can you awaken from any spiritual slumber and align your life with God's purposes? What specific actions can you take to be on the front line of spiritual renewal in your community? [01:03:57]
7. Think about a person or group in your life who might benefit from the "bread" that Jesus offers. How can you be a conduit of His love and provision to them this week? [50:06]
Devotional
Day 1: The Multiplication of Small Offerings
In our spiritual journey, the focus is not on the quantity of what we bring to God but on what He can do with our small offerings. The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fish is a powerful illustration of this truth. It shows that little is much in the hands of Jesus. Our spiritual practices, like prayer, fasting, and reading scripture, are not ends in themselves but means to draw closer to Jesus. They are the trellis that supports the growth of our spiritual lives, not the fruit itself. When we offer our meager contributions with a full heart, God can multiply them to accomplish His purposes. [50:06]
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: What small offering can you bring to God today, trusting that He will multiply it for His purposes?
Day 2: The Strength of Consistency
In our walk with God, consistency in small, daily practices is more sustainable and impactful than sporadic intense efforts. Just as a car stays on the road with small nudges, our spiritual life thrives on regular, intentional actions. This consistency builds a strong foundation in our spiritual lives, allowing us to grow steadily and deeply in our relationship with God. In a culture that values immediacy, patience and perseverance are essential in our spiritual journey. [01:03:57]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: What small, consistent practice can you commit to this week to strengthen your spiritual journey?
Day 3: Embracing Relationship Over Ritual
Our spiritual practices should not become a checklist of requirements but a means to deepen our relationship with Jesus. It's not about how proficient we are in these practices but about the intimacy we cultivate with Christ. We must avoid the trap of striving to meet perceived requirements and instead focus on the relationship with Jesus, who loved us first and meets us in our insufficiency. Our offerings, no matter how small, are significant when given with a full heart. [01:03:57]
"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from fulfilling spiritual practices to deepening your relationship with Jesus today?
Day 4: Standing Firm in Faith
Jersey's history of spiritual defiance and overcoming challenges under God's hand inspires us to stand firm in our faith. We are called to be bold and vigilant, lifting our heads and proclaiming the gospel in a culture that often opposes it. In the spirit of Saint Helier, who stood as a guardian and protector, we are encouraged to lift our heads and be bold in our faith. Now is the time to awaken from spiritual slumber and stand firm against the invading ships of culture, holding fast to the truth of the gospel. [01:03:57]
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you stand firm in your faith and be bold in proclaiming the gospel in your community?
Day 5: Awakening to Spiritual Renewal
Now is the time to awaken from spiritual slumber and align our lives with God's purposes. As we lift our heads and call upon Jesus, we position ourselves on the front line of spiritual renewal, trusting that God will provide what is needed. This awakening requires us to be vigilant and proactive in our spiritual journey, seeking God's guidance and anointing as we strive to become more like Christ. [01:03:57]
"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:14, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to awaken from spiritual slumber and align your life with God's purposes?
