Creekside Church, March 14, 2021
Into the Storm
Jesus begins with a simple invitation: “Follow Me”. It’s the invitation into a journey that will challenge nearly everything we believe.
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Follow Me | Into the Storm
Mark 4:35-41
We will follow no closer to Jesus than our faith in Jesus.
I will never be any closer to,
any more intimate with,
any more alive in
my relationship with Jesus
than the degree to which I trust in,
believe in,
put my faith in Jesus.
If you are not close to Jesus it is a “faith in Jesus” issue.
FAITH FACTS:
FAITH FACT #1 Everybody’s Doin’ It
FAITH FACT #2 Faith is Evidenced in Our Actions
...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:17
FAITH FACT #3 God Demands It
Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. Hebrews 11:6 (NCV)
FAITH FACT #4 It’s More About the “Where” Than it is About the “How Much”
FAITH FACT #5 It Comes With Doubts
“I do believe: help me overcome my unbelief.” Mark 9:24
FAITH FACT #6 Acting in Faith Affirms that Faith
If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. John 6:17
FAITH FACT #7 – God wants to help us grow our faith.
MARK 4:31-43
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”
Mark 4:35
Jesus is leading them into a storm.
So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).
Mark 4:36
But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
Mark 4:37
Matthew, in his account describes the storm as seismos megas. This is a seismic event of mega proportions.
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion.
Mark 4:38a
So, the disciples are freaked out, the waves are pouring over the sides of the boat. They are deeply afraid they might drown. This looks bad.
The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
Mark 4:38b
This is a terrible question. But it is a question we ask too of God when we are in a storm.
This is a terrible question for a few reasons:
FIRST, they are frightened about a future event they assume is going to happen no matter what. They say, “we’re going to drown”.
SECOND, notice what they say about Jesus. It is an accusation in the form of a question. “Teacher, don’t you care . . .?“ This has to pain Jesus.
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:39
Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Mark 4:40
“Where is your faith?”, he asked his disciples.
Luke 8:25
The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Mark 4:41
What weakens our faith?
Fear in the wrong thing.
What strengthens our faith?
Fear in the right One.
Mark 4:35-41
We will follow no closer to Jesus than our faith in Jesus.
I will never be any closer to,
any more intimate with,
any more alive in
my relationship with Jesus
than the degree to which I trust in,
believe in,
put my faith in Jesus.
If you are not close to Jesus it is a “faith in Jesus” issue.
FAITH FACTS:
FAITH FACT #1 Everybody’s Doin’ It
FAITH FACT #2 Faith is Evidenced in Our Actions
...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:17
FAITH FACT #3 God Demands It
Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. Hebrews 11:6 (NCV)
FAITH FACT #4 It’s More About the “Where” Than it is About the “How Much”
FAITH FACT #5 It Comes With Doubts
“I do believe: help me overcome my unbelief.” Mark 9:24
FAITH FACT #6 Acting in Faith Affirms that Faith
If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. John 6:17
FAITH FACT #7 – God wants to help us grow our faith.
MARK 4:31-43
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”
Mark 4:35
Jesus is leading them into a storm.
So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).
Mark 4:36
But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
Mark 4:37
Matthew, in his account describes the storm as seismos megas. This is a seismic event of mega proportions.
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion.
Mark 4:38a
So, the disciples are freaked out, the waves are pouring over the sides of the boat. They are deeply afraid they might drown. This looks bad.
The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
Mark 4:38b
This is a terrible question. But it is a question we ask too of God when we are in a storm.
This is a terrible question for a few reasons:
FIRST, they are frightened about a future event they assume is going to happen no matter what. They say, “we’re going to drown”.
SECOND, notice what they say about Jesus. It is an accusation in the form of a question. “Teacher, don’t you care . . .?“ This has to pain Jesus.
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:39
Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Mark 4:40
“Where is your faith?”, he asked his disciples.
Luke 8:25
The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Mark 4:41
What weakens our faith?
Fear in the wrong thing.
What strengthens our faith?
Fear in the right One.