“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 (NIV) “Give us today our daily bread.” This week we are looking at God’s provisions, our needs and how we can respond to God’s generosity.
Share Your Story What’s a basic need you’re dealing with in your life? What happens when you can’t meet that need on your own?
Find Your Story in God’s Story How is God providing for you? How is God using you to help meet the needs of the people around you? Often God’s provisions for you are also part of His provisions for others. When Jesus fed the four thousand, He included the disciples in distributing the fish and the loaves. During pregnancy, the nutrients for the mom also turn into the nutrients the mom provides for the child. God knows our hearts, and He knows that food and shelter aren’t the only things we need. We also need relationships and purpose, and by letting us be part of His work, He provides us with both.
The Kingdom Prayer
Welcome
WEEK
5
Let’s worship God together!
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Finding Direction Through the Lord’s Prayer
READ MATTHEW 6:25-34 What reminders of God’s abilities as a provider can we see in the world around us?
WATCH THE VIDEO
NorthlandChurch.net/TheKingdomPrayer Afterward have someone read the discussion questions in the “Hear God’s Story” section and start the conversation.
Hear God’s Story, and Create a New Story READ MATTHEW 15:29-39 Read the passages together, and then discuss the following questions. What kinds of needs brought people to Jesus in the first place (vv. 29-30)?
Connect & Grow
We know that God both can provide for us and wants to provide for us. What does that knowledge free us from struggling with? (v. 25) Instead of “worrying about tomorrow”, what should we do? (v33) How can your group help?
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READ 2 CORINTHIANS 8:9-11 Who is responsible for the possessions you already have? What has God blessed you with already that you can use to help another? How can your group and community help you identify what you have? What others need? How does your generosity affect others? How does it affect you?
Why did the crowds also need food? How did Jesus meet the need for their literal daily bread? Why did Jesus provide for those needs as well? Can you remember a time in your life when a practical need was provided for in an unexpected way? In the story “Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand,” Jesus starts by providing for needs people had been long aware of. What are some of the needs that you’re already looking to God for? How quickly do you look to God to help with areas of struggle? What can make it hard to look to God for help? Jesus used the food the disciples already had to meet needs in a way that exceeded the disciples’ expectations. Are there needs in your life that God’s already provided for? How can you express your gratitude for God’s provisions?
Looking for more questions and reflections so you can keep digging deeper? There’s even more to this week’s study available on Northland’s apps or at NorthlandChurch.net/Studies.
SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2017
DIGGING DEEPER
Matthew 6:9-13
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