Ingredients for a Miracle 
When we speak about miracles, we often picture a sudden divine interruption that bypasses human involvement, yet the Gospels consistently show Jesus inviting ordinary people into the process. For Runnymede Christian Fellowship, this truth is both encouraging and challenging because it means God delights to work through what we bring to Him. The story of the feeding of the five thousand in John 6:1 to 13 reminds us that a miracle did not begin with abundance but with a simple offering of five loaves and two fish placed into the hands of Jesus.

The first ingredient for any miracle is availability. A young boy was willing to release what he carried, even though it seemed laughably small in the face of a vast need. In leadership and in faith, this posture of availability matters deeply. God is not searching for impressive resources so much as surrendered hearts. Romans 12:1 urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, which is a practical description of what that boy did with his lunch. When we offer what we have, however limited, we give God something to bless.

The second ingredient is faith. The disciples could have dismissed the small gift as irrelevant, yet they brought it to Jesus. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God, and faith often looks like acting before we see results. Gratitude is closely linked to faith, which is why Jesus gave thanks before the food was multiplied. In giving thanks, He was acknowledging the Father as provider even before provision was visible.

Order is another important ingredient that is easy to overlook. Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the grass before anything was distributed. First Corinthians 14:33 reminds us that God is not a God of disorder but of peace. When our lives are chaotic, our priorities confused, and our commitments scattered, we make it harder to receive what God wants to give. Bringing our lives into alignment with His ways creates an environment in which His power can move freely.

Then there is the breaking. Jesus broke the bread before it was multiplied. This pattern runs throughout Scripture. In Judges 7 Gideon’s army was reduced before victory came. In Luke 22:19 Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper before offering His body for the salvation of the world. God often allows us to be stretched, humbled, or stripped of self-reliance so that His strength can be revealed. Second Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that His power is made perfect in weakness, not in self-sufficiency.

Distribution followed the breaking. The disciples became the hands that carried the miracle to the people. God could have caused the food to appear directly in front of each person, yet He chose to involve His followers. This reflects a deeper principle found in Matthew 28:19 where Jesus commissions His disciples to go and make disciples. God loves to work through people who are willing to serve as channels of His grace. In our church, in our workplaces, and in our families, we are invited to be those channels.

Another vital ingredient is perseverance. The disciples kept serving until everyone had eaten. They did not stop when it felt inconvenient or exhausting.

Finally, there is stewardship. After everyone was satisfied, Jesus told the disciples to gather the leftovers, and twelve baskets were filled. Nothing was wasted. Luke 16:10 teaches that whoever is faithful with little will be faithful with much. God expects us to handle His blessings responsibly, whether they come in the form of finances, opportunities, or spiritual gifts. Miracles are not excuses for carelessness but invitations to deeper faithfulness.

The ingredients for a miracle remain the same today as they were on that hillside in Galilee. Availability, faith, order, surrender, service, perseverance, and stewardship form a pattern that God repeatedly uses. At Runnymede Christian Fellowship, we are called to bring our ordinary resources to an extraordinary God. When we do so with open hands and trusting hearts, we discover that He still multiplies what is offered, still satisfies deep hunger, and still reveals His glory in ways that transform lives.