Study 5 - 2007: March 12th - 18th (not last week missed)

At Home in a Crowd.
Reading – John Chapter Ch 6: 1 to 13.

Jesus went up on a hill and sat down with his disciples. The time for the Passover Festival was near. Jesus looked around and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, so he asked Phillip, “Where can we buy enough food to feed all these people?” He said this to test Phillip; actually he already knew what he would do.
John Chapter 6:verses 3 to 6(Today’s English Version).

At the big PGA Tour events; thousands of people come (crowds) to watch the best golfers compete for prize-money and watch golf played at a level they can only dream of.

Golf is entertainment and while there is a big push in the media to lift sportspeople up as role models for youth and others, their focus is performing as an athlete and making the most of their career in golf.

Yet, it means a lot to the public when Professional golfers can connect with people. While many people want to use athletes for their gain, most Australian golfers have a great down to earth attitude that comes from being Australian and are happy to mingle and share their victories and struggles.

In Jesus’ life, crowds of people followed him and he connected with them. They brought the sick and crippled, looked to him for teaching and guidance and in the reading above, will look to him for a meal.

Jesus asks Phillip one of the disciples (companions) how they are going to feed everyone (5000 people) since it’s late and they are away from town.
Jesus then uses a small boys lunch to feed the crowd of 5000 with 12 baskets full of food left over. Is this hard to believe? No, not if God exists and Jesus comes with God’s authority; this is something we can expect from God.

Next week we will find out the results that such a miracle had on the people, but what God often says about life is that from a little, can come a lot.
Life is about how you use the talents, resources and gifts you have, not about what you don’t have.

In golf it is amazing watching golfers come from nowhere to establish themselves as great players.

Nick O’Hern, Craig Parry and Nathan Green to name a few. Each year a new Australian name appears on the international scene that we have not heard much about.

Jesus gave value to every person in our reading that followed him by providing dinner out in the country.

Jesus shows us that God is concerned with all of life, even the simple things like bread and water. He used one small boys lunch to feed the crowd and God wants to use us to help others and to see our gifts multiplied in their benefit to others.

Many PGA members who are teachers talk about the value and rewards of helping others with their golf and the joy that comes when they improve.
I encourage you today to think about how you can help others according to your talents, gifts and resources and see your assets multiplied.

Prayer
Generous and loving God, thank you in life from small things, great things can be accomplished. Help us to be faithful in small things, and to use our gifts to accomplish great things. Amen.