AWANA Message: “Give it Away”

It is quite often that we can see some people, normally homeless person, standing by the road and begging for money. Normally if I have some cash, I would like to give out several dollars. Last week when I gave some cash to a old woman at Santa Clara, she showed appreciation as normally, but she impressed me so much by saying: “God bless you! See you in the other end of the world”…

Normally we are willing to give something away, the reason could be as following:

1. Because other people need it.
2. Because we have extra.
3. Because we want to demo that we are good citizens with good deeds
4. …

But today we will go to bible to study this topic: Give it away!

 1. A Big Challenging Situation

John6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Key points:

1. a great crowd is in great need for food
2. Being asked by Jesus, disciple Philip think there is no way and no resource to feed all the people 
3. Jesus already know how to do

2. A little Give Away

John6:8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Questions:

1. Any adults come out for help?
2. Who come out to help?
3. What he provides? Is that enough?

Key point:

This boy’s Mom only prepare 5 loaves and 2 fish as the dinner bag for this little boy. But he is willing to give it away.

3. A Great Wonder

John6:10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Key points:

1. Jesus give Thanks first to God first before he distibute the food. We should alway give Thanks first even for anything coming in the future.
2. A miracle happened: feed 5000 men + 12 baskets leftover.
3. The little boy experienced the most wonderful miracle after he gave away the 5 loaves and 2 fish.

4. Application: Give it away

1. Giving little away to people in need since people need it
2. Giving little away to mighty God is NOT because God need it (v6. he already had in mind what he was going to do)
3. Giving little away to God because we want God use it and so we can experience the wonder from God.

When we grow up, we should be willing to give our gift to God and his church. Once God use our gift, He will let us experience him. This is a great way to experience Emmanuel!