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25

Jesus fed the five thousand men

Luke 9: 1-17

  • Session: 25
  • Week: 4
  • Day: 4
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Introduction

In this session, Luke 9: 1-17, Jesus sent out the agents of change to the short practicum in mission. He explained to them what to do or not to do in the mission field. After giving their mission report, Jesus slipped away to a lonely place for them to rest and reflect, but when the crowds showed up, Jesus used this time to introduce the agents of change, the principles of mentor and mentee co-working.

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Understood principles of mentorship, namely: mentors first do it, and mentees watch, then both mentor and mentees do it together, then mentees do it as the mentor watches.

Outline

  • Short-term mission and its report
  • Principles of mentorship

Group Study Time

Luke 9: 1-17

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • Read Luke 9: 1- 6. Describe the mood of the agents of change when they were sent out for the first time to practice what they had learned? List 5 things they were expected to engage in during this mission. List 5 instructions given out to guide them.
  • What confused Herod when he had what Jesus was doing? What did he seek to do? Luke 9: 7- 9.
  • Why did Jesus slip away quietly to Bethsaida after hearing the apostles’ mission report? Luke 9: 10.
  • Read Luke 9: 11-17. Retell the story in 2 minutes? List 3 negative human thinking and reactions when the apostles encountered difficulties in feeding the five 5000 men, besides women and children.
  • Refer to Luke 9: 11-17. List 3 positive aspects of Jesus’ thinking and actions when he encountered the massive feeding of the five thousand men.
  • List three lessons Jesus taught his agents of change in this massive mission.

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Jesus fed the five thousand men

Luke 9: 1-17

Luke 9:1-17

Context

  • Jesus, as the desire of nations (Haggai 2:7), comes to a people in the valley of the shadow of death, offering peace, salvation, and healing from captivity.
  • The passage illustrates what happens when Jesus sends disciples as agents of change to practice His teachings, and lessons learned in working with Him.

Sending Disciples and Feeding the Multitude (Luke 9:1-17)

  • Jesus Empowers and Sends the Twelve: Jesus calls the 12 disciples, gives them power and authority over demons and to heal diseases; sends them to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal the sick.
  • Instructions for Mission: Take nothing extra—no staff, bag, food, money, extra tunic; stay in welcoming houses, shake dust off feet if not received as judgment against that place.
  • Disciples’ Ministry: They go out, preach the gospel from village to village, and heal everywhere.
  • Herod’s Perplexity: Herod hears reports, perplexed about Jesus’ identity—some say John risen, Elijah appeared, or ancient prophet returned; Herod desires to see Jesus.
  • Disciples Return and Report: Apostles return, report to Jesus what they did; He takes them aside for rest, but crowds follow.
  • Feeding the 5000: Jesus welcomes the crowd (about 5000 men), speaks about the kingdom, heals the needy; as day ends, disciples urge sending crowd away for food and lodging, but Jesus says to feed them; disciples note only 5 loaves and 2 fish available—insufficient unless buying more.
  • Miracle of Multiplication: Jesus instructs seating crowd in groups of 50; takes loaves and fish, looks to heaven, blesses, breaks, gives to disciples to distribute; all eat and are satisfied, with 12 baskets of leftovers collected.
  • Three Formulas of Processing Agents of Change:
    • Observe Jesus work (e.g., disciples watch Him teach and heal).
    • Work with Jesus (e.g., disciples distribute multiplied food).
    • Jesus sends and observes, disciples report (e.g., sent to preach/heal, return and report).
  • Purpose: Sending disciples empowers them to proclaim the kingdom and heal; the miracle shows Jesus’ provision and disciples’ role in distribution, teaching collaboration in ministry.

Application

  • Allow Jesus to process you as an agent of change through observation, collaboration, and independent ministry with reporting; trust His empowerment and provision to overcome limitations in serving others.
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How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

  • Mobile Friendly PDF
  • Print Friendly PDF
  • Full Study PDF

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!