As I prepared for a faithful sermon Sunday, I was well aware of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the collapse of the stock market (and loss of funds for many people), ongoing COVID-19 concerns, friends and family with serious ongoing medical needs, deaths, and personally for me- my husband’s upcoming retirement, struggles with parenting my teens, and trying to manage my crazy seminary class schedule that I put upon myself this semester to name a few. There are so many concerns going on in my life and mind and I am sure going on in your life and mind as well. It is in that space that I tried to prepare a faithful sermon for the people of FPC Mexia. I envisioned their faces in my mind’s eye and prayed that God through the Holy Spirit would help me in my preparation and especially in my delivery as a part of the Sunday Worship Celebration. I also remembered and know that we are a burdened people. I believe that God has given me a message of hope rooted in the word of the Lord. I hope you will take a listen and be blessed by the message given to you today.
God is a God of miracles. The Lord often leads us step by step, involving us in the work of God in the world. This sermon is based off of Mark 6:30-44. Even though it is a commonly known passage, I try to break it into pieces that we might slow down and take a closer look at what Jesus is doing and not doing. Also that we would look at what the disciples are doing and not doing. I know that this miraculous story was included for us today not just to hear a type of ‘good news story’ that has no impact for us today but that we would glean what is needed in our individual and corporate journey of faith and hope in God. I know that we can continue to God to God with what we have (including our experiences), however ‘little’ or ‘lacking’ we feel it is. We go to God and we wait on God to show us what to do next. We actively wait on God. We are not walking away. We are remembering who Jesus is, what God has already done both in the Word of God and in our lives (and others lives all around us). We remember and know that God is a God of miracles.
Mark 6:30-44 NIV
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.6.30-44.NIV
Prayer
Thank you, God, how you involve us in your work in the world. Thank you God for how you see and care for us AND you also see and respond with care for ‘the crowd’ too. As the Great Teacher you continue teach us as your followers how to love as you love and lead as you lead us. As the Great Shephard you continue to care for us and protect us. You have compassion on us and you followed through always with action as led by God the Father. Thank you Lord for leaving us with the Holy Spirit that is with all of us who call you Lord. Thank you Lord that you provide us with help and with hope in our everyday. Help us to remember this Truth, especially as we are consumed with the circumstances of the day that looks totally impossible to resolve. But you are the God of miracles. Help us to remember what you have already done in our lives to bring us to where we are today. Grow our faith in you. Grow our love for others as you have loved us. Thank you Lord for the body of believers all around the world that come alongside us in prayer as we lift up the little we have. As we move forward with you, along with the workings of the Holy Spirit, the little we have is no longer our focus. And as we shift our gaze to You, Lord of our life, somehow, we are left with more than we need. Thank you again God for your care for me and for us. In Your name we pray, Amen.
This sermon was recorded 27 February 2022 as pulpit supply for First Presbyterian Church Mexia in Central Texas. I am a current Masters of Divinity (MDiv) student at George W Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas. This is also the Baptist Women In Ministry (BWIM) Month of Preaching celebration! View a shoutout from BWIM here.
Find other recordings for my pulpit supply here https://sejanashines.com/2021/08/02/pulpit-supply-preaching/.
Find other blogs about my seminary experience here https://sejanashines.com/category/seminary/.
Sincerely,
Sejana Yoo aka @SejanaShines
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