THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT | You have more of an effect than you think

We believe most students will embrace the heart of this series. However, keep in mind the students whose default wiring is bent toward perfectionism or feeling high pressure to perform. This bottom line, “you have more of an effect than you think,” can make those students add an implied “so don’t mess this up.” A misinterpretation could feed into their distorted view that every decision is a life-changing, potentially devastating, or overly weighty one and could lead to overthinking, inaction, and indecision. Help those students know they have what it takes to take the next step and that you’ll be there to remind them they are more capable of facing life’s pressures. Help to right-size their fears by being a listening ear and voice of support and reason.

BOTTOM LINE
You have more of an effect than you think.

SCRIPTURE
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” (John 6:1-14).

• Small Group Questions

  JUST FOR FUN

  Would you rather be famous on TikTok for something that makes you cringe... or go viral but no one knows it’s you?

  DISCUSS THIS

  1. How do you know when you are being influenced by someone else?
  
  2. Who are the people around you who have influenced you? Who are the people that you have an effect on
  
  3. Read John 6:1-14. Who do you identify with most?
  a. The boy
  b. The disciples
  c. The crowd
  
  4. How do you think the boy felt when he saw thousands of people fed because of something he gave?
  
  5. Have you ever felt like what you have to offer isn’t enough? What made you feel that way?
  
  6. What’s something small you have—like your time, energy, encouragement, or talent—that God might want to use to help others?
  
  7. Which step is the most difficult for you when it comes to having an effect on others—identifying who needs help, identifying what they need, or identifying what you can do?
  
  TRY THIS

  Encourage your students to point out one quality in each person in the group that can be used to positively affect others.