Sermon Follow-up Questions John 6:1-21
Here’s a few sermon discussion questions to help our church love God by applying his word to our lives. Feel free to use these questions for personal reflection, alongside your family, within a smaller discipleship/journey group, or even within the context of your Life Group. If you missed Sunday’s sermon from John 6:1-21 you can view it online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2S-us2vA8c
John 6 is a unparalleled passage in the fourth gospel. The evangelist (John) leverages Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5,000 (men) to get to the heart of following Him. Let me encourage you, and your Life Group, to devote time reading John 6 multiple times over the next month as we preach through it.
TPQ – How has our American culture bought into the lie that bigger is always better?
You could also ask – what are some ways that bigger is better; what are some ways that bigger is not better?
THE PESSIMISTIC DISCIPLES – verses 3-13
Pessimism defined – The tendency to see the worst of a situation; to lack the confidence or hope that something will come about.
How do we see pessimism in Phillip & Andrew? What is Jesus doing here with his disciples? (verse 6)
“Difficultly must always be measured by the capacity of the agent doing the work.”
How difficult was the situation at hand? How would you measure Jesus’ capacity? (share verses to back this up) What is the work done by the agent?
It seemed to the pessimistic disciples that this was an impossible circumstance but Jesus not only met the need but went above and beyond. How have you seen the Lord provide for you in what seemed to be impossible circumstances? (physically, emotionally, financially) You can conclude this section with the greatest spiritual need met - point them to Romans 8:32 – the grace of God in our lives and the promise of future provision. There is a great parallel here to the 12 baskets full of fragments from just 5 loaves and 2 fish. Just imagine what the 12 pessimistic disciples were thinking as they walked around and picked up the leftovers.
In a moment of vulnerability, where are you pessimistic in your life right now? How can you combat lies you might be believing with the truth of who Jesus is? Or what are some things that you can ask someone in your Life Group to pray for you in a pessimistic mindset?
THE ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD – verses 14-15
What is the motivation of the crowd here? Aaron mentioned the danger of unmet expectations in relationships. Occasionally, someone’s unmet expectations in their relationship with Jesus has caused them to walk away from Him. Have you seen this happen to someone you know? Pray for them right now, that the Lord will orchestrate events to help them see their need for him and him alone. A rhetorical question – how would you answer the question, I’ll follow Jesus as long as ____?
THE HAPPY DISCIPLES – verses 16-21
Take some time and read through this passage again along side Psalm 107:23-31. What are the parallels that you see between the 2 passages?
What is the one main point Jesus is trying to get across here? (verse 20) How does that truth combat the rhetorical question from the previous section? (I’ll follow Jesus as long as _____?)
Once Jesus reveals the truth of who he is, the disciples are glad in verse 21 (Psalm 107: 30) Close in prayer by praising Jesus for who he is and the joy that results.