I. Opening story

A. A woman stood w/ group of tourists

1. six hundred feet below sea level

2. surrounded by high hills and mountains

3. at small Sea of Galilee, like tip of a funnel

4. "How is it that the storms mentioned in the gospel occur on this peaceful sea?"

5. at that moment, wind picked up

6. scurried to seek shelter from spray

7. and waves splashing over breakwater

II. What does the storm at sea represent?

A. forces hostile to God – evil

1. mythic struggle between good and evil

2. Babylonian creation story

a. god, Marduk

b. dragon Tiamat (the sea)

3. stilling uses exorcism formula

B. Chaos - natural, social, political, personal

1. civil war

2. social unrest

3. phone call at night

a. auto accident

b. sudden death

4. marraige ready to break up

5. harsh words between child and parent

6. diagnosis of terminal illness

7. other situations that foster fear

C. Into these storms, Jesus enters

1. joining us in the tumult

2. inviting us to trust

3. his presence brings calmness

III. What does the boat represent?

A. Church, those who choose discipleship

B. Polycarp never intended to be a martyr

1. Bishop of Smyrna in second century

2. lived quiet life to an old age

3. new emperor hated Christians

4. soldiers came through town forcing to worship of statue

5. Polycarp hid in barn, advised same

6. brought him out of hiding, told to worship emperor as lord

7. "My Lord has been faithful all these years. How could I desert him now?"

8. emperor took Polycarp’s life, but not destroy lifetime friendship

C. Church in D.C.

1. had ministry

a. caring for poor

b. feeding hungry

c. sheltering stranger

d. clothing naked

e. visiting sick

2. strong and powerful

3. sold building to multinational company

4. built a new church and opened doors fro ministry

5. new neighbors took them to court

6. did not want those kind of people in neighborhood

7. storm resulted because they were doing what Jesus wanted

D. This is one of those times in the life of the church when the forces of confusion and chaos threaten

1. presence of the Spirit at A. C.

2. difficult to step out in faith

IV. What is the relationship between this powerful Jesus and the suffering servant?

A. Jesus restores order, gives us purpose

1. irony Jesus is only non-sailor

2. not worried, totally faithful

3. trusting of others who were sailors

B. Disciples say "Do you not care?"

1. they were desperate

2. they turned to the one who brought them on the journey to begin with

C. Jesus responds, "Why are you afraid?"

D. They feared a great fear.

1. despite private instruction by Jesus

2. and being witnesses of the miracle, they cannot rise above their fears to faith

E. we can identify with their fear

1. not so much having fear, but how we respond

2. facing fear is invariably challenging

3. Great Depression

a. desperate and fearful

b. FDR "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself."

F. Jesus is here ministering to the church

G. He does care, even when we are afraid!

H. His ultimate ministry to the church is his death

I. This Jesus, who can calm the storm,

1. uses the power to go to his death

2. so that we might have life abundantly

3. when we rise to faith we proclaim the good news, in spite of our fear

V. Closing Story

A. Long, and difficult crossing

B. Disciples sat in the boat quietly talking

C. waiting for Jesus to go back to sleep

D. when his breathing was lengthened

1. "Who is this man!?"

2. "Did you see what happened out there?"

3. "What have we gotten ourselves into?"

E. Shook heads in stunned silence

1. "Well, I don’t know how he calmed the seas that way, but I do know that I don’t appreciate how he challenged our faith at a time of such danger. Surely he, of all people, could understand our fear. He has been so kind and compassionate, but tonight he was hurtful. I don’t understand."

2. Another spoke, more timid, quieter

"What if Jesus meant that we didn’t need to be afraid, not because he was with us in the boat, but because we had it within us to help ourselves? What if he was trying to teach us about the power of faith?"

3. In the stern, Jesus lay as still as the waters around him, with eyes fixed upon the starlit night and with the slightest bit of a grin on his face.

 

Pastoral Prayer

Yes, Lord, we need you.
We acknowledge our deep need for your presence in our lives.
We confess that it is often only during the times of crisis
that we recognize that need.
When the winds begin to blow
and we feel ourselves being tossed around
by the sea of life,
we admit that we cannot live on our own.

We turn to you during these storms,
trusting that you are in the boat with us
and ask for your help.
You do not fail us.

Today, we come to you
and some of us are living through that storm.
Some are experiencing the pain and loss of divorce.
Others
And still others, whom we do not know,
are in the midst of civil war.

We lift up the people of the Congo and Liberia.
We pray for Muslim, Jew and Christian
living in Israel and Palestine.
Be present to the children of Afghanistan and Iraq
as they struggle to survive in their war torn countries.

We especially petition this day
that you be present to Don Goodick’s family
during their time of grief.
We know that you have welcomed Don home,
releasing him from all pain and celebrating his life with us, yet we still grieve his loss.
Be with his family during these days.

Help us to open to your presence during the calm, sunny day.
May we appreciate anew each day of life,
grateful for your healing presence
in the beauty that surrounds us.