Shipwreck Sandwiches

A dangerous scenario

Sailors

Merchants

Soldiers

Prisoners

*** Map: Fair Havens to Malta

*** Image of ship at sea

/We can’t escape all danger.

/It’s best to stay out of known dangerous situations, but when we can’t, or when we find ourselves unexpected in danger, we can know that God remains with us.

Acts 27:21 (NRSV)

Paul then stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss...”

p/Danger sign

/Danger in Haiti

The Lord speaks

Acts 27:23–26 NRSV

For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.”

p/ The Apostle Paul (mosaic)

/Praying things through—prayer until something is resolved. The Lord reveals to Paul that the ship will be lost, the cargo, but not the lives of those on board. Good news for the soldiers and prisoners, not completely good news for the merchants and sailors who will lose economically (but will remain alive!).

Taking, thanking, breaking

p/Ship at sea, tempest

/14 days with no food!!

/A chaotic situation: In the storm, the sailors take soundings of the depths. 20 fathoms, then 15.

/Sailors try to escape on boats—Paul talks this over with the soldiers

Acts 27:34–35 NRSV

Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.” After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat.

p/Bread

p/Shipwreck