Hands that Broke Bread

Sermon Outline 01/03/2020 Reach Out Series
Topic : Hands that Broke Bread
Text : John 2 :1-17
Speaker : Rev. Renny Khoo

Meals nourish our bodies and are a significant part of our lives. We celebrate many events of
our lives with meals such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and entertain our guests over
meals. Festivals are celebrated with meals. Sometimes misunderstandings with friends are
settled over a meal. Central to meals are the role our hands play in preparing the meals, serving
the meals and eating the meals. Meals and banquets are often featured in the gospels and in
the life of Jesus. Jesus often introduces significant ideas and teachings over meals. Jesus often
uses meals as metaphors and teaching aids.

The Gospels record many instances where meals were shared such as at the wedding at Cana,
supper at Mathew’s house, the feeding of 5,000 and the breaking of bread at the Last Supper.
Many parables about meals were taught to the disciples, such as The Wedding Banquet, the
Prodigal Son.

After Jesus was crucified and resurrected, there was much chaos and confusion, and the
disciples felt lost. The things the disciples had hoped to see did not take place. What had been
predicted about the restoration of Kingdom of God had not happened. Despondency set in
among the disciples. It was at this juncture that Jesus came to them. (Read John 21: 1-17)
Jesus had prepared breakfast for them and invited them for the meal. When Jesus was cooking
the fish, the disciples would have observed His nail scarred hands, reminding them of the horror
and trauma of the crucifixion. Those were the hands that healed and touched the sick and
suffering. When Jesus served bread and fish to the disciples, they remembered how Jesus took
bread, gave thanks and gave them to eat. As they accepted the food from Jesus, they felt those
hands emanate energy and life and with a stab of joy, the disciples realized that Jesus is still
alive. The hopes and dreams on the restoration of the Kingdom of God has not died. Jesus is
alive today and He is still at work. God is alive and God is still at work, even today, whether we
know it or not and whether we feel it or not. God is alive.

After breakfast, the mood changed as there was a tense and challenging exchange between
Jesus and Peter when Jesus asked Peter “Do you love Me?” In verses 15-17, Jesus took the
example of the meal to turn it to a metaphor to teach about the future: “Feed My Sheep”, “Tend
My Lambs”.

3 Observations from the statements:
1) Hands that provide (Jn. 21: 5-6)
Jesus asks “Children, you have no fish have you?” and He then said, “Cast your net over
to the right side of the boat and you will find some.” God is the source of everything. He
is the provider and the giver and He will guide and direct us. He empowers us, sustains
us, gives us wisdom and shows us the way. Look to God as your source of provision, not
just in wealth, but in health, talent and time management. God is the provider of peace,
hope and joy. He teaches and guides. “Cast your net to the right side of the boat and you
will find some.”

2) Hands that share (Jn. 21: 10,12)
“Bring some fish=.. Come and have breakfast.” Jesus invites us to have breakfast with
Him. How do you feel when someone invites you for breakfast or for a meal? Do you feel
good, loved, accepted, feel the warmth and fellowship of your host? Jesus’ hands bless
you with His fellowship and friendship, with His presence and His companionship, with
comfort and guidance.

3) Hands that nudge you to share (Jn. 21: 15-17)
Three times Jesus asked Peter “Do you love Me ?” and followed by “Feed My sheep==
Tend My lambs=..” Implied in the question was: “What will you do for Me?” In the same
way, Jesus wants us to share with others. The Holy Spirit will always nudge us to do it.
We are blessed so that we can bless others.
(The drawing of “The Praying Hands” by Albrecht Durer is a story of love and sacrifice of
the older brother Albert Durer that has far reaching impact in the growth of Christian faith.
It was the age of Reformation when the bible was made available to the common people.
Albert’s sacrifice enabled Albrecht to put bible stories in pictures so that the common
people could understand the Bible better)

Today Jesus is asking us: “Do you love Me?” then, “Feed my sheep” You are now My
hands in the world, My mission is now your mission – “as the Father has sent me so I
send you” (John 20:21)

The Church “Reach Out” series is a theme that was envisioned last October. It is a call to
reach out to communities, not just from our place of abundance, but even from our place
of lack. There’s something powerful when we give and reach out and share even though
we struggle from our lack, not just in finance, but in time, talent and ability. God is our
source and provider.

