Joining into God's Kingdom Work

There’s a story of a church in the Bible belt.  The pastor got up and said, “Like the lame on the mat, this church needs to get up and walk.”  The people responded, “Let it walk, Revered, let it walk.  

The pastor said, “Like Elijah running from Mt Carmel, this church needs to run.”  “Let it run, preacher, let it run,” the people said.  

“Like wings on eagles,” said the preacher, “this church needs to fly.”  “Let it fly,” the people resounded.  “

And if it's gonna fly, it's going to need money.”  There was brief silence…then the people said, “Let it walk, preacher, let it walk.”

We are launching a new series today examining the 7 I Am Sayings in John’s Gospel.
The first of these 7 sayings is found in John 6:35.

John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

This declaration sits right in the middle of the longest chapter in all of the gospels. It’s the chapter where Jesus feeds the 5,000. It’s the chapter where he walks on water. It’s the chapter where the next day, the people find him and want him to perform the miracle a second time and feed them some more.

And it is in the heart of their quest for the physical, that he invites them to the spiritual that will nourish them for all their lives.

Did you know that is what we do as a church? As Jesus’ disciples, as his followers, we invite people to come to him and believe in him, because we know that in knowing him, he meets us where we are and nourishes our lives at every turn.

One of the most significant ways we can bring people to Jesus is to engage with him in what he is already doing.

One of the most significant ways we do that each year is through our Global Missions Offering. We are asking that every single one of us will get in on what God is doing in the earth. We have been taking up this offering since the last Sunday in February, culminating next week on Palm Sunday.

And if you give online, please designate your gift as the Global Missions Offering. This is the one extra offering we take each year. It is over and above your gifts to our budget or special projects, and it is one where we bring our resources and we catalyze what God is doing throughout our city, our state, our nation, and our world.

Now, some people get uncomfortable when talking about money in the church. Maybe you are tempted to zone out or try to slip out the back door. But, we don’t apologize or shy away from talking and teaching about money. And here is why—because Jesus talks a lot about money.

In fact, he talks more about money than he does heaven or hell. Money is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible. It’s not to say that it always speaks positively about it or that we are to fixate on money.

So, why does the Bible speak of it so much? It’s because there is a direct connection between our heart and our money. The Bible says it this way—“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  And God cares about our heart.  He wants our hearts to be aligned with His.  

Before we get into this message, we want to say a few things today to serve as a reminder of how we have approached this subject:

(1)God is a God of abundance, not scarcity. In 2010, we began to intentionally declare that God is a God of abundance, not scarcity. I wanted us to rethink how we talked about money. And God has been so faithful over these past 15 years and has resourced us in incredible ways.  You have proven this very point – God is a God of great abundance.

(2)We want to reflect God’s heart of generosity.  For many years, we have examined God’s generosity. All through the Bible, we see that God is a generous God. And individually and corporately, we want to be generous; live generously.

(3)The God of the universe invites us into His purposes.  This year, we are reminding you that God is inviting you to engage with Him. We are not asking for what we want from you.  Whenever we speak about money and God’s ways, we talk about what we want for you.  You see, our Lord has an invitation into His purposes that is waiting for our response. And that’s what I want you to see today.

Let’s look at this invitation in John 6:1-15.  

John 6:1-15
6     Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Now, you may be asking, why did you back up to the front of the chapter to teach on Jesus being the bread of life?

What we see in the overall chapter is that the crowds were enthralled with the miracles.

They were amazed that they got to eat. So the next day, they wanted another meal. Their thinking was temporal, whereas Jesus’ message was eternal.

And with this eternal message, many will walk away from him. They can’t fathom the kingdom he is inviting them into. They don’t understand this declaration that he is the bread of life.

As a matter of fact, if you read through chapter 6, you will see that they argue with him.

But it’s here, when they desert him, that he looks at his disciples and asked a pointed question. Look at this interaction beginning in verse 66.

John 6:66-68
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

The journey of chapter 6 and the declaration of Jesus being the Bread of Life is to bring his chosen disciples to this point of confessing, “You have the words of eternal life.”

All along the way, he has been inviting them to take their next step. He is continually inviting them to know him and grow in him, and at the top of the chapter, he wants to bring them to a place of amazement and understanding about his ability to multiply a gift so that many would know him.

As his followers today, I want us to see three things and they all involve Jesus’ invitation to get in on what He is already doing.

Jesus’ Invitation to join His work…
1.Challenges Us to Align our Hearts with His.
2.Challenges our Doubts.
3.Challenges Us to Have Childlike Faith.

Let’s dig into this text and grow in our understanding of Jesus’ invitation to join His work.

