2.  The direct teaching                                  in this miracle is the                               analogy of the 5 barley                          loaves; we who are                                     given to Christ are                                       taken, blessed,                                           broken and given.

3.  Verse 19 states                                     when the boy gave the loaves and fish to Jesus, Jesus did 4 things: He took the bread, he blessed the bread, and he broke the bread and gave it all.

4.  Point One: Once we have been taken, Jesus blesses us.

5.  An experience Chip Meadows and I will never forget.

6.  Light is powerful, commanding, uncovering, drawing, and freeing. You live in the light! Don’t turn the light off too soon! Don’t live in darkness forfeiting the power of the light. Once we’ve been taken, Jesus blesses us; live in the light!

7.  Point Two: After we are taken and blessed living in the light, Jesus breaks us.

       a.  This is an important part of God’s purpose in your life. If Jesus had not broken the bread they could not have been distributed to the hungry people.

        b.  In order to be tools for God's kingdom we must be broken.

8.  Point Three: Once we are broken Jesus gives us in service. Your faith without works is dead. We’re taken to follow Jesus as blessed, broken and given.

9.  Look around you. People are starving for love and companionship. Why don't you help us? What is holding you back from helping        people in your world?

10.  He’s moving on us right now as we are preparing for the ministry of light. Keep your ears, eyes, and heart open! God turned His flashlight on and His light is leading us to a ministry all can be involved in.

11.  As you walk in the light, Jesus will give you; a new you: new and improved by the hands of God's son. And God will use you to minister to others.

12.  This is why you can come to His table in the confidence of His love for you. He’s given you light, and he empowers you to walk in the light. Will you let your light shine?


Publisher's note: Dr Dan Hogan is the Senior Minister of Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church in Hurricane. He joined the staff in June of 1998. Hogan is a graduate of Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, and completed his doctoral work at Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, New Jersey.  He and his wife, Nelda, have two sons, Johnathan and Andrew.

PutnamLIVE.com invites Putnam County pastors to submit a column each week for publication-free of charge as a spiritual outreach to the community. The subject matter may be selected by the pastor. Please submit columns to:
News@PutnamLIVE.com.

Columns will be rotated among each pastor so that a variety of pastors will have an opportunity for publication.

PutnamLIVE.com reserves the right to edit for space, grammar, and publication style, but will not change the integrity of editorial content.