Questions:
1. Share testimonies of God’s goodness and kindness

2. In your daily conversations and contacts share how you can direct people to the Bread that
truly satisfies.

3. Jesus’ image of the fully realized Kingdom of God is a banquet – the Messianic banquet
where every tribe and nation will be present at the table and where there will be an
abundance of food and fellowship. How should this image of the future of those who belong
to Jesus affect our attitudes and the way we live and act now?

Jesus' Hands and Ours

Rev Renny Khoo
16 Feb 2020
Sermon Outline Reach out series
Topic: Jesus' Hands and Ours
Text: Mt 8: 1-17, Jn 13: 1-17

To see ourselves as the hands of Jesus in the world
Our hands are used as part of a language of communication to convey a range of
emotions and feelings, to show friendship and affection, love, praise, enjoyment and
clapping in appreciation and other times in anger as we point in accusation or raising
our fist to express our displeasure of an incident.

1. Jesus 'Tangible and intangible touches
Jesus used His hands to touch to heal the sick, washes the disciples’ feet, break
bread at the Passover, cooks and serve fish for the disciples at the lake of
Galilee and at the cross his hands were pierced on both ends. They were used
also to embrace his friends, to clasp a shoulder or hand in affection or
encouragement, waving a greeting or farewell, emphasising a point He was
teaching, holding out His hands in open prayer to the Father, a tradesman’s
hand as they were use in carpentry with Joseph, his earthly father. Jesus chose
in many times to reach out and touch even though he did not have to. The
Centurion soldier was healed without physical touch but Jesus touch Peter’s
mother in law to heal her.

In the scripture recording Matt 8: 1- 7 of the healing of the man with leprosy,
Jesus reached out to the leper in the midst of the multitudes because it was at
the time when Jesus teaching was gaining popularity. The leper said to Jesus
that if He chose to, he will be healed. He was not in doubt of Jesus ability but His
generosity to heal him. Jesus reply was that he chose to make him clean and
immediately his leprosy left him. The leper must had lived without any human
touch for most of his life due to his condition. He was an outcast. Likewise in this
world where many still in relative isolation and devoid of human contact, a kind
word, a prayer, a practical help will go far as a way of reaching out and touching
hearts of recipients.

2. Jesus' hands that wash feet
In Jesus time, part of the culture to welcome visitors and show hospitality are to
have their feet washed by servants. When Jesus wanted to do this to His
disciples, Peter could not accept it as he felt it would be beneath Jesus’ status to
perform this task of a servant.

"As the Father sent me so I send you. (John 20: 21)
We are now to be Jesus' hands in the world, we are called to reach out and touch
others in care and compassion, connection, in ever willingness and in humility.
This is in conjunction to the launching today the Discipleship Journey 3.0 of “Lets
reach out” through the adoption of a local mission projects as listed by the various
zones for a year. The length of 1 year is to enable time to regularly connect with the
NGO that we have chosen to build relationship with. It is the hope that through the
community projects that we can cultivate in our hearts room for those who are
different or people that we do not normally come in contact with or having friends
that can join us to carry out this community project to “ Lets reach out” in unity and in
tandem with our mission statement of being in the process of following Jesus Christ.

We are also reminded of the 4 quadrants of the Discipleship Journey of to Connect
and be part of a Connect group and be part of Christ cause, to Equip in the ways and
work of Christ. To pursue God in our daily quiet time and reading scripture in one
year and be Mentored by the various Zone Leaders. And this year, to be Released to
reach out for the community and schools near us where part of our community
pledge will be utilised. We see ourselves as the hand of God reaching out to the
world through us and also in tandem to reaching out will the launching of the 2nd
Service on 1st March 2020, 10.30am at Kyrugma house.

Questions:

How can we, as messengers of Jesus, participate to make this community a better
place? * Community includes homes, workplaces, church, Connect group and Kota
Kinabalu.
Share some ideas and possibilities in adopting the said local mission project / NGO.

What do you think are their needs? What are your resources? Do a quick research
through past experiences, stories and even google!

Think of some friends or non CG members who might be interested in joining these
outreach activities and make plans to invite them along. Pray, plan and invite!