Sermons

“I’m starving!”

When is the last time that was even close to true? Most of us could say sometimes “I’m really hungry “and then solve the problem with a trip to the kitchen or the nearest store. For hundreds of millions of people hunger is a daily companion and avoiding starvation is a seasonal battle.

• A child dies from hunger related causes every 11 seconds
• 1 in 5 people live on less than $1.90 per day
• 2.5 billion people (more than 1/3 of the planet’s population) do not have access to proper sanitation. (Interestingly, 6 billion have access to cell phones)
• About 795 million people are undernourished globally.

This Sunday we will learn what Christ taught about hunger and what we can do about it. Jesus was not just the friend to sinners but the champion of the poor. Sometime we all feel like What can we do for so many? Well Jesus shows us what He can do with our obedience.

Mat 15:32-34 | And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples *said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” And Jesus *said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”

This Sunday, we will hear what Jesus can do when we pay attention to needs and give Him what we have. There will be special testimonies and presentations that you won’t want to miss.

Blessings, Joe

WORLD HUNGER SUNDAY

Please pray for the services that people will come and God will be known to them.
Please plan to faithfully attend a worship service and small group
Please consider the following scripture and prepare to discuss the questions.

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me – Philippians 4:11-13

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

• What does it mean to be content?
• What is the secret of being content?
  

  1Ti 6:6-8 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

• From the bible what should be the standard for contentment?
  
• How can having the right foundation for contentment makes us more willing to help the poor?
  

  1Ti 6:8-10 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

  1Ti 6:17-19 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

• Why is it so easy for us to be blind to the needs of others?
  

  1Jn 3:16-18 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lie down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but indeed and truth.

• What are ways we can close our hearts to the poor?
  

  “Drop by drop the bucket fills.”

  This Swahili proverb reveals the enduring truth that individual actions add up. What one person does about world hunger often seems to be “just a drop in the bucket.” But everybody adding drops can fill the bucket. Here are some suggestions for what one person can do in a hungry world:

Which one of these might you do?

• Pray on a daily basis for the hungry and the wisdom to act in a hungry world. Make prayer about hunger as central as prayer about other personal concerns.
• Study what the Bible says about the poor and the hungry.
  
• Give to the hunger ministries of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and International Mission Boards. Southern Baptists have increased giving to worldwide hunger relief on average, but we are still giving less than $1 per person each year.
• Read a book about the hunger issues this year.
• Volunteer to serve once a month at a shelter for the homeless, soup kitchen, or food bank in your community.
• Grow a garden for the elderly and needy in your community.
• Talk with fellow church members about the problem of hunger and the Bible’s call to Christians to care for the hungry.