OVERLOOKED | WEEK 1 | I’M NOT RICH
INTRO
Have you ever created something extraordinary out of ordinary things? It doesn’t have to be elaborate, either. Maybe
you cut up 2x4s and made a bench. Or maybe you took glass bottles and put a soap pump in it. Or maybe you put legs
on a door and now it’s a table. Go around the room, and have each person describe a certain time where they created
something great – out of something ordinary.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Have you ever taken a good look at a pallet? They are ugly and constructed with cheap wood. A pallet is completely
worthless, unless you put something valuable on it. Then, the pallet is only valuable because it can help you move
your valuable item from one place to another. After a pallet is used, it’s often thrown away or burned.
However, if you’ve ever been on Pinterest for more than 5 minutes, you may know the “real” value of pallets.
From tables, to shelves, to sheds, pallets can be made into just about anything. Plus, all of these pallet creations
on Pinterest look incredible. Who knew you could take something so ordinary and ugly and create something so
beautiful and extraordinary?
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Just as people create extraordinary inventions out of ordinary objects, God also creates significance and value out of
ordinary and overlooked people. This is evidenced in Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:5-10 out loud in your group.
Now read verse 7 one more time:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
In verse 7, Paul is telling the Corinthian church how they are these jars of clay filled with treasure, and this treasure is
the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
We might feel like these overlooked and ordinary jars made of clay. However, we have the same power that raised
Jesus from the grave, living in us! So we can be assured that in the little that we can give, God can transform it into
much.
Overlooked - Week 1 - Page 2
REFLECTION
Read John 6:1-14 out loud in your group.
“Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of
people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside
and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming
toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already
had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread
for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small
barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There
was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave
thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all
had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them
and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the
sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Spend some time reflecting on this event, putting yourself in the shoes of some of the characters:
Phillip: How would you describe his role in this story?
Andrew & Peter: Any idea what these guys were thinking?
The unnamed boy: What do you think he thought when the disciples turned to him for food?
The fish and bread: Okay, just kidding…!
The young boy is our character of interest in this story. He’s our small town hero. He had 5 loaves of bread and two
fish. That probably wasn’t enough food to feed Jesus and his disciples, let alone 5-10,000 more people! However, this
little boy who could have easily been overlooked, gave Jesus the little that he had to give. Then, Jesus took this little
amount of food and created enough food to feed thousands!
No matter how insignificant we feel about our contribution, we need to trust that God can take it and use it in a
significant way.
As you consider your own contribution – your own resources – are there ways that you have held back what God
may want to use in you? If you’re willing, discuss this with your group, and at the end of your time together it could be
a matter for support, encouragement, and/or prayer.
CLOSING CHALLENGE
It’s so easy to believe that God has overlooked us, however, YOU MATTER to God! God sees you, God values you,
and God multiplies the impact of our lives. There are so many overlooked people in the Bible! They didn’t have much,
but what they did have they used for God and amazing things happened! We have some lessons to learn from them.
Just when we think we don’t matter, we realize that God is just waiting for us to respond, so that he can do great
things in us and through us!
What is something that you feel God is asking you to give? Your time? Your treasure? Your talents? Whatever we have
to give matters! Even if we don’t think it is much. God sees it, God values it, and God will multiply it if we give it to him.