Quotes
1) "I believe that we are in significant days. I think that the spirit of God is blowing through his church in this hour and refining some things and changing some things. And I think to those who would have ears to hear and eyes to see, I think, you know, it's not too much of a stretch for me to say that I think we are on the cusp of potentially, like, the next great awakening in the Western church. And so my heart is to just really contend and press in through prayer to Jesus, to ask his presence to come. And transform culture and capture the hearts of a generation in a new way." [49:33] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "It's way easier to feel on fire for him and feel like you're on the pulse of heaven when you know off the back of like a big worship you know moment or a service or a conference or something like that but the problem is is that most of our walk with Jesus just isn't that it's we don't know how to walk with Jesus we don't know like live in that space most of our walk with Jesus is you know experienced in the boring everyday mundane usualness of life that's where most of the walk with Jesus occurs." [50:06] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "God doesn't want you to hack your walk with him your friends don't want hacked relationships your kids don't want hacked parenting your spouse doesn't want hacked marriage but a beautiful life is cultivated daily nourishing the roots of what is meaningful and valuable over time consistency not intensity in the long run you're much more likely to be consistent in your walk with God by reading a small section of scripture each day praying for a few minutes than by going on a 40 -day fast and scripture binge you'll have a way better relationship with your kids if you play with them for 20 minutes a day rather than thinking you can plug the relational gap with a trip to Disney focus on the roots not the fruit focus on the seed days not the seed age so far you probably need to focus on sow wins not the harvest focus on consistency not intensity." [50:06] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "It's little to do with what you can bring to the table and it's everything to do with what Christ can do with that which we bring him. So, and I think Jesus shows us this in this passage in John 6. So at this point, just contextually, Jesus has called his disciples. He's begun to, you know, perform signs and and wonders, you know, turning water into wine. He's got people like the attention of Nicodemus, a Pharisee who, you know, it seems in his heart of hearts knows that Jesus is the Messiah, so he's, you know, healing the sick, he's casting demons out of people who are spiritually oppressed, and he's amassing a bit of a following, they're following him around, and that's kind of where we find ourselves in this moment, where there's this large crowd following Jesus, and they're hungry." [50:06] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "This is the God we serve, this is the God we serve, when we rely on our own resources, and all of that, if we draw from what we can bring, like, we will fail, but when we rely on the abundance of God's resource, of God's grace, and mercy, and power, and strength, from the vault of God's treasury, guys, we're not left, wanting, we're not left wanting, and so if you think, like, if you're there today, and you're just like, Johnny, I have barely anything to bring, you don't know my life, like, I have no energy to devote to developing a rule of life for myself, maybe I'm a single parent looking after three kids, silence and solitude does not really play into my life in this season, mornings are chaos, I was, if I was able to read three verses of the Bible, that would be a miracle, I have very little money at the table, and I actually don't have much, you know, maybe I'm barely making ends meet, I don't have any margin in my life to be hugely financially generous to people, I have not much to work with, well, guess what, Jesus can work with not much, Jesus can work with not much, and I believe this is the key that's shown to us in John 6." [50:06] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Little is much in his hands, little is much in his hands, do you feel little, do you feel like you have little to offer, do you feel like your life is all over the place, and you are possibly overwhelmed at the idea of, you know, walking with Jesus, and adopting spiritual practice, and stuff well friends little is much in his hands and i believe in these days the lord is drawing close to his bride reminding us that it is he who has what the world needs the generation before us will be won not by what we can bring to the table so not by how smooth our sunday services can be not by the next celebrity pastor not by the next church marketing model or ministry model but by what jesus can do the miracle wasn't in in what the disciples were just like in their distribution of it they knew their role it was jesus who had what people need it is jesus who has the bread that jersey hungers." [50:06] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "If we want to love this island serve this island see it renewed and restored the best thing that we can do isn't anything we can bring in our own strength but the best thing that we can do is come into agreement with the lord jesus and call upon him to feed jersey the bread it hungers for and we're never left wanting by the way if you're worried about that we're never left wanting that boy left his house that morning with five loaves and two fish how much did he eat more than that more than that they all ate till they had their fill and there was leftovers we are never left wanting by god." [50:06] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "There's a difference between a meager offering and a cheap offering we mustn't bring a cheap offering even if we can bring meager ones you think of the widow's mite it's a meager offering but jesus looked at it and said what she's she's given more than anyone here because she gave with a full heart and so guys i pray that you would get the pressure off you to be the next james clear atomic habit john mark super christian it's not going to happen and i say to all our team in newcastle all the time particularly on sundays when we're coming to do the stuff and you know sometimes it's like oh we don't have a drummer today and it's like oh maybe we don't the people who were going to do coffee have dropped out and we don't know how to replace it and at one time in our history we would have freaked out over that and been like it's all going to be perfect it's all going to be the experience that's geared towards people and stuff and sometimes we would do that and be so focused on getting it right for people that we would forget to minister to the lord." [50:06] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?