Slide: Faith for the real world

 

Biblically based, Relationally Driven, Spirit-led

 

Mark – concise – a people being persecuted

 

SLIDE: Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms the Storm

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

 

When evening came.

Same day! –

 

Just as he was

teaching from a boat – broadcasting amplification system

Stern (back), asleep – pillow – other boats

Eye witness first hand Memories

 

Albert Einstein & Al Capone – Milly

 

 

Cultural Context – NT Wright

Apart from fishermen, the Jews were not a seafaring people; they left that to their Phoenician neighbors to the north. The sea came to symbolize, for them, the dark power of evil, threatening to destroy God’s good creation, God’s people, God’s purposes. In books like Daniel, the sea is where the monsters come from.

 

Deeper Biblical Context: Jonah 1

Both in a boat

Both are overtaken by a storm

Both are asleep

Sailors come to the sleeper

They use the same word… wake up!

Miraculous intervention from God

Jonah – I have to die for you to live!

The storm is calmed – Jonah thrown.

Jesus – Matthew 12 – 3 days

 

 

Mark CHAPTER 4

3 parables – “Kingdom of God is like”

 

“Faith for the Real World”

 

Parable to real life

Biblical Pages to my life

 

 

A STORM – Wind and Waves

 

Stormy – micro burst – (Baltimore Harbor)

Kluge Rehab

 

NEVER BE IN A BOAT IN A STORM

 

A child who has gotten horribly sideways with God’s best for their lives

 

There is a disease that is undermining your health or that of someone you love and there is a tenuous remission or simply bad news.

 

Financially or job wise life has been a long series of trials

 

You are in a marriage where meaningful love is not being returned

 

You’ve had an ideal of someone or something that has been tarnished or even shattered.

 

Someone you love deeply simply will not go and get the help they need.

 

A specific promise from God has been slow in coming to fulfillment and it seems as though others around you are being blessed in that area.

 

A storm is defined by –

³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

God – Jesus wake up!

“Don’t you care” 

“I am drowning”

 

 

:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” 

 

 

“BE STILL” – Mark 1:25 –  Same Greek word!

 

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶ The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

 

There is a satanic opposing spiritual force in the storm

 

“Quiet, Be still”

 

conjure up some phrase

He doesn’t say – FATHER…

 

39 Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 

WIND & SEA!

 

Disciples Respond…

 

:41 The disciples were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

 

“Terrified!”

 

SLIDE:  Psalm 107:23-32

²³ Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁴ They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
²⁵ For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
²⁶ They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
²⁹ He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea^[b] were hushed.
³⁰ They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.

 

:41 “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

 

“wind and the waves obey him”

 

Bethel music – the waves and wind still know his name!

It is well – Bethel Music – Kristene DiMarco

 

 

 

FEET TO YOUR FAITH!

:40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

“why are you so afraid?”

“Do you still have no faith?”

 

This hymn was written after traumatic events in Horatio Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his son at the age of two and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone …”. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.^[2] Bliss called his tune Ville du Havre, from the name of the stricken vessel.^[3]

 

 

Lyrics

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul

It is well (it is well)

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so it is well with my soul

Aug. 4^th his presence has a way of breaking us through.

6:30 – 7:30pm at the chapel at CCC

Psalm 42:11

Why, so down cast oh my soul? (put your hope in God)
Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

 

“why are you so afraid?”

“Do you still have no faith?”