I.Jesus’ invitation to join His work…Challenges Us to Align our Hearts with His.

Jesus’ Invitation to join His work…
1.Challenges Us to Align our Hearts with His.
2.Challenges our Doubts.
3.Challenges Us to Have Childlike Faith.

This story of the feeding of the 5,000, besides the Resurrection account, is the only miracle found in all four gospels.  When you dig deeper into all four accounts there are some things that you see that you won’t fully see just looking at John 6.  

Let’s look deeper at the story.  This is early on in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus and the disciples are just reunited. He had sent his disciples out proclaiming the kingdom and they have just gotten back from a journey.  

John The Baptist is dead.  And they need a retreat. It appears that they all need a retreat.

So, they get in a boat and head out to a remote place.  Jesus is at the height of his popularity; He is a rock star in Galilee.  So, the crowd finds out where Jesus is going, and they go ahead of him to meet him.  

Now, think about this. You are tired. You need a break. You need rest. You need solitude. The last thing you are thinking about is other people.  You just want to get off the boat and have a little peace and quiet.  

And I want you to see the heart of Jesus for this crowd (by looking at Synoptics):

The Synoptic Gospel’s Accounts
•Matt. 14:14—“he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”  
•Mark 6:34—“He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  And he taught them many things.”
•Luke 9:11—“He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.”

In Matthew and Mark, we see the word compassion.
COMPASSION -- IT’S A WORD THAT MEANS HE WAS “MOVED IN HIS INNER BOWELS.”

These verses establish Jesus’ heart.  Now look at his invitation to Philip to create tension in the disciples to align their hearts.

Look at verse 5.

John 6:5
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”

I am sure that Philip is thinking, “I didn’t know we were in the food service industry.”  Then, he was probably thinking, “I’don’t know, but what I do know is that I’ve got nothing left.  I’m not really interested in feeding these people.”

That question, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat…” created tension in Philip’s life.  

Meeting the needs of others does that, doesn’t it?

Part of our problem is that, like a horse pulling a carriage, we wear blinders to the needs of others, because it helps keep us focused on ourselves.  It keeps us from being distracted, and if we are unaware, we don’t have to feel the need.

But once we feel the need, we have a choice to make:
•Will I participate?  
•Can I really be a part of making a difference?
•Is this really what God wants me to do?

Now, before we look at Philip’s reaction, let’s also look at a fundamental truth about the Lord and this world we live in.

Can you imagine the number of times Jesus walked by something and thought, “That is not like what I created.  Nope, that isn’t what I did at creation.”

When he created, there was abundant provision for food, wasn’t there?  Adam and Eve could eat from any and every tree, except for one.  

Then, looked what happened.  

Genesis 3:17-19

17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.
18     It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19     By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

What he designed, was a world where food was abundant.  When the fall came, the challenge for food came.  It was a never-ending quest. And that’s why the people pursued him the next day for more food.

You know, we hear it in the language of our culture today, don’t we?  Athletes making unbelievable salaries will often say, “I have a family to feed.”

So often, Jesus could have walked by something he saw and “fixed it.”  But I am sure there was so much restraint that we can’t even imagine it.

But here, there is no restraint.  
•He shares with them the word of God
•He heals their diseases
•He is so moved inwardly, he decides to feed the whole group.
Look at verse 6 and note the fact that Jesus had a plan.

John 6:6
He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

We learn in Hebrews that in Jesus, all things were made by him, that He is the end of all things, and that He holds all things together.  

Well, right here in this moment, He does the supernatural.  He goes off, healing, serving, loving, and feeding!

And that is still his heart today!  And, if we don’t understand his heart, and if we don’t understand his nature, it will create a whole lot of tension in our lives.

His nature – He is a God of Abundance!  He Abounds!  He is not bound!

His Heart – Healing, Serving, Loving and Feeding!

And even in Jesus’ day, it took something.  It took an offering!

But now, I am getting ahead of myself.  Let’s look at our second point today.

Jesus’ Invitation to join His work…
1.Challenges Us to Align our Hearts with His.
2.Challenges our Doubts.
3.Challenges Us to Have Childlike Faith.

II.Jesus’ Invitation to join His work…Challenges our Doubts.

Let’s look at the reaction of both Philip and Andrew.  Look at John 6:7-9. Again, Jesus is using this moment to develop his disciples who will take his message around the world.

John 6:7-9
7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Notice Philip’s reaction.  Sometimes it resembles our reaction, doesn’t it?

How much is this need going to be?  He’s asking for what?  8 Months Wages?  

It gets better. If we read Mark’s account, the doubt is truly exposed.  

