Protect Your Life from Materialism.

Class Outline:

Wednesday May 7, 2025

 

Main idea: Jesus’ response to the disciple’s materialistic thinking is to put them into service. 

 

Intro: 

 

The Lord spontaneously makes a banquet. The Lord is not discouraged by circumstances but finds in them the opportunity and improvises. 

 

Attending is the natural mind, 1CO 2:14

 

The disciples are still stuck in earthly, materialistic thinking (3rd soil: cares of the age).

 

The all-important theme that arises is the choice of heaven and earth.

 

1CO 15:42-49. 

 

This mindset is illusive. It is because we are surrounded by materialism and materialists.

 

Text: MAT 14:13-21. 

 

Abruptness of the disciples. They tell Jesus what time it is, where He is, and what He needs to do. 

 

Application: The material world is going to consistently envelope us in difficulties; not only outside us, but also inside us. 

 

We can imagine that God doesn’t see the issue, or know of it, but He has known it far deeper than you and has for billions of years. 

 

Jesus’ response - kindness, not rebuke, and getting them into the game. 

 

“You give them something to eat.” (testing - rather than a theological discussion at this time it is best to get to work - “Go and do.”)

 

By calling us into service, the impossible cannot remain a thought experiment. 

 

Not in our nature (old nature - surety, security, predictability, comfort.)

 

PSA 119:100

I am even wiser than my elders,

for I have kept your commandments. [NLT]

 

Many Christians do not mature because the life of Christ (impossible) remains a thought experiment. They do not serve as He commands. 

 

MAR 9:23; MAT 19:26; LUK 1:37. (possible vs. impossible)

 

When the material world is the backdrop, the stage is set for the impossible. 

 

Examples of doing:

 

Product engineer.

 

Be curious: curiosity makes every new and invites exploration.

 

Try stuff: When you have a bias to action you are committed to building your way forward.

 

Reframe problems: This is how you get unstuck.

(Andrew, “what are these for so many”: JOH 6:9.) 

 

Know that it’s a process: Mistakes are made; failures happen.

 

Ask for help: Designers know that radical collaboration is perhaps most important. Prayer and utilizing the body of Christ. 

 

Examples of doing in Scripture: 

 

Elijah and Gehazi not enough food: 2KI 4:42-44. 

 

Jonathan and armor bearer against Philistine army: 1SA 14:6. 

 

Zerubbabel building the temple: ZEC 4:6, 10. 

 

Moses powerless: EXO 4:2.

 

Application:

 

You live the supernatural life of Christ in the world.

 

There is no inherent evil in the material world, but when it is the limitation or lord of your life, then you will not live.

 

God purposely sets our lives in trial so that our faith in life increases along with our endurance to remain in it in the face of the impossible (JOH 6:5; JAM 1:2-4)