Sermon Central
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Unsinkable! Series
Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 26, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: Tell the story of a storm while fishing
“Title: “Unsinkable”
Subject: What does the calming of the storm teach us about Jesus?
Complement: His kingdom is going to flourish, endure and thrive!
Big idea: Jesus calls us to an unsinkable kingdom!
Preaching idea ? there is only one unsinkable ship – it's the kingdom of God – and Jesus is it's captain.
Introduction: Remember the Titanic? Unsinkable??? Well, they are building Titanic 2.0
Titanic II is an ocean liner intended to be a functional modern-day replica of the RMS Titanic. The new ship is planned to have a gross tonnage (GT) of 56,000 while the original ship measured about 46,000 gross register tons (GRT).
The project was announced by Australian millionaire Clive Palmer in April 2012 as the flagship of the proposed cruise company Blue Star Line Pty. Ltd. of Brisbane, Australia. The intended launch date was originally set in 2016, delayed to 2018, then 2022. As of October 2018, the development of the project was expected to resume in November 2018 after a hiatus which began in 2015, caused by a financial dispute that affected the $500 million project.
Is any ship truly unsinkable???
When I was about 20 years old and living in CBS - beautiful Topsail… we decided it was a perfect July night to go fishing on the bay. The sky was blue. The ocean was calm. Mom and dad along with myself and my younger brother. It was very unusual for Mom to come along since she had a fear of the water. Though the daughter of a fisherman, she never seemed comfortable in a boat.
About an hour into the evening the sky suddenly turned dark and the wind began to blow. The waves were energetic and reckless! Some of them jumped right into our boat.
We had to get ashore before things became too dangerous.
From sunshine to a scandalous storm!
I think I know how those 12 disciples felt on Galilee that evening long ago.
Let me read our Text for today from the Gospel of Mark… chapter 4:35-41
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!”
Transition sentence... when Jesus is your captain your ship is unsinkable!
1. Jesus Teaches On The Nature Of The Kingdom Of God -- The Kingdom Of God Has Been Announced - …But Rome Is Still In Power – And They Are Intimidating.
Earlier on this day Jesus has been teaching about the nature of the kingdom of God…
He has told a number of parables…
a. Parable of the sower (scatter seed)
b. Parable of the lamp (set it on a lampstand)
c. Parable of the growing seed (all by itself…)
d. Parable of the mustard seed (smallest to largest)
e. “the kingdom of heaven is like…”
**“that day when evening came…” All day long Jesus has been teaching about the nature of the kingdom. It’s like the smallest of seeds that grows into the largest of trees!
You see, after all day in the classroom… Jesus takes his 12 disciples on a field trip… “let’s go over to the other side he says…
2. The Disciples Are Taken On A Field Trip …To Test Their Comprehension Of The Kingdom!!!
Galilee is surrounding by hills and a wind tunnel effect sends the lake into a fury… but surprisingly Jesus takes a nap!
As the storm intensifies water is coming into the boat…it's nearly swamped…they panic even though they are seasoned fishermen and accustomed to storms
They wake up Jesus from his nap…“don’t you care if we drown?”
Have you ever asked this question…
Contrast their panic with Jesus napping! ( a picture of peace and calm…)
What storm are you in??? … are you afraid… are you in a panic? When we get sick or lose a job or there’s family stress…we may wonder “God, do you care?” Jesus…Are you going to put a stop to this storm in my life?So… Jesus is awakened…Listen to this question… “don’t you care if we drown?
