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Read Mark 6:1-21.

Today is the 9th Sunday of Pentecost.  During Pentecost, we grow closer to God and closer to one another.

This week, we hear how Jesus had been healing many people who were sick and then a huge crowd of people came to hear him and hoped they would see him perform a miracle.  When it came time to have lunch, Jesus’ disciples didn’t know what they were going to do.  They didn’t have any food and they didn’t have money to buy food either.

Let’s watch this video together to hear what happened:

When it was time for lunch, Jesus told the disciple to have the people sit down.  There were more than 5,000 men, women, and children.  Andrew found a child who had brought 5 small loaves of bread and 2 fish for his lunch.  That certainly wasn’t going to feed more than 5,000 people!   But the boy was willing to share his lunch.  He gave it to Jesus.

Jesus took the 5 small loaves of bread and 2 fish, gave thanks to God, blessed it, and shared it with all of the people who were there.  Everyone ate all that they wanted.  When they were finished, Jesus had the disciples collect the leftovers.  There were enough leftover pieces of bread that it filled 12 large baskets!

Everyone was amazed by what happened.  Jesus had performed another miracle!

The miracle began because the child was willing to share their lunch – what they had with Jesus and with others and Jesus was able to multiply it so that everyone was able to eat, have enough, and there were 12 large baskets of leftovers.

It’s a good thing that the child didn’t think that they were too young or unimportant to help or make a difference.  It’s a good thing that the child didn’t think that what they had wasn’t enough to make a difference.  It’s important for us to remember that Jesus can use us and what we have to make a difference for others.  When we are willing to share what we have and share ourselves, we never know what a important difference we can make with Jesus’ help!

Discuss

  • What is your favorite thing to have for lunch?
  • If you were the child in this story, would it be difficult for you to share your lunch?  Why or why not?
  • What do you have that you could share for Jesus to bless and share with others?

Song

In You Alone. LifeTree Kids.

Activity

Make a bread dough cross.  Mix ¼ cup of flour, 2 tablespoons of salts, and 2 tablespoons of warm water together.  Knead like bread dough.  Shape into a cross shape.  Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or until cross is hard.  Use crayons, markers, or paint to decorate.

This bread dough cross can remind you of Jesus blessing and multiplying the 5 small loaves of bread to feed the 5,000 plus people in today’s gospel.

Activity

How can your family respond to those who are hungry in your community?  Can you donate food items to a food pantry?  Can you make food and donate to a feeding ministry?  Can you learn more about hunger issues by going to elca.org/hunger and looking at the resources there?

Closing Prayer

God, we thank for you for Jesus who fed more than 5,000 with just 5 small loaves of bread and 2 fish.  Help us respond to the needs of hungry people in our community.  Thank you for your love which never ends.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home.  There will be a new one for each Sunday while we are unable to gather together physically in our congregational buildings.  Contact him at dfugate@iksynod.org.