The emphasis on experience is reflected in the arc of John 6 itself: it starts with a story, the Feeding of the Five Thousand. Stories short-circuit the desire to intellectually explain what’s happening in this discourse. They redirect us from understanding to participation. We encourage you to follow suit, and leverage stories (most centrally, the Feeding) to connect your congregation to the lived experience of life in Christ. 

Somewhat paradoxically, we pray that this series frees you from the need to get your people (or yourself!) to totally get Jesus as the Bread of Life. After all, Jesus never requires that his disciples understand what he’s talking about. He feeds first and raises questions later. The disciples who are left by his side at the end aren’t those who have figured out what he’s talking about. They’re the ones who know that no matter how confusing or provoking Jesus is, there’s nowhere else they can go to find the words of eternal life. We don’t always understand Jesus. But we need him, like daily bread, every single day to sustain and satisfy us.