Fear and Faith

Greeting, welcome - prepare our hearts; create space

Prayer, silence, join together

Storytelling - how quick things change

Whose idea was this anyways?

It was His idea....? His plan. Not recorded in Scripture, but someone had to be thinking that.

the words “don’t be afraid” occurs at least 300 times in the Bible;

Can relate to how quickly can a fun day trip turns in to a poorly planned, back luck disaster of a day? It starts great and by the end of the day it’s an unexpected disaster

that tells me that there are many reasons, opportunities to be afraid;

This week:

have a cautiously planned weekend; by Friday you are standing in long line for toilet paper

monday - wash hands, door knobs, elbows - hand sanitizer back ordered until May

preparing and printing bulletins; ushers, greeters lined up; musicians by Wednesday; self quarantining preaching to empty chairs this morning;

sermon’s originally titled: opening our hands (to God and poor); focus is more on washing them several times a day

how fast things have changed; and not in a good way; like the storm pushing around a small fishing board; natural forces are out of our control, it is scary

the point: good reason to fear; greater reason for confidence

How quickly can a normal day turn to down right terrifying? It starts great and shortly after that you feel like waving the white flag to surrender.

Storytelling context - chapter 8

A long day:

dealt with demons; healed the sick ; crowds; sermons; even fought with parents; preached (then had to explain it to some clueless disciples); it was a full day; Jesus was fully human, so like us after a full day we want to get away

A long day:, preached dealt with his mother and brothers, and now he was needing sometime to get away.

Let’s go over to the side of the lake, get away he said.

Launch the boat he said.

It would be fun he said.

we could get away he said.

boat, wind, natural forces - can’t steer, can’t see; panic; dread; and Jesus is there…taking a nap

Jesus was relaxed enough to go to sleep. The breeze, gentle rocking of the boat were calming, relaxing, they rocked him into a deep sleep.

1. God sleeps. 2. God acts. 3. We believe. (3 things in the story - for us)

1. God sleeps. 2. God acts. 3. We believe.

1. God sleeps.

Matthew 8:23 NIV

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.

Luke 8:23 NIV

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.

Whirlwind; Hurricane. The Sea of Galilee 700 feet below sea level and surrounded by hills with deep ravines; susceptible to sudden storms ;

boat, wind, natural forces - can’t steer, can’t see; panic; dread; and Jesus is there…taking a nap

boat, wind, natural forces - can’t steer, can’t see; panic; dread; and Jesus is there…taking a nap

perfect analogy for now - natural forces out of control; decisions made for us; blown about; the body of Christ is afraid; Jesus asleep, unconcerned, no discernible action

like me having a service with coronavirus transmitted

the words “don’t be afraid” occurs at least 300 times in the Bible;

that tells me that there are many reasons, opportunities to be afraid;

the point: good reason to fear; greater reason for confidence

Luke 8:23 NIV

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 point: good reason to fear; greater reason for confidence

2. God Acts

2. God Acts

repent or something worse could happen to you; pastors saying that the coronavirus is God’s judgment on a sinful world;

is that what Jesus is saying?

What if I told you that I agree with Jesus? (that’s a good thing; but sometimes we read and we say “What!?!?!?!

good reason fear, good reason for confidence and boldness

Transition

Luke 13:1–9 NIV

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

Whose idea was this anyways?

What is the connection between Jesus’ comments about tragedy with the parable of the fig tree?

fishermen knew the risks, seen storms before; try to predict; businesses ruined, lives lost; shocked when it happens to them

we know safety is not guaranteed; shocked when it hits us; pandemic in China, now in Maryland

like being on that boat in hurricane: helplessness, panic;

God’s silence is not God’s absence. God’s inactivity is not God’s not caring

also knew Jesus; seen him in action that day; healing, overpowering demons; powerful preaching

don’t draw quick conclusions; panic leads to poor thinking and foolish actions;

Luke 8:24 NIV

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.

not help us, like you helped those people today; we’re going to drown; a foolish conclusion with Jesus with them in the boat

Sometimes our circumstances look hopeless, but we never know the reality of our situation until we have asked Jesus. He knows things we do not. He has power we cannot imagine. It is foolish to come to conclusions on your own when Jesus is right next to us.

Jesus wakes up, stretches, and commands a natural disaster (another miracle)

we are not the first people in history to face

Don’t just look at what’s happen. Fear, worry, yes. Remember what God has done in the past; expect God to do even more

churches are closing

if all we think about cancelled services, vacations, businesses; is the empty shelves at the grocery store; hard to see God in action; but it’s happening

3. We Believe

exegete

Matthew 8:23–27 NIV

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Matthew 8:

things are closing, but things are also opening; eyes, ears, hands

from opening and using, to washing and protecting

look for God’s action; right now; be God’s action

we are in that boat - hurricane; out of control; Jesus next to us; look for God’s acts; expect them, remember them, expect them again

3. We believe

knew the risks, had Jesus; see n him in action

that tells me that there are many reasons, opportunities to be afraid;

knew the risks, had Jesus; see n him in action

danger is all around us; safety not guaranteed;

danger is all around us; safety not guaranteed;

imagine being on that boat; storm; weather; tropical storm; anticipate, dread, prepare for disciples; boat stor

knew the risks, had Jesus; seen him in action

understand fragility -

1.God sleeps

1. understand the fragility -

don’t draw quick conclusions; panic leads to poor thinking

Jesus is right beside us

Sometimes our circumstances look hopeless, but we never know the reality of our situation until we have asked Jesus. He knows things we do not. He has power we cannot imagine. It is foolish to come to conclusions on your own when Jesus is right next to us.

Sometimes our circumstances look hopeless, but we never know the reality of our situation until we have asked Jesus. He knows things we do not. He has power we cannot imagine. It is foolish to come to conclusions on your own when Jesus is right next to us.

Luke 8:25 NIV

“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.”

1.God sleeps

not just miracle worker - the Lord over natural disasters

1.God sleeps

Not saying he was going to cause the storm. Pastor saying that the coronavirus was God’s judgment. But he knew what was going to happen

Luke 8:22 NIV

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.

act of god - insurance v. church community

Luke 8:

Not saying he was going to cause the storm. Pastor saying that the coronavirus was God’s judgment. But he knew what was going to happen

look for act of God; use this time to seek God; pray; scripture

be the act of God - e.g. lay leaders; food; prayer; time

God’s silence is not God’s absence. God’s inactivity is not God’s not caring

Luke 8:23 NIV

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.

e.g. lay leaders; food; prayer; time

why is Jesus sleeping in the storm

that’s the question disciples ask

2. God acts

3. We believe

3. We believe

1. God sleeps. 2. God acts. 3. We believe. (3 things in the story - for us)

where are we in the story? storms (hurricane?) surrounds us; no control; fear; Jesus beside us and he is waking up; I don’t know how this wil all play out, but he is going to perform powerful acts : in fact he already is;

LOOK FOR THEM: God is bring people to pray; forcing people to deepen relationships; drawing back to Scripture; meeting needs? opening eyes; ears;

dont just look for them---

BE THEM - hungry are getting hungrier; lonely getting lonelier , donate (explain - list on website