Day 36 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below and Matthew 15.
• During days 36-42 (at your own pace) read chapter 19 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 36-42, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 6.

32 "Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.' 33 And the disciples said to him, 'Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?' 34 And Jesus said to them, 'How many loaves do you have?' They said, 'Seven, and a few small fish.' 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children." (Matthew 15:32-38 ESV)

Finke titles chapter 19 - "With a Little Help From My Friends." It is about the importance of encouraging one another as we join Jesus on His mission. We will dig into chapter 19 this week, but to start things off, let's look at Jesus and His not only words of encouragement but His acts of encouragement.

In the above text, we read about Jesus feeding the four thousand plus. When faced with a hungry crowd, Jesus' disciples asked, "Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?" 

WHAT?!?!?! 

Take a peek at the preceding chapter. Didn't Jesus just feed a larger crowd not too long ago from five loaves and two fish? 

How soon we forget the amazing work of Jesus in our lives. And yet despite (and probably because of) our forgetfulness, He continues to pour on the blessings and encouragement into and onto us so that we may move forward in our work for His kingdom.

What does this teach you about the importance of encouraging one another as we reach our communities with the love of Jesus?