Feeding the 5,000

Community Group Discussion Guide
Mark – The Feeding of the 5,000
Icebreakers:

1. What is the most desolate place that you have ever visited?  (Describe it in a couple of sentences)
2. If you were out in the wilderness, what are the essential “things” that you would need to sustain life?
3. Where would you “find” food if there was no supply of food at your local grocery store?

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44 NASB95
The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. [31] And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) [32] They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. [33] The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. [34] When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. [35] When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late; [36] send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” [37] But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” [38] And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” [39] And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. [40] They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. [41] And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. [42] They all ate and were satisfied, [43] and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. [44] There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.
 
Digging Deeper: The feeding of the 5,000 is an epic miracle.  Think about it: 5 small barley loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men.  What does this tell us about God’s ability to provide?  When Jesus commanded the disciples to feed the crowd they reacted with doubt; but Jesus, once again, demonstrated that He was indeed, “God in the flesh!” 
Read verses 30-32:  [30] The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. [31] And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) [32] They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. authority to cover the ministry of the disciples?

• Notice that Mark identifies the 12 disciples as the apostles.  (Since Mark is writing about past events, he identifies the disciples as they are going to be in the future as apostles leading the church)
• In terms of ministry, what is the benefit of resting away from the crowds?

 
Read verses 33 and 34: [33] The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. [34] When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

• How would you define compassion?  (How did compassion motivate Jesus when it came to His public ministry?)

• How does Jesus’ view of the crowds, “sheep without a shepherd,” relate to the general culture of America today?
• What are some of the “signs” that our culture is directionless?

Read verses 35-37: [35] When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late; [36] send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” [37] But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?”

• What do you think was motivating the disciples when they suggested that Jesus should send the crowds away?
• Why would the disciples have considered Jesus command, “You give them something to eat,” beyond their ability to accomplish?  (Does God give us commands that are beyond our ability to accomplish in the flesh alone?)

 
Read verses 38-44: [38] And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” [39] And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. [40] They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. [41] And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. [42] They all ate and were satisfied, [43] and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. [44] There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.

• Put yourself in the disciples’ shoes; how much confidence would you have had in fulfilling Jesus’ command when you realized that you only had 5 loaves and a few fish?
• How much food do you think a crowd of 5,000 men could consume?
• What do you think Jesus’ motivation was in doing this miracle?

 
Wrap-up: Often we look at the resources we have and find ourselves somewhat “short” of what we feel we need in order to fulfill God’s mission.  What Jesus proved in this miracle is that He can take a little and make it into much.