This Bible study rises from several conversations I’ve been having recently about the way we use the word “fed” as Christians. Consistently, whether or not we’re feeling “fed” tends to be the deciding factor for whether or not we will continue attending a ministry, or whether we will continue serving in ministry.
This view is commonly expressed when we say, “I feel I just need to go to a place where I can grow – I always feel like I’m giving, giving, giving, and I’m never being fed.”
If that’s you, please know that I’m not writing this to be mean, or to point you out, or to criticize you, or discourage you. I’m writing to offer an alternative view to what it means to be “fed,” to suggest there are better ways to get “fed” and that pulling oneself out of ministry is counteractive to being “fed.”
Firstly, how are we supposed to attend church?
Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
I think we may have lost this verse – it is no longer the foundational intention behind attending church. We don’t roll into the church parking lot with prayers on our lips, “God, show me how I can encourage and spur others on towards love. God, bless these people around me. God, help them worship. God, help open their hearts to your word.” No, our attendance is more often mingled with the expectation that the worship will be good (for us), that the sermon will be well executed (to stir us up), and that people will be kind (to us).
I want to challenge you to change the way you attend:
When you go to Bible study, when you go to church, when you go to small group, when you go to your youth group – go with the intention of ministering to others.
Sounds daunting, doesn’t. You said to me, “Ben, I don’t feel fed.” And then I respond to you, “Then give more.” That sounds crazy. You can legitimately ask: “How am I going to have anything to give? How am I ever going to feel fed if I am always the one feeding?”
I think Paul’s instruction about “giving” addresses this problem quite well.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
I know our context here is money, generosity, and giving – but I’m intrigued by one of Paul’s sentences because it seems to have a more universal application to EVERY GOOD WORK: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
It sounds as if God provides abundantly for those who provide.
I used to attend a lot of youth groups, Bible studies, and church services, all of which I would walk away from feeling “unfed.” It wasn’t until I started doing ministry at a college group that I actually started to feel overwhelmingly fed. And it’s not because the sermons got any better. It’s because God makes grace abound to us so that we may abound in every good work.
With the college group, I started praying for students before I even got there, praying for them while I was there, and then praying again after I left. I started paying attention to other students around the room, keeping my eyes open for someone who looked lonely, or troubled. I started asking God to give me an encouraging word to bring to someone that night.
Essentially, when I started doing ministry I actually started “attending” church in the way that God calls us to attend. And for that, I felt invigorated.
It’s possible that being fed has less to do with good sermons and Bible studies, and more to do with the generousness of our attitude while we’re attending those sermons and Bible studies.











