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Give Your Gift: God Will Use It

The Story of Five Loaves of Bread and Two Fish
Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian



boy with a lunch

On a beautiful spring day, a young boy, carrying his picnic lunch, was skipping along the soft grass along a dusty road. He saw many people gathering on a hill by the lake just up ahead so, being curious, he took his small sack lunch and decided to join them. His mind was racing with questions as he darted in and out through the crowd, trying to make his way to the front so he could see just exactly what was happening. “What's going on? …I wonder why there are so many people here…. Is it a big party?” were some of the questions going through his mind.

He sucked in his breath and scrunched himself as small as possible to squeeze through the thick of the crowd. The boy nudged people to the left and right, and occasionally stumbled over someone's foot as he scrambled through the throng, but he finally made his way to the front where he discovered the reason for the huge gathering. A man named Jesus and some of his friends had arrived in a small fishing boat. The crowd of people was clamoring to get a good look at him.

The crowd of people was clamoring to get a good look at Jesus

Seeing the great multitude, Jesus and his friends decided to stay in the boat. Jesus stood up in the little boat and welcomed the people. He knew they had come to see him and he wasn't going to disappoint them. The people in the crowd were edging themselves closer and closer so they would to be able to hear what Jesus was saying. Minutes passed and even hours, but the people didn't grow tired of listening to Jesus. They had never heard anyone as interesting as this man. He had so many wonderful stories to tell, and they were hanging on to his every word.

It is getting late and none of them have eaten anything
the entire day As evening drew near, one of the disciples turned to Jesus and asked, “Shouldn't we send them away now? It is getting late, and none of them have eaten anything the entire day.”

Much to his surprise, Jesus answered him, “No, do not send them away. You find food to feed them.”

Looking around at the crowd that had continued to grow larger and larger, and hungrier and hungrier, the disciple was a little confused and bewildered. “But, Jesus!” he exclaimed, “There is no way we can feed this many people! It would take about EIGHT MONTHS to get enough food to satisfy this large crowd!”

As the disciples looked around the crowd wondering how they would ever be able to follow Jesus' wishes, one of the disciples saw the small boy with his lunch. The disciple knelt down and asked kindly, “Would you be willing to share your lunch?”

The boy jumped up and down in excitement and joyfully answered For Jesus I will gladly give it all The boy jumped up and down in excitement and joyfully answered, “For Jesus, I will gladly give it all!”

The disciple took the sack to Jesus, and said, “I found a little boy who was willing to give us his lunch. It is small, but here it is.”

Another disciple spoke up, “There are only five small loaves of bread and two tiny fish in there! How is that supposed to feed all these people?”

Jesus didn't take time to explain. He wanted each person to see for himself what was going to happen next. Jesus simply took the lunch; he broke the bread and fish into pieces, and he blessed it. Then he gave it to the disciples, and told them to feed the people. Even though they knew there wasn't going to be enough for everyone, they also knew it was better to obey Jesus than to try to argue with him.

They scattered themselves around the crowd and started passing out pieces of fish and pieces of bread They scattered themselves around the crowd and started passing out pieces of fish and pieces of bread. They walked and walked, stooping down to hand the food to the hungry people sitting on the hillside. They were so busy that they didn't even notice that their baskets were not getting empty. Finally when everyone had eaten enough to fill them up and it started getting very late, the crowd started dwindling as people began to go back to their own homes.

Jesus told his disciples to pick up baskets and collect all the leftovers so that nothing would be wasted. The disciples were startled as they stared at the sight before their eyes. As they gathered the leftovers, there was a buzz of excitement. “How amazing it is that Jesus could take a small boy's lunch and fill all these HUNGRY people!” one exclaimed.

“Yeah, and I've already picked up a WHOLE BASKET of pieces over here!” another yelled back.

“My basket is almost full also!” said another with awe. When they finished, they took it all to Jesus and began to count. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ELEVEN, TWELVE. TWELVE Baskets leftover!!!!! Wow! What a miracle Jesus had performed right there before their very eyes! Two little fish and five small loaves of bread had fed over FIVE THOUSAND people with plenty of food to spare!

bread and fish divider

Eight-year-old Kelsey enjoyed helping others. She really wanted to do something that would make a difference. She wasn't very big and she wasn't very strong; so many people didn't think there was much she could do. Some tried to discourage her and told her she had good intentions, but she should just wait until she was a little bigger.

Kelsey didn't like that idea at all. She didn't want to wait until she was bigger. It wasn't that she was impatient; she just saw so much that needed to be done and she wanted to help. She saw people to feed and yards to clean. She saw needs nobody else seemed to notice. She saw sad people that she just wanted to make happy, but all her friends, family, and even teachers said that she was too small. It wasn't like she wanted to go around the world! She just wanted to help the people she saw everyday. Oh, but the thought did occur that if she had the chance to go around the world, she wouldn't even have to stop and think! She was out of there!

Little girl giving her offering

At church on Sunday, she heard a missionary speaking of all the needs in a country far away. Kelsey was sad as she heard him speak because she was sure there was nothing she could do. Then she heard the missionary say something that made her bolt upright and listen with joy. “If you give just one dollar in a month, you could feed TEN people in another country far away.”

A big grin spread across Kelsey's face, as she understood just what she could do. “I CAN do that, and nobody can stop me!” Now her thoughts were not rebellious, just excited that she COULD finally do something and make a difference. Every month for many years Kelsey took her offering to church to help feed hungry people in a far away country. Plus, she always prayed for the people she was feeding halfway around the world. Kelsey was so happy and almost always had a smile on her face. She learned that she didn't have to be big to help others. Helping made her feel REALLY BIG in her heart.

bread and fish divider

THINK!

1. Why did the crowd gather on the hillside?
2. Why did the disciples want to send the people home?
3. What was in the little boy's lunch?
4. What did the disciple ask the little boy to do?
5. Did the little boy want to share his lunch?
6. How many people shared the little lunch?



REMEMBER!

You are never too young to offer your gift to God.



A VERSE TO LEARN

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).


PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Do you ever feel like the little girl in the story? Do ever feel like you want to help but aren't good enough or big enough?

[After discussion:] Well, Jesus wants you to know that it doesn't matter how big or how small; He wants to use all of you in an awesome way - not just when you're big, but right now! So why don't we pray and ask God to show you what He wants you to be doing for Him right now?



LET'S PRAY

Dog and boy praying

****************************************************
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me
something that I can give back to You.
Help me to give cheerfully knowing that, no matter
how small my gift may seem, You can turn it into
a miracle. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
****************************************************


CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?

John 6:1-15 and Luke 9:11-17


bread and fish divider

crayons

Jesus Multiplies the Bread and Fish (online)
Jesus Fed the People (online)
Jesus Feeds 5000 (online)
Miracles of Jesus (Bible Colour and Learn)

Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Gospel Story by Colors--Activity Book
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books


activities

Color, Cut, and Scramble Page 1 (online)
Color, Cut, and Scramble Page 2 (online)
Crossword Puzzle (online)
Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Word Search (online)
Feeding the 5000 Activities (online)
Five Loaves and Two Fish Magnets, Set of 12
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand Tales of Glory Play Set
Jesus Feeds the Multitude - Fill in the Blanks (online)
How Jesus Fed Five Thousand (online)

5-Minute Sunday School Activities:
Jesus' Miracles and Messages


New Testament Hidden Picture Puzzles
Coloring & Activity Book


Best Book of Bible Activities
Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1
Bingo
Children's Activity Books
Children's Puzzles
Christian and educational toys
Crossword Books
Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry
Games
Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4
Memory Verse Games for Kids
Sticker Books
The Humongous Book of Games for Children's Ministry
The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles


crafts

Danielle's Place: Jesus Feeds 5,000 Craft (online)
NLC: Jesus Feeds 5,000 Craft (online)

5-Minute Sunday School Activities:
Jesus' Miracles and Messages


Bible Crafts
Bible Crafts & More (Ages 3-6)
Crafting the Word of God

Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]


Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts

More! Bible Crafts on a Shoe String Budget:
Paper Sacks & Cardboard Tubes

(Reproducible: Ages 5-10)

Puppet Crafts For Kids



singing birds

Donut Man: One Basket (online)
Five Loaves and Two Fish (online)
Five Loaves, Two Fish (online)
5,000 Folks - Matthew Vol. 1 & 2 (online)
Little is Much When God is in It (online)
Loaves (online)
What Are Your Five Loaves and Two Fishes? (online)
With Five Loaves and Two Fish (online)

100 Ways To Know God Loves Me & 100 Songs
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
Bible Songs on CD
Bible Songs on DVD
150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids

Platinum Bible Collection of Classic Christian Songs on DVD
The Bible in a Minute (sing along)

25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
Children's Music



child reading a book

Amazing Miracles of Jesus
HOBC Bible Big Book: Jesus' Miracles
Jesus Feeds a Crowd
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand - eBook
Jesus Feeds the Hungry
Jesus Feeds The People

Jesus Is Bigger Than Me:
True Stories of His Miracles


Miracles of Jesus (I Can Read)
Miracles of Jesus (Little Golden Book)
One Big Story: Jesus' Miracles (board book)
Superbook: Jesus Feeds The Hungry hardcover
What's for Lunch? Arch Book Series

Beginner's Bible
Beginner's Bible for Little Ones
Bible in Pictures For Toddlers
Bible stories
Children's Books
Early Reader's Bible
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Pilgrim's Progress Comic
Spanish Children's Books

365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year


365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories
The Children's Illustrated Bible
The Picture Bible (also in Spanish)
The Preschooler's Bible
Toddler's Bible



CDs and DVDs

A Little Boy Shares (online)
Animated Bible Stories: Miracles of Jesus (watch online)
Bible Adventure: The Big Picnic (online)
Bible for Kids: The Big Picnic - Jesus Feeds 5000 (online)

Bible on the Go Vol. 35:
Baptism, Temptation, Disciples, and Miracles of Jesus


DouglasTalks: Is the Bible Just Fairy Tales?
A Sunday School lesson about why we can trust the Bible
(watch online)

Feeding The 5000 - No Gift Too Small (online)
Greatest Heroes & Legends: Miracles of Jesus (online)
Miracles of Jesus Superbook DVD
Read and Share DVD Bible Volume #4
Read and Share Toddler Bible with DVD
Skit Guys: Childlike Faith (online)
Superbook: Jesus Feeds The Hungry DVD
Superbook: Miracles of Jesus (online)

The Bible Comes Alive, Your Story Hour Volume 4
Audiobook on CD
(dramatized audio)

The Miracles of Jesus Bible cartoon (watch online)
The Story of Two Fish and Five Loaves (online)

What's in the Bible: What Is the Bible?
Jesus Is the Good News


All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (watch online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (listen & watch online)
Read and Share DVD Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Bible story DVDs
Children's DVDs



Resources for Parents and Teachers

Feeding the 5,000 - Lesson Ideas
Unleavened Bread With Tuna - Snack Idea
All the Miracles of the Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit

Free Bible story images
801 Questions Kids Ask About God
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
Bible for Children in 232 languages
Children's Ministry
Bible Memory Match Game
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Big Book of Bible Games
Bulletin Board helps
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul
Children's Ministry Volunteers That Stick
Children's Sermon
Church Supplies
Closing Prayer

FREE materials to Bible schools, Bible colleges, seminaries,
churches, missionaries & individuals worldwide


52 Games That Teach The Bible
Free educational videos
God's Servants Teach Me

God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs


Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
How To Lead a Child To Christ
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles

Leading Little Ones to God:
A Child's Book of Bible Teachings


Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Memory Verse Resources
Object Talks
Opening Prayer
Parenting Resources
Pray & Play Bible for Young Children
Puppet Scripts
Review Activities for Bible Lessons
Seven Laws of the Learner
Spanish Resources
Sunday school resources
Sunday School Songs: Lyrics and Tunes (online)
Talking to God
Teachers' Reproducible Classroom Pages
Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit

The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry


Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know

Children's resources



bread and fish divider

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