Whether you are here in person or engaging from home, we are thankful you have chosen to worship with us today. If it is your first time, welcome! we would love to get to know you better. Would you consider filling out our Next Steps card and let us know you stopped by?

At Grace Family we focus our worship on Sunday to impact our lives every other day of the week as well. We also believe no one is perfect but everyone is welcome to worship God with us. So, no matter where you're from, what you've done, or what your week has been like, let's worship God and learn from His word together today.

Mark 6:30-31

"30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat."

Rest is a gift and commandment from God.

Do you ever just sit with Jesus and tell him about everything going on?

Sometimes what Jesus requires of us is not doing more but resting more.

Mark 6:32-33

"32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. "

Thousands of people are chasing Jesus.

Mark 6:34

"34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."

Jesus sees them and not just the aggravation they are causing.

People aren't just problems to Jesus.

Mark 6:35-38

"35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. 36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”

37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money[g] to buy food for all these people!” 38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”"

The mom who packed her kid a snack is who God used to provide in this story.

The disciples thought 5 loaves and 2 fish were going to prove their point.

Mark 6:39-44

"39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred. 41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed."

When the disciples thought they didn't have enough, Jesus knew they had plenty.

When we know Jesus we should start seeing earthly problems as opportunities for God to work.

Mark 6:45-49

"45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning[i] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. "

Why would Jesus pass by them?

Two examples of God passing by in the OT:

1. Moses (Exodus 33-34)

2. Elijah (Kings 19)

Mark 6:50

"50 They were all terrified when they saw him.

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!"

“I AM”

ἐγώ εἰμι (egō eimi)

Exodus 3:14 - “I AM WHO I AM."

Jesus shows he is God by walking on water.

Jesus tells them he is God when he gets in the boat.

The wind becomes calm again. 

Mark 6:51-52

51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,  52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in."

You don't have to have God figured out for him to use you.

You don't have God figured out when he does use you.

Don't be so hard-headed that you can't see Jesus when he is right in front of you.

Mark 6: 53-56

"53 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore 54 and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, 55 and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed."

If you've got a problem, give Jesus what you've got and let him work.

See Jesus for who he is when he does what only he can do.

Be with Jesus more.

Give Jesus what you've got.

See Jesus for who he is.

Use the space below to ask a question and one of our pastors will get back to you!

Every week we spend time praying for your requests at our staff meeting. Submit your request below and we will be sure to pray for you this week!