3.3.24 Signs & Wonders: “Miracles Through Us”
Luke 9:10-17, Ephesians 3:16-21 (CEB)
Dear Trinity Family & Friends:
Our Lenten Series, “Signs and Wonders,” has certainly gotten off to a compelling start. I don’t know about you, but being intentional to look for God’s continuous miraculous work around and within my life, my family, our congregation, and our community has made a big difference for me. I am sensing a vibrancy and energy that, all too often, I ashamedly tend to miss. As I begin each day this Lent, I seek expectantly for what God will do…
This Sunday, we continue this series focusing on Luke’s account of Jesus miraculously feeding five thousand people with the same amount of bread and fish I would typically feed my family of four. For Trinity, a congregation passionate about feeding our fellow brothers and sisters who find themselves hungry, I believe this particular miracle has inspired us to do much of the mission ministry we do with First Stop, Meals to Grow, Meals on Wheels, Food for Thought, and more. In other words, Trinity loves answering God’s call to feed others - so this miracle means a lot to us!
In this passage, Jesus commands the disciples to feed the crowd. As the disciples consider the scope of Jesus’ ask, they get a little snarky and almost miss a life-changing ministry opportunity for the crowd - and for themselves. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t allow that to happen. Jesus knows the crowd needs feeding and the disciples need stretching to realize that so much “beyond all that we could ask or imagine” is possible if we will only open ourselves up to God working miracles through us!
As we prepare for this week, here are a few questions to consider:
- Where have you seen God do something that you didn’t think was possible? What did that experience teach, create, or establish within you?
- As you consider God’s call on your life to share in ministry with others, what power, ability, strength, and capacity do you depend on? Only what you can do? Or also what God can do through you?
- Is there a big need stirring in your heart that you feel too overwhelmed to act on? Does it seem foolish or courageous for you to consider asking God to work a miracle through you in response to that need?
This Sunday, we will also celebrate Holy Communion in both the 9 am Traditional and 10:30 am Contemporary worship services. I encourage you to invite someone to worship with you. Who knows? God may be calling you both to the same miraculous work in the world!
Blessings,
Pastor Carrie