Worship
Sundays 
In Person &
FB Live:
9:30am

BIBLE STUDY

THE GOSPEL READING FOR THE COMING SUNDAY AND SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT ARE POSTED EVERY WEDNESDAY.  WE HAVE RESTARTED OUR IN-PERSON BIBLE STUDY ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 7:00 P.M. IN FELLOWSHIP HALL, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.  YOU CAN ALSO SHARE YOUR ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS BY EMAILING THEM TO:            

barbfletcher2@aol.com

ALL OF OUR RESPONSES WILL BE COMPILED (ANONYMOUSLY) AND ADDED TO THE POSTING ON SATURDAY.   WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE GOSPEL READING EACH WEEK AND CHECK OUT THE RESPONSES EACH SATURDAY!

BIBLE STUDY FOR SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021

PRAYER:     Holy Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts and minds to receive all that You want us to learn.  As we read your word, shine on us the light of your truth.  May we gain a deeper understanding of who You are and what your will is in each of our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CONTEXT:  For the next few weeks, we are taking a break from Mark’s Gospel and visiting John’s.  The two stories in this reading contain important allusions to Old Testament prophets Moses and Elisha -- stories of feeding miracles and the taming of the sea, as told in Exodus and 2 Kings.  The reading is set a year before Jesus’ crucifixion, during the second Passover of Jesus’ ministry.  That time of year could explain the presence of huge crowds of people.  

READING:   John 6:1-21

1After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 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?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11 Then 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. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14 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.” 15 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.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. Verse 5 says that Jesus was testing Phillip with his question.  How does Phillip’s answer in Verse 7 show that he missed the point?  What should he have said?  How do we make the same mistake?

2. What central messages in the feeding of the 5,000 should we keep in mind for our ministries at Saint Bart?

3. John consistently refers to Jesus’ miracles as “signs”.  How does that represent a different understanding, and why is it important?

4. What mistake did the people make when they went from their understanding in Verse 14 to their intentions in Verse 15?  How do we also make the same mistake?  What is the lesson we should remember?

5. What do you think Jesus was thinking in Verse 15 when He went up the mountain?  What do you think the people were thinking when Jesus left them so suddenly?

6. In Verse 21, what do you think is the significance of the fact that once Jesus was with them, the boat “immediately” reached its destination?

7. Jesus sets a table of love every day.  Why do you think so many people pass that table and look in all the wrong places to fill their emptiness?  What could you tell them about the bread of life and what it has done for you?

8. Why do you think these two stories appear back to back?  Do you see any themes that they share in common?  How can they strengthen your faith?