Text: Matthew 14:13-21 (focusing on verses 18-19), Philippians 1:3-11<\/p>\n
Last Sunday in worship, I preached about our limitations.
\nAbout how little we have\u2026 or think we have\u2026 that can be offered up for ministry.
\nWhen we see so much need around us in the world, it is easy to believe that we can\u2019t possibly begin to make a difference.<\/p>\n
And the truth is, we can\u2019t.
\nNot on our own.
\nNot by ourselves.
\nBut the good news is\u2026 it isn\u2019t about us and what we can do.
\nIt\u2019s about what God can do through us.<\/p>\n
This morning as we heard, once again, the miraculous story of how five thousand men (plus women and children) were fed, I want to focus in on just two verses of this pericope.
\nFirst, Jesus invites the disciples to hand over what they have.
\n\u201cBring those fish and loves to me,\u201d he says. \u201cLet me see what I can do with it.\u201d
\nAnd then he invites people to gather around and he does something that is all too familiar to us when we gather for communion\u2026
\nHe prays.
\nHe blesses the bread.
\nHe breaks it.<\/p>\n
What does that remind you of?<\/p>\n
Communion!<\/p>\n
Jesus blesses the gifts, breaks them
\nAnd he gives it back to the disciples.
\nOnly then do they give it to the congregation\u2026
\nTo the crowds\u2026
\nTo the multitudes.<\/p>\n
Only AFTER Jesus has taken their gifts and blessed and transformed them do the disciples head back out in service.<\/p>\n
Or maybe it is simply after we recognize that our gifts are from God that we are truly able to share them with others.
\nThere are times in our lives when we underestimate and we under appreciate our gifts.
\nWe devalue ourselves and others and the most common way we do it is with a tiny little word: \u201cjust.\u201d<\/p>\n
We \u201cjust\u201d have five loaves and two fishes.
\nI \u201cjust\u201d have five minutes to give.
\nShe is \u201cjust\u201d a stay at home mom.
\nThey \u201cjust\u201d come to coffee time.
\nI \u201cjust\u201d sing at church.<\/p>\n
Can you hear the limitation?
\nCan you hear how we are denying the possibility? <\/p>\n
What if instead we claimed:
\nWe HAVE five loaves and two fishes – Jesus, what can you do with them?
\nI HAVE five minutes that I can give, how can I make the most of them?
\nShe IS a stay at home mom and is able to be present for her children and volunteer in a really special way.
\nThey come to coffee time and build these amazing relationships where they share about their families and check in when no one else is there and laugh until their bellies hurt.
\nI sing at church and praise and make music to God! <\/p>\n
If instead of dismissing our gifts, we offered them up and let God transform and use our minutes and presence and abilities – imagine what could happen. <\/p>\n
Now, I want to highlight that last one because it was something that might have been said by a middle aged woman who lived alone with her cat, Pebbles.
\nBut when Susan Boyle stepped on a stage in 2009, she allowed her gifts to be used for something far bigger than she could ever imagine.<\/p>\n