***The main idea: We lead our children and other people toward Jesus by showing them that God is beautiful to us, not just useful to us.*** Sharing the Gospel of Jesus with someone is called “evangelism.” Evangelism means to share the Gospel of Jesus for the purpose of encouraging someone to believe it because we care for them. (Below is an abbreviated sermon outline and sample questions) The journey we take toward faith in Jesus: #1: A useful prophet #2: A religious transaction #3: Deep hunger and deep thirst #4: A sovereign God #5: Rich relationship with a beautiful God #1: A useful prophet – John 6:1-21 -The people follow Jesus because they “saw the signs” (vs. 2). They don’t see Jesus for who He is yet. They just see what He can do. We all start here. We look into Jesus to see what He can do for us. Jesus can help your depression, fix your self-image, heal your marriage, help your children, give you a better family, fill you with joy, help you face death, give you courage, etc #2: A religious transaction – John 6:22-34 -The crowd of people are looking for Jesus the next day (vs. 24). They are ready for the next meal. They’re interested in a simple transactional relationship. They listen and do what Jesus says, then He gives them food. This is what all religion without the Gospel ultimately is. I pray, you keep my family healthy. I give, you protect me from financial ruin. I read my Bible, you take away bad feelings. I help others, you make my life go more smoothly. I do the religious stuff, you give me paradise. -In verse 29 Jesus says the heart of our work is to believe. Now this may sound odd, but if you think about it, it’s completely true. Why do we get anxious about worldly things? Because we don’t believe in God’s Fatherhood. We’re living like orphans. Why do we fret about losing things? Because we fear God can’t sustain us or fulfill us or maybe that He doesn’t even really see us. All of your internal problems with fear, anxiety, and other controlling emotions ultimately stem from unbelief. #3: Deep Hunger and Deep Thirst – John 6:35-42 -Jesus is now explicitly claiming some things about Himself that don’t align with any other prophet of any other religion. All other prophets say: ‘I’ll show you the way. Follow these truths. Here’s the way. Do these things.’ But not Jesus. He says: ‘I, personally, am the bread of life. I’m not a signpost that directs you to some deeper truth. I am truth personified, life personified, joy personified.’ Verse 35 is powerful. I am the bread of life. Jesus is talking about a kind of hunger and thirst that is spiritual. And he’s exposing the reality that our fig leaves can’t really cover us. (Adam and Eve. When sin entered the world, the Fall of Man left a void. They covered their nakedness with fig leaves. Metaphorically, we cover our nakedness with all kinds of worldly things.) -Questions: Why are we never secure enough? Why is it never enough approval? Never enough savings? Never enough sweets? Never enough provocative images? Never enough assurance of the future? Never certainty that we’re okay? Never enough self-esteem? These are all fig leaves. And Jesus is gently showing us that we’re still naked. There’s only one way to deal with that hunger and thirst that won’t go away – surrender to Jesus. Make Him our bread. Personal relationship with Him. We don’t need a principle. We need a person, and only Jesus is enough. –Takeaway: Help people sense their spiritual hunger and thirst. For kids: Why is it never enough play time? Never enough of doing what we want? Never enough good times? We don’t want our kids to learn from us that something in this world can plaster over that hunger and thirst. We turn to Jesus. He meets us in all seasons, all struggles, all deficits. He is our security, our hope, our joy. #4: A sovereign God – John 6:43-52 -Look at verses 43-44. Do we, in our infinite wisdom, decide whether or not to find life in Jesus? No. We’re not the ones who can hold a lightning bolt. We come to Jesus only as the Father draws us. How does that make you feel? It should make you feel powerless, because that’s what we are. It should make you feel humbled. #5: Rich relationship with a beautiful God – John 6:53-69 -Look at verse 56: We are invited to remain in Jesus, and Jesus in us. This is no distant transaction. This is love. This is commitment. This is through thick and thin. This is a God who loves us not for what we can do, but because He loves us. And He says to us: Will you only love me for what I do, or will you love me simply because I am the God who created you and loves you? -Look at verse 66: Many of the disciples left. Now listen, if you find God useful, but not beautiful, when the hard things come (vs. 60), you will turn back. And if you model for your children that you follow God just because He’s useful, but not beautiful, you will have a faith that doesn’t shine in suffering. It doesn’t shine in times of trouble. It won’t say what Peter said: Where else could I go? No one is like you, God. I believe in you even when they all turn away. Sample Questions for GCs: #1 – Read John 6:28-29. Jesus says the work of God is to believe. Our biggest personal problems are a result of not believing what Jesus says: our worries, our fears, our resentments, our stubbornness, our self-reliance – all of these things are rooted in unbelief. So think of it this way — Traditional religion says: Obeying God begins with changing what you do. But Jesus says: Obeying God begins with changing what you believe. Now discuss this question: In light of your personal problems and controlling emotions, what “work” of believing do you need to be doing? #2: Read John 6:35. This is not just a nice thought. This is reality. Jesus is the source of life, and only He can satisfy our deep hunger and thirst for identity, security, meaning, hope, joy, and love. Therefore, if we want to lead our children and friends toward Jesus, we must help them see that nothing in this world (not even the best things) can fill this deep hunger and thirst. Now discuss this 2-part question: When you wander from Jesus, where do you start looking for your “bread of life?” If you don’t repent of this, how will it mislead those around you to see God as only useful, and not beautiful? #3: Read John 6:63. Notice the strong words of Jesus: “The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all.” This means we cannot do the work in ourselves or in others that must be done. Only God can do it. Our flesh is no help at all. Now take some time to pray for one another and ask God to help you fully surrender to Him.