An Animal Parable Bible Lesson – Jesus Feeds 5,000
Ask the animals and they will teach you — Job 12:7 NLT
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. — John 6:35 NIV
Introduction
This Bible devotion is intended to be used with the children’s story, The Gift That Kept Giving. Jesus often taught people using parables. In the same way, these stories and devotions are written to teach Bible truths to kids, teens, and people of all ages.Read the concepts below and look up the Bible verses associated with each one. Use the faith building exercise to build your faith.
Based on the feeding of the 5,000 story, this parable is about how a boy and his cat shared their lunch with Jesus. You can read the real story in your Bible at Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-15.
The Gift That Kept Giving – Key Concepts
A Parable About Giving
1. Michael, a Hebrew name which means “like God”, wanted to hear Jesus speak. Just like Michael, you should get to know everything about Jesus. When you imitate him, you too will be “like God”. Make it a daily priority to get to know Jesus. Don’t wait until Sunday morning. You will be glad to have him as your best friend.
John 8:12 – 10:27 – 12:26 – Ephesians 5:1-2 – 1 Peter 2:21
2. When Jesus instructed his apostles to give the people something to eat, they argued with him. They looked at their own resources and saw no way to feed the crowd. How often people place limits on what God can do. There is nothing that God can’t supply or do. Stop looking at circumstances. Read the Bible and know that all things are possible if you believe in Jesus. There is no limit with your unlimited God!
Job 42:1-2 – Matthew 19:26 – Mark 9:23 – Philippians 4:13
3. God cares about even the most ordinary of your needs. He gets no glory from His children suffering in poverty, poor health or lack. When you place your full trust in Jesus, God becomes your source for everything you need in life. You will lack no good thing.
Deuteronomy 30:9 – Psalm 23:5 – Matthew 6:25-34 – Luke 12:6-7 – John 10:10 – Philippians 4:19
4. Michael and Kenji agreed to share their meal with Jesus. They knew that Jesus was very capable of supplying their need. When you know that God is your source and will supply all your needs, it is much easier to share with others. The gifts can be to a church, a charity, or someone in need, but ultimately you are giving it to God. Like a planted seed grows and produces a harvest of abundance, the seed that you sow as a gift to God, will be multiplied back to you in due season.
Proverbs 3:9-10 – Malachi 3:10 – Luke 6:38 – Galatians 6:9
5. Just like God’s blessings can take many forms, your gifts can be many different things. A smile, friendship, money, food, or assistance, no matter what you give with love in your heart, God will multiply that gift and send you a tremendous harvest of blessings. Start looking for ways to give. Remember, you can never out give God.
Deuteronomy 28:2-13 – Proverbs 19:17 – 28:27 – 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 – Galatians 3:13-14
6. Jesus took Michael and Kenji’s small gift of bread and fish and thanked God for supplying food for the crowd. He had faith in God that there would be enough for everyone. After over 5,000 people ate and were satisfied, they still had 12 baskets left over! God is a God of abundance. When you trust Him, you will have abundance in every area of your life!
Deuteronomy 15:4 – Psalm 23:1 – 35:27 – 2 Corinthians 8:9
7. After Michael and Kenji returned home with the extra food, they immediately began to share it with their neighbors. This is why God wants to bless you. You are to share the abundance, love, joy and forgiveness you receive from God with all your neighbors.
Luke 3:11 – Galatians 6:9-10 – Ephesians 4:28-32 – Hebrews 13:16
Putting It All Together
As God blesses you and directs you, you need to give to others.
When you share your blessings with others, you are giving to God and He will bless and multiply all your gifts back to you in due season.
When you make God your source, you will lack no good thing.
It is God’s will that you have abundance in every area of your life so you can share with others.
Faith Building Exercise
Say these out loud every day until you believe them in your spirit. They will build your faith. Look up these verses and read them as they appear in your Bible. You can always trust God’s Word because He cannot lie.
God is love. God loves me. Love never fails!
(Deuteronomy 23:5; 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 John 4:8)
The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
(Psalm 23:1)
My God supplies everything I need.
(Philippians 4:19)
I trust in Jesus and receive an abundance of blessings!
(Proverbs 28:20; Philemon 4-6)
I give cheerfully and God gives me even more!
(Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
The Lord has pleasure in my prosperity.
(Psalm 35:27)
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