Sermon Notes - Unexpected
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Bible Passage: Lk 8:22-25
Welcome, SU, and we will hear more of the work and bless Alice, Tracey, Tahlia and Sue as they begin the school year.
Talking about the school year getting underway:
INTRODUCTION:
This week, I have set out on a journey to round out my training as a pastor and complete a graduate diploma in divinity. I will be doing units in theology, pastoral care and church history.
I have a Master's of Arts in Christian leadership, and as you heard at the start of this series, I have also completed a Bachelor of Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies with honours in Ecology when I was pursuing becoming a park ranger, and then God took me on another path.
I have finished my first week on the unit, beginning Theological studies, and they are making it very clear that doing this course is not about finding solutions to problems but clarifying the questions.
o Have you ever been working towards, or trying to find, one thing, and yet ended up finding something else?
It has certainly been my experience with academic study, but I think it is true of life as well that when we set out to find an answer, test a hypothesis/thought or set out on an adventure, we learn more from the unexpected bumps in our journey than the destination.
o Did you know that some of the things that we use every day were ‘unexpected’ inventions
§ In 1946, American engineer and chocolate enthusiast Percy Spencer, who was working at the Raytheon Manufacturing Company, noticed that when he passed near an active radar magnetron, the chocolate bar in his pocket would melt. From this, he was able to deduce that microwaves could cook or reheat food, and so came up with the idea of the microwave oven. Raytheon developed the first microwave ovens, testing them first on popcorn and eggs.[1]
· Well, this week, we are looking at how people unexpectedly had encounters with Jesus
o Both from the Scriptures and modern day
Turn in your bibles to
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.
As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
· Let’s consider a little bit of information about our Bible reading where the disciples are in the boat from Lynn Cohick and Michael Bird in Encounter Episode 4 (show Enc Ep 4 Clip 1)
o “Among the disciples that are in the boat that's being upended by the waves would be some fishermen. So they probably had experienced in the past some storms like this. And I have to say, if they're nervous, then there probably is a reason to be nervous…And you get this amazing scene where the disciples go from being terrified that they're going to drown in the middle of this lake, in this big storm, to now they're kind of terrified at Jesus because He's not just an itinerant teacher. He's not just a prophet with some oracles from God. This is a guy who can boss the weather around and it obeys his command. They're more scared of that at the end than they are during the storm.”
· I have three reflections that I’d like us to ponder out of this passage and the unexpected experience that the disciples had
that
Learning to trust is hard work
Your story isn’t finished yet
Jesus is still in your boat
Learning to trust is hard work
Learning to trust is hard work
o Have you ever been to the emergency room or doctors, and while getting checked out by a doctor, the person doing the test uttered the words, “I’ve got to get my supervisor”
§ You don’t want to hear the ‘professional’ being scared or not knowing what to do when you are in that environment
· Well, the storm talked about in today’s reading is so big that the professional fishermen are scared
o In differing translations, it describes the setting as...
§ A furious squall (NIV)
§ A huge storm (MSG)
§ A ferocious tempest (TPT)
· In this unexpected moment, the disciples show us that learning to trust is hard work
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
· So, we have a real storm where professional fishermen are worried
§ This story and the bible in general tell us not to stress about the storms of life that you will face
· Which is very easy to say, but very difficult to live out
· God makes lots of promises in the Scriptures
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
§ Then Jesus came to them and said…“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20)
· And the question to ask is, why, why are those promises, and many others, in the Scriptures?
See, I am paying attention in my class, clarifying the question.
Why are those promises, and many others, in the Scriptures?
o I think the answer is because God knows you are going to come up to obstacles that make it seem like the very opposite is true. Situations where…
§ It will seem like God has forsaken us
§ It will seem like God has left us
§ It will seem like God isn’t with us until the end
§ It will seem like God can’t possibly overthrow this storm we are in
Will you trust God’s promises? Will you show long obedience in the same direction when these unexpected bumps come along?
With each unexpected event, we have to learn to trust, and yes, it is hard work, and sometimes you are going to doubt Jesus.
but
Your story isn’t finished yet
Your story isn’t finished yet
In hobart I used to have this prayer spot on top of a ridge that overlooked the eastern shore, the river, hobart and the mountain.
I get a similar feeling driving along Vermont Road. This zoomed-out view of the place I live and regularly visit.
§ The point is that sometimes when we are in the middle of something, we can get very focused on something that, whilst important, is only a part of a much bigger picture
· In this unexpected moment, the disciples show us that their, and our, story isn’t finished yet
o Read or mention again Lk 8:24-25
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
· I want you to try something
o Take a breath…a big breath
§ Maybe do it a couple of times
· The point is that no matter what storm you are facing or will face
o Until you take that last breath, your story isn’t finished
§ This story we are reading isn’t finished because the disciples still had breath in their lungs
· And your story, as bad as the storm you are in may be at this moment, is not finished whilst there is breath in your lungs
· The same God who
o Gave Abraham and Sarah a child well after they thought they could conceive one
o Allowed His people to walk across the sea floor to get away from Pharaoh and the Egyptians
o Choose David to go up against Goliath
o Raised Jesus from the dead
o Took Saul from murdering Christians to being a Christian leader
o Quietened a storm that was terrifying professional fishermen
· That same God is your God!
That same God is your God!
o The God who wasn’t finished with their story until their last breath isn’t finished with your story!
§ Your story isn’t finished yet!
