July 25, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for July 25th: 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Psalm 14, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6: 1-21 Theme: Working for God Song: My Hope is Built UMH 368 Ephesians: We all know that our world is heavily divided by race and culture. The message of the gospel is that those are superficial differences and that God cares about us all the same and that we all have a place at God’s table. The writer of Ephesians is working hard to help us to create a church culture that helps us to get beyond our differences. We are reminded that we will not rise above our life on our own. It takes prayer, obedience to the bible and trust in God. the scripture says God can do far more than we can do. He also says that if we have Jesus in our hearts – then we will have to key to make a difference in life. John: Jesus tells his disciples that “I am the bread of life”. He then encourages them to go out and to give that bread to those in need. They have no idea of how to feed 5000 people with no money – but all things are possible with God. The bread of life is not just about eating, it is about living a life of abundance. In Jesus’ ministry, he pays special attention to the needs of the poor and the suffering. He wants them to understand that God will supply their needs. After the disciples realize that they do have the power to make a difference in the lives of others, Jesus takes them out on the lake to be alone. It is dark and they are afraid of the dark and the water, but Jesus once again shows them that the messiah cares about their direct needs. This story shows us that God cares just as much about our needs. Questions: What divisions in the world do we need to overcome? Does our church help us with this task? What does it mean to have Jesus in your heart? Who are the people who need to be fed today? What resources does God give us to make it possible to help others?