Brookwood Baptist Church

Grow Up Session 5: Big Serve

Bottom Line: There is a direct connection between your faith and your serve.

TEACHING OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

There is a direct connection between our faith and our involvement in ministry, in service.

TENSION

The decision to serve is not just about the group or ministry’s need.

The bigger issue is that you just may be missing out on something God has in mind for you by choosing to be uninvolved.

TRUTH

Matthew 14:13 says: When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place (NIV).

Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and he healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go into the villages and buy themselves some food” (Matthew 14-15 NIV).

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16 NIV).

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered (v. 17 NIV).

“Bring them here to me,” (v. 18 NIV).

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. 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 the disciples (v. 19 NIV).

And the disciples gave them to the people (v.19 NIV).

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children (vv. 20-21 NIV).

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it (vv. 22-24 NIV).

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (vv. 26-27 NIV).

“Lord, if it’s you, . . . tell me to come to you on the water” (v. 28 NIV).

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TRUTH (continued)

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus (v. 29 NIV).

So he asks for Jesus’ invitation, saying, “Jesus, I’ll do what I can do, and I’ll let You do what only You can do.”

APPLICATION

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid. In other words, he was reminded of what he couldn’t do. And, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (vv. 30-31 NIV).

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (vv. 32-33 NIV).

LANDING

This is something you have control over, something God uses to grow your faith. This week, would you be willing to do what you know how to do—in terms of serving and where God is nudging, and trust God to do what only God can do?