Testimony time…
Testimony time…
· Remind what testimony is and isn’t
o Is not…
§ Saying the person giving it is perfect
§ Just about the ‘good’ times but also the presence of Jesus in difficult times
§ That everything in every moment has worked out exactly how we would have liked it
o It is…
§ Giving God the glory for his work and presence
§ Reminding ourselves of the great things Jesus has done
§ Building up the faith of others
· Testimony from the series
o We are going to watch one small part from the coming weeks episode about how one of the guests, Paul Kingsnorth, had an unexpected encounter Jesus (show Enc Ep 4 Clip 2)
§ “I remember I was in the garden, I was here, but I was just over there, about five yards from where we're sitting. And it was one evening and I was feeling quite desperate, and I actually got on my knees on the ground just over there. And I said it was an attempt at a prayer. I said, okay, God, if you're real, show me. Just show me who you are. Show me what to do, because I think there's a God, but I don't know what to do. So it was a kind of like a challenge. I threw down the gauntlet, which was a bad idea because it turned out that when you pray, sometimes you get answered. And then it wasn't long afterwards I had this dream with Jesus in it. Okay, now this dream. And I saw Him there and He was just He was just standing in front of me, and He was sort of offering me something…And I thought, oh blimey, I didn't I didn't want to be a Christian. I mean, I know I asked you the truth, but I don't want that truth. Thanks. I don’t want to be a Christian…The reason I believe Christianity was true was that I didn't want it to be. So I went looking for Buddhism because I thought it would suit me. I went looking for Wicca because I thought it would suit me. I went looking for things I was interested in, but Christianity, or specifically Christ, came to me without me looking for them.”
I felt there were themes in that story like what we covered last week - that we often search for God where we are comfortable, but Jesus answer is not always what we want to hear, but it is a loving answer.
If you would like to see the whole episode, join Stephen and Nikki at their life group on Tuesday nights or me on Wednesday Afternoons. You can also access them by following the link in the newsletter email or directions in the newsletter.
We won't be having a share time this week, but we will be hearing from our local chaplains about their experiences of finding God in an unexpected place.
My Final thought has to do with our prayer life.
When it comes to my studies, I sometimes pray, well your the author of life lord, you can give me the answers to this test, or exam.
Now, sometimes that thought is because I am trying to juggle doing the Lord's work as well as meet with people.
§ But yes, I understand in the overall scheme of things, it is a selfish prayer.
o There are no shortcuts to knowing God or being in his word; in fact, God encourages us into the wilderness, and sometimes this invitation comes from unanswered prayer.
o And whilst we can laugh at me trying to have knowledge zapped into my mind and those kinds of prayers not being answered.
§ I have other, much deeper and more profound prayers that still have not been answered in the way that I wanted them to be
· I know that some of you are in a storm, if not all of us right now, trying to cope, and there could be more to come.
o You’ve prayed, you’ve believed, you’ve declared, you’ve trusted
§ And nothing seems to have changed
· In fact, sometimes the more you pray, the worse the storms get
o And so you may be asking
§ What am I doing wrong?
· Doesn’t Jesus care enough to still the storm I am facing?
· I want to remind you of the very simple but profound truth that ‘Jesus is still in your boat’
Jesus is still in your boat
Jesus is still in your boat
o Yes, there may be a storm…a big storm that is tossing you about
§ But Jesus is in your boat!!
o And if the miracle comes and the storm stops, we will give thanks
§ But if it doesn’t, we will hold on to the fact that Jesus is still in our boat
· The one who has said
Be strong and courageous. … for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
o “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20)
· He meant what He said
o And therefore, no matter how big the storm you are in is, He is still in our boat
§ He has not left us
§ He has not forsaken us
§ He has not abandoned us
· And sometimes we must reorient our thinking to find him in our situation, to stand on that ridge or drive Vermont road
o And see that he is still in our boat
· Part of Paul Kingsnorth’s testimony, which we heard today, he said
I went looking for things I was interested in, but Christianity, or specifically Christ, came to me without me looking for Him.”
§ Paul Kingsnorth was looking for spirituality ‘over there’ (particularly in nature and nature-type religions) and realised that it was ‘over here’ in Jesus
· We have heard a couple of testimonies today
o The disciples in the boat
o Paul Kingsnorth
o We will hear from the chaplains in our surrounding schools.
But first.
· Time of reflection/response
§ What is at least one thing that God seemed to say to me today?
§ What will I do with what I have heard?
Commisioning
Today, we share in commissioning Tracy, Tahlia, Alice, and Sue—women who step each week into school communities where respect for authority is fragile, where young people are searching for belonging, and where the hope of a third space can quietly open doors for faith to be shared.
As we’ve reflected on Jesus calming the storm, we’re reminded that trusting Him is sometimes hard work. The disciples didn’t expect to find His authority in the middle of chaos, yet that’s exactly where He revealed Himself.
In the same way, our chaplains often find Jesus at work in unexpected conversations, unexpected crises, and unexpected moments of courage. Their story—and the story of every student they serve—is still being written. And through every high and low, Jesus is in the boat with them.
Can I invite our church leadership, as well as anyone who would like to place a hand on these great ladies' shoulders, to join me in praying a prayer of protection and blessing for them?
Prayer of Commissioning
God of peace and presence,
We thank You for calling Tracy at Waverley Primary, Tahlia at Queechy High, and Alice at Punchbowl to be signs of Your compassion in their schools. Strengthen them as they navigate complex relationships, weary students, and the longing for safe spaces where young people can be heard, valued, and loved.
...
We pray for Sue, overseeing chaplains across the North. Give her wisdom, resilience, and joy as she supports and guides this ministry.
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Holy Spirit, go before them into every classroom, playground, staffroom, and quiet corner. Give them eyes to see where You are already at work, courage to step into the unexpected, and peace that anchors them when storms rise.
May their presence open doors for hope, healing, and the gentle whisper of Your love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
