Text Messages

Text Messages focus on the backstory of the upcoming text for this Sunday’s sermon. Provided by our pastors, these messages will give some background on that section of scripture text and give a few hints about where the sermon might be going. We hope you find these Text Messages helpful!

Sunday, July 28, 2024

MESSAGE THEME:
“Abundance”

TEXTS:
Ephesians 3:14–21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

John 6:1–21

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

REFLECTION:
From Pastor Chris Enstad

I am continually amazed at the generosity of time, talent, and treasure in and around Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities. I believe this generosity is a fruit of the Holy Spirit of abundance and confident faith that has been lived out amongst God’s people in Minneapolis, Minnetonka, and beyond for decades. As we move into this next chapter of our life together, we will be called, once again, to place our faith and trust in God’s immeasurable love and ability to meet our needs. I am curious what that will look like for us as a faith community. Still, I am not anxious about it, for, just like Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians and the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, God’s provision is both abundant and powerful, way beyond our expectations.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  • How have you experienced the power of Christ’s love in your life recently?
  • As a community, how can we be like the boy who offered his loaves and fish, trusting God to multiply our offerings to bless others?

PRAYER:
Gracious and loving God, we come before You with open hearts, grateful for Your endless love and mighty power. Help us to comprehend the breadth and depth of Christ’s love and to trust in Your provision, just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish. Strengthen our inner being by Your Spirit so that we may live boldly in faith and love. Use us to bless others, offering what we have with trust in Your ability to do more than we can ask or imagine. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.