Give Them Something To Eat

Hello all!

Once more, this is Thomas Blocker, Garden Church Ministry intern! Hope you're staying cool this warm summer week! As we move into August, I'm preparing to preach on the feeding of the five thousand from the Gospel of Matthew. At the same time, I'm also realizing that my time as a Ministry Intern at the Garden Church is drawing to a close. This summer has shown me many wonders: through the beauty of creation and through the people I have been blessed to meet. As I reflect on these past couple of months, the word that keeps coming to mind is hope. And in this Scripture passage we see a well-known story, the miracle of five loaves and two fish being multiplied to feed a whole crowd of people. This story is the only story besides the resurrection present in all four Gospels; so why is this story so important to Jesus’ ministry that it could not be left out? What is the message that we need to hear? 

In this story, we see the disciples facing a problem of scarcity—by every reasonable measure; they don't have enough. Five loaves and two fish could never feed such a crowd. Yet Jesus sees something different. He takes what seems insufficient, blesses it, and transforms it into more than enough.

In our own lives today, what are the loaves and fishes—the gifts, opportunities, or abilities we already have that we tend to overlook because they seem too small? And how might our perspective change if we entrusted those gifts to God, allowing them to become not only blessings in our own lives but blessings for others as well?

Thank you for indulging my questions in this post! I thought I'd share them in case you'd like to continue the conversation if you see me around the Garden.

Although our summer Bible study has come to an end, I am deeply grateful for everyone who participated and for all the meaningful theological conversations we've shared. You have been a blessing to me. Listening to the unique ways each of you lives out the Gospel through your words and actions has strengthened my own faith and ministry. Thank you for welcoming me into this community. My hope is that, whatever gifts we have been given, we will continue to place them in God's hands so that, together, we may feed more people—both physically and spiritually—than we ever thought possible.

Blessings be with you!

Thomas

Sunday Rhythm:

3pm Work Together

4pm Worship Together

5pm Eat Together

Come as you are, stay as you are able

All Are Welcome