Week of May 28 - June 2

Sunday
growing deeply
MONDAY: Matthew 14:13-21 Reaching Out in Need
The people followed Jesus. Perhaps they were curious; perhaps they were hopeful;
“Personal Ministry”- May 27
perhaps they truly believed. Regardless, they reached out to him in their need. Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21 (NLT)
QUESTIONS: Why do we follow Jesus? Do we seek to fill a spiritual need; a physical Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets
need; an emotional need?
the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training.
TUESDAY: Matthew 14:13-21 Hope Follows Need They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal
Individual need led the crowd to Jesus. Hope encouraged them to follow. prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.
CONSIDER: Consider a need that you have in your life. Consider having hope strong I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.
enough that you are able to reach out in faith. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be
disqualified.
WEDNESDAY: Matthew 14:13-21 Compassion
This passage says that Jesus “had compassion on them and healed their sick.” New Living Translation (NLT)
As tired as Jesus was and as much as he needed rest, the compassion he felt was Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
greater than his personal need.
REFLECTION: Reflect on a time when you may have had to put a personal need
aside to meet the needs of another person. MY NOTES:
THURSDAY: Matthew 14:13-21 Ordinary Folks
The disciples were simple ordinary human beings who saw something in Jesus that
encouraged them to follow him. They had no formal training, no real preparation
for the journey. What they had was faith.
REFLECT: Reflect on this passage putting yourself in the place of the disciples.
How would you react to the size of the crowds; to the challenge of feeding the
crowd?

FRIDAY: Matthew 14:13-21 Miracle of Abundance

Imagine the surprise and disbelief of the disciples when Jesus told them to feed
the crowd with only five loaves of bread and two fish.
CONSIDER: Consider a miracle of abundance that may have occurred in your life.
Consider the possibility that you may be asked to be a miracle of abundance in the
life of someone else.

SATURDAY: Matthew 14:13-21 Mandate to Disciples; Mandate to Us

When the disciples suggested that the people be sent to the village to buy food for
themselves, the response of Jesus was simple: “you feed them.” That mandate to
the disciples is also a mandate to us.
PRAYER: God of provision, help us to understand that at times we are called to
put ourselves aside to meet the need of another. Give us the faith to rely on your Read or subscribe to the weekly guide at moumc.org/grow
provision, and the strength to accept the extraordinary tasks you put before us. Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.