Your July 28th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

The Miracles and Meaning of Jesus

Lectionary Readings — Tenth Sunday after Pentecost — July 28, 2024

2 Samuel 11:1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21

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Call to Worship (based on John 6:1-21)

Leader: Let us prepare our hearts to worship the One who provides, the One who calms our fears, and the One who walks with us through every storm.

People: We come to worship the Lord who feeds the multitudes with five loaves and two fish, showing us His abundant provision.

Leader: Let us open our hearts to the One who walked on water and said, "It is I; do not be afraid," demonstrating His power over all creation.

People: We come with gratitude, knowing that in every trial and every need, Jesus is present and powerful.

Leader: Together, let us praise the Lord who reveals His identity through His miraculous works and invites us to trust in Him completely.

People: We come to honor Jesus, our Provider, our Protector, and our Savior, with hearts full of faith and thanksgiving.

Leader: Let us lift our voices in worship, for Jesus is with us, guiding us, providing for us, and calming our fears.

All: With joy and reverence, we worship You, Lord Jesus. Be glorified in our midst today. Amen.

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Opening Prayer (based on Ephesians 3:14-21)

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts. We bow our knees before You, the Creator of heaven and earth, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. We acknowledge Your sovereignty and Your loving care over all creation.

Lord, we pray that out of Your glorious riches, You may strengthen us with power through Your Spirit in our inner being. Help us to be rooted and established in Your love, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. May we grasp, along with all the saints, how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Father, we thank You for Your boundless love and the immeasurable grace You have poured out on us. As we gather in worship today, we ask for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit. Fill us with Your presence and empower us to live lives that reflect Your glory.

We pray for those among us who are struggling—those who feel weak, weary, or burdened. May they find strength in Your presence and comfort in Your love. Let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Lord, we also lift up our community, our nation, and our world. In times of division, uncertainty, and hardship, we ask for Your guidance and intervention. Help us to be instruments of Your peace, spreading Your love and light wherever we go.

As we continue in our service today, may everything we do and say bring honor to Your name. To You, who are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within us, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]

Sermon Outline: The Miracles and Meaning of Jesus

Scripture: John 6:1-21 (NRSV)

Introduction

• Share a personal story or contemporary illustration about witnessing or experiencing something miraculous.

• Briefly introduce the passage from John 6:1-21, highlighting the significance of the miracles of feeding the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water.

I. MIRACULOUS MULTIPLICATION

• Provision in Plenty: Discuss Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the 5,000 with five barley loaves and two fish.

• Scripture Reference: John 6:5-13 "When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?'... Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted."

• Explanation:

  • Highlight the setting: a large crowd following Jesus because of the signs He had performed on the sick.

  • Emphasize the small amount of food available and the disciples' doubt about feeding such a large crowd.

  • Explain how Jesus gave thanks and distributed the food, resulting in everyone being fed and twelve baskets of leftovers.

• Application: Encourage the congregation to trust in God’s provision, even when resources seem insufficient. God can multiply our small offerings to meet great needs.

II. PERCEPTIVE RESPONSE

• Recognizing the Prophet: Explore the crowd’s reaction and their recognition of Jesus as the prophet who is to come into the world.

• Scripture Reference: John 6:14-15 "When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, 'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.' When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself."

• Explanation:

  • Discuss the significance of the crowd recognizing Jesus as the prophet and their desire to make Him king.

  • Explain Jesus’ response to withdraw, highlighting His understanding of their intentions and His mission.

• Application: Challenge the congregation to seek Jesus for who He truly is, not merely for the miracles He performs. Understand His mission and follow Him with the right intentions.

III. POWER OVER NATURE

• Mastery over the Moment: Examine Jesus walking on water and calming the disciples’ fears.

• Scripture Reference: John 6:16-21 "When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum... They saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.'"

• Explanation:

  • Describe the scene: the disciples alone in a boat, facing rough seas, and Jesus walking towards them on the water.

  • Highlight their fear and Jesus’ comforting words, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

  • Explain how they were immediately brought to shore, signifying Jesus’ control over nature and their circumstances.

• Application: Encourage the congregation to recognize Jesus’ presence and power in the storms of their lives. Trust in His ability to bring peace and deliverance in difficult times.

Conclusion

• Reflect on the miraculous events and the deeper meanings they reveal about Jesus’ identity and mission.

• Encourage the congregation to trust in Jesus’ provision, seek Him with pure intentions, recognize His power in their lives, and pursue a deeper relationship with Him as the Bread of Life.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the powerful truths revealed in Your Word today. Thank You for showing us Your miraculous provision, Your power over nature, and the deep meaning of Jesus' mission. Help us to trust in Your provision, seek You with pure hearts, and recognize Your presence in every storm we face. May we hunger for the spiritual nourishment that only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can provide. As we leave this place, fill us with Your peace and guide us in Your ways. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers