Last Sunday night Action Community Church had our second “Sneak Peek Service” in preparation of our regular weekly gatherings starting on April 1st. We really did have an incredible night worshiping God together and, as a whole, everything went off without a hitch considering this was only the second time our group had done this. As good as the night was, I don’t know that I will remember this “Sneak Peek” for how well things turned out; rather, I think I will remember the night for how close things came to utter shame and humiliation. Before I explain, allow me to digress.
Ever since our first “Sneak Peek” I knew that at the second one I was going to preach on the story of Jesus multiplying the fish and the loaves from John chapter 6. I wasn’t quite sure why that was the “must preach” text, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. So, I spoke on how this miracle relates to the mission God is calling us to at Action Community Church. In the story Jesus and the disciples are faced with a very large and very hungry crowd (over 5,000 people). Jesus intends on feeding them, but Phillip insists that feeding such a big crowd would be a logistical nightmare and that even the greatest provision would prove to be inadequate. Just then, out of the crowd comes Andrew with a little boy who offers his sack lunch to Jesus so he can feed the people. Despite the fact that the two little fish and five little loaves were like crumbs in the face of such great need, they were exactly what Jesus was looking for… because even our smallest crumbs placed by faith into the hands of Jesus is more than enough. Jesus took the scant meal, gave thanks and broke it, and broke it again, and broke it again until everyone had more than enough to eat!
It’s really a beautiful story, and when you dig deeper there’s even more: this miracle is a living illustration that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover. When we partake of his body and his blood, we will never grow hungry. So we, the people of ACC, will place our crumbs into his hands so that he may multiply our offering and the people of Clovis, Fresno, and the world may be fed!
Now comes the almost nightmare: After the sermon we prepared communion for our group to partake in as a response to everything we just talked about. I stepped off the stage and held the elements as Pete gave instructions. People formed a line and began to take the bread and the cup, one after another… and soon panic hit me… we were going to run out. I had not prepared enough. This had never happened before, let alone just after a message proclaiming that through Jesus the entire world is fed and there is always more than enough of him!
As I served I began to think what could I do? I knew! Like Phillip, I made a plan. I’d have my in-laws and a few close friends pretend to take the communion; that would allow me to save it, and save face, for the guests. I asked and they did sparing a few more cups. As I kept serving, I realized there might be just enough, even for the people I asked if I could skip. I kept serving until all were served, and when I looked down, there was just one cup left… for me. And as I looked at the single cup, the voice of God spoke very clearly to me; he said softly, “There is always enough.”
As we start this church we must remember this word that has been spoken over us lest we clench our fists, hiding our crumbs in fear that there is not enough. He has spoken to us that we can be like the little boy who puts everything into the hands of Christ knowing that he, too, will be well fed.