Look with me at Mark 6:36-38

Mark 6:36-38

36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

GOD’S INVITATION TO GIVE CHALLENGES OUR DOUBT.  IT REALLY EXPOSES OUR BELIEF, DOESN’T IT?

Philip’s belief seems to be one of two things or both.
1.These people really aren’t worth 8 months’ wages.
2.That sure is a crazy request.  

Jesus then says, through Mark’s account, “Go and see.”  In other words, go take up an offering.

The twelve disperse throughout the crowd – looking or asking.

What are some possible responses?
•Bartholomew asks – Jesus is looking for food, he is wanting to feed everybody. Does anyone have any?
oNo, no, no.
oWell, I have just enough for my family.
•John and James see a family just putting their food out for dinner and they go and ask for it, for the Lords wants to feed many today!
oThe Father possibly stands to his feet and thanks them for such an amazing day, but this is all they have and there certainly is not enough to go around to so many.
•Philip:  Philip, while out looking for food, sees some who have it, but he doesn’t even bother to ask for it, for he concluded, “it won’t even make a dent in what is really needed.”

After some time, the disciples realize they have asked all they can ask.
They return to Jesus, quietly looking at one another, wondering if the others brought anything.
WHEN JESUS ASKS, “WHAT DO YOU HAVE?  WHAT DID ANYONE OFFER?”
One by one, it is as if each of them said, “Nothing, zero, nothing at all.
Scarcity, Scarcity, Scarcity

Either the people wouldn’t give it to the Lord…
-or-
The disciples didn’t value every single gift.

Even Andrew’s response is one of scarcity.  

John 6:8-9
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
…but how far will they go among so many?

Let’s put this into context.  These disciples have just gotten off of a mission where, when sent by Jesus, they were sent without any extras. He sent them and as he sent them, they were to depend on the people that hosted them.  

They were provided for. Not only that, but on that mission, they were given power to cast out demons.  

How quickly they forget!  How quickly we forget.

You see, when we are invited by God to give, it exposes our doubts.
When our doubts are exposed, it shows us what we truly believe about God. And what most Christians believe about God is that He is a God of scarcity, not abundance.

I can’t say that about you, as consistently, you have responded with a “yes” to Jesus’ invitation to get in on what He is doing.

But with a week like we have had in the stock market, and maybe with the challenge of rising costs, you have lost sight of Jesus’ ability to provide for you, and His invitation to use your resource so that others might be fed the very bread of life!

So, my purpose today is to remind you of that and encourage you to continue, because it is making a difference.  

For those of you who aren’t there yet and aren’t participating yet, I want to challenge you to respond to God’s invitation to give, doing so, with the faith of a child.  
That is the third point that I want to make today.
Jesus’ Invitation to join His work…Challenges us to have Child-Like Faith.

III. Jesus’ Invitation to join His work challenges us to have Child-Like Faith

John 6:9
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish…

I remember when I was doing our radio show about 10 years ago, that I had the opportunity to interview Spencer Tillman.

In that show, Spencer Tillman said:
“Faith is the Currency of Heaven!  It is the only way that God gets anything done.”
You, see, God’s Abundance is activated by an act of Faith, all of this flowing out of what he has already purposed to do.
I love the fact that a child is the one who brings the offering. Remember earlier, we said that though Jesus was doing just about anything he wanted that day, he used an offering.
Jesus uses an offering. He uses our offerings. And they aren’t all extravagant offerings are they?

•He used a boy, who didn’t even have a seat at this event.  
•He used his gift to demonstrate that God is not bound, but that He abounds!
Jesus used Child-Like Faith to accomplish His plan.
oChild-Like faith that declares that, “Jesus is worth it.”
oChild-like faith that doesn’t have all kinds of fears, traps, and hang-ups of adulthood.
oChild-like faith that demonstrates dependency on him.

Friends, let’s have a child-like faith that believes that:
oJesus already has a plan for what He wants to do.
oRealizes that God invites us to be a part of His purposes.
oThat gives with Child-Like Faith that believes that God is not bound.  

What will you give to Jesus? What offering might you bring?

He is the bread of life and we his disciples get to share that with others. One of the most significant ways that we can invest, is to empower our missionaries through our global missions offering.

Every Dollar given will go to resource our missionaries on the field.
•60% to the International Mission Board
•20% to the National Mission Board
•10% to Texas Baptists
•10% to Union Baptist to serve our city.

Please get this gift in by Sunday, April 13th.


This blog is based on the message shared by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson on Sunday, April 6, 2025 from our CityRise Church West University Baptist campus. Check out the full message below!