Sermon by Pastor Nathan Johnson, July 13, 2025
Have you ever felt like what you have to offer is insignificant? That your talents, resources, or abilities are too small to make a real difference? It’s a common feeling, but one that overlooks a profound spiritual truth: in God’s hands, even the smallest offering can become something extraordinary.
This truth is beautifully illustrated in one of Jesus’ most famous miracles – the feeding of the 5,000. Picture the scene: a vast crowd of hungry people, far from any town or marketplace. The disciples, faced with this overwhelming need, feel helpless. They suggest sending the crowd away to fend for themselves. But Jesus has a different plan.
Enter a young boy with a simple lunch – five small barley loaves and two fish. It’s barely enough for one person, let alone thousands. Yet this meager offering becomes the catalyst for an astounding miracle. In Jesus’ hands, this “happy meal” transforms into a feast for multitudes, with plenty left over.
This story isn’t just about physical hunger; it’s a powerful metaphor for how God works in our lives. Too often, we look at what we have – our skills, our resources, our faith – and think, “But what good is this?” We discount our own potential, forgetting that with God, nothing is impossible.
The disciples’ reaction is all too familiar. They saw the boy’s lunch and said, “What good is that with this huge crowd?” It’s a phrase dripping with contempt, disdain, and discouragement. How often do we echo these sentiments in our own lives? We look at our bank accounts, our jobs, our homes, our families, and instead of gratitude, we feel disappointment. “What good is this?” becomes a robber, stealing our joy, peace, and gratitude.
But Jesus doesn’t engage with this negativity. Instead, He simply says, “Bring it to me.” This is the crux of the matter – when we bring what we have, no matter how small, to Jesus, miracles can happen. What people call insignificant, the Lord can make significant. What seems insufficient, God makes more than enough.
This principle applies to every aspect of our lives. Your life has potential in the Savior’s hands. Your mind, when given to the Lord, can achieve more than you ever imagined. Your talents, no matter how modest they may seem, can be used mightily for the Kingdom when surrendered to God.
The key word here is “surrender.” There’s a profound difference between commitment and surrender. Commitment still leaves us in control, deciding how much we’ll give. Surrender, on the other hand, means lifting our hands and saying, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give.”
When Jesus received the boy’s lunch, the first thing He did was give thanks. This is a powerful lesson. No matter how small our blessings may seem, we should always start with gratitude. If all you have is a “little hoopty” (an old car), thank God you’re not walking. If you’re walking, thank Him for healthy feet. Living in a small house? Be grateful you’re not on the streets. Cultivating this attitude of gratitude opens the door for God to work miracles in our lives.
After giving thanks, Jesus began to distribute the food. We don’t know exactly when the miracle occurred, but we know that suddenly, there was more than enough. Everyone ate until they were satisfied – not just a small portion, but “all they wanted.” And remarkably, after feeding thousands, they gathered twelve baskets full of leftovers!
This abundance is characteristic of how God works. When we give Him our all, He doesn’t just meet our needs – He provides abundantly beyond what we could ask or imagine. Those leftovers remind us that God’s blessings often extend beyond the immediate need, providing for future situations we can’t even foresee.
The miracle so impressed the crowd that they declared Jesus must be “the prophet we’ve been expecting.” Indeed, Jesus is the one we’ve all been looking for, whether we realize it or not. He’s the one who can turn our lives around, who came for us, died for us, and rose again for us.
So, what does this mean for us today? It’s an invitation to trust God with whatever we have. Maybe you feel your faith is small – bring it to Jesus. Perhaps your talents seem insignificant—offer them to the Lord. Your resources might appear limited – surrender them to God’s purposes.
Remember, God uses ordinary people—people just like you and me—who are willing to do as He commands. He takes those who give their all, no matter how small that “all” might be, and does extraordinary things through them.
As you go about your day, week, and life, consider what you’re holding back from God. What areas of your life are still under your control rather than surrendered to Him? What gifts, talents, or resources have you discounted as insignificant?
Take a moment to thank God for what you have, even if it doesn’t seem like much. Then, in an act of faith, surrender it all to Him. Say, “Lord, here’s what I have. It might not seem like much, but I give it all to You. Use it as You will.”
When we do this—when we place our lives fully in the Master’s hands—that’s when we see miracles. That’s when little truly becomes much. And that’s when our ordinary lives become extraordinary testimonies to God’s power and love.