Training Ground
Calming the Storm
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Welcome!
Call to Worship:
Let us remember who it is we are worshiping today the Lord of heaven’s armies, King of kings, God Almighty, Mighty Warrior, Savior, and Sovereign God, who calls us friend.
Psalm 89 5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? 7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. 8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. 9 You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. 17 For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
This IS our God! Let us worship Him with the praise and faith He deserves. There is no one like Him!
Let’s pray.
Praise Songs
Intro: You ever have those moments that God shows you something and says this is what I want you to be doing, or this is what I have for you and you think wow that’s great God-but I’m over here and that is way over there and the path to that place looks like it could be pretty rocky, or maybe it looks really far off. Maybe you have thought, I don’t know… are You sure God? Am I ready God? Can I do this God? How will I pay for this God?
I have had many moments like this since I started actively pursuing the Lord. I have no doubt many more moments will come about in my lifetime as I continue to pursue Him. In those moments we must choose who and what we are going to focus on- the path that looks uncertain, maybe even shaky, or the One who called us? Focusing on the sketchy path will prompt fear and likely resistance, ultimately going nowhere or even backwards. Focused on God and all that He is-faithful, true, sovereign, gracious, strong, providing will produce faith every time. Faith will always move us to action. The path will still be uncertain, even stormy at times, but we keep going and we eventually find ourselves where God was leading us, and that is amazing to look back and see where He has brought us to!
Since we are coming up on 10 years of my serving as pastor here, this is a fitting example to share on moments like this. I spent the first part of my career in corporate America, climbing the ladder to what I thought led to a successful life. God pulled me out of that life and into midsize companies for another season, and then into becoming a partner in a training company-all the while grooming me for this very role-both professionally and personally. The time came He showed me this opportunity and calling and let me tell you I was not like OK! Yes! Let’s do it! I was pursuing professional speaking and I really liked training and teaching-you might pick up on that in this role. I thought that’s crazy-me, a pastor?! Stay with me if you’re worried about what I’m doing up here today-it gets better.
You see, saying yes to this calling meant walking away from that partnership and the business world I knew and entering something very different. It meant leaving behind a set salary for something initially very small because I was starting part-time. It meant pursuing something with no certainty at all. It meant bringing my whole family into this and trusting God would both protect and bless them. It meant a full surrender of my life-which of course is what God wants from all of us-at least our hearts.
As with anything major that comes about we should take time to pray and discern, so I did. As I looked at what God was asking of me, I could see how I had been equipped for this role over the years and I already had faith strong enough to know whatever God was asking of me, He would surely provide and teach me in areas I was lacking. So, I thought with Your help God, I could do this. I had to decide-which we all do in moments like this-am I going to be someone who just says I live by faith, or am I truly going to live by faith and trust God in this really big change that He will show up and help me every step of the way? I decided I wanted to actively live by faith so I could see the miracles of God at work through my life. Once I decided that in my heart, He just started moving.
My family supported it and amazingly all things fell together. Our business shut down later that summer with so much grace and still loving friendships, God provided other forms of income with teaching at Madison College and through speaking-that just all lined up, and there was much grace here for which I am so thankful. And here we are 10 years later. I didn’t even have in mind longevity when I said yes-I just said yes not knowing where any of this was going, or where it will yet. I’m so grateful I said yes! What an amazing journey so far!
Now have there been some storms that popped up along the way, some shaky ground, some uncertainties-absolutely-but God has guided me, my family, and our church through them all every single time. These are the moments that build our faith. And building our faith is what God is all about, faith in Jesus. He will lead us into stormy waters, to test our faith. Who are you trusting in? He wants it to be Jesus!
We are in this new series, Training Ground, so today’s message is about Calming the Storms in our life. Who is in control? Who do we cry out to? Who do we follow? Who do we trust? The disciples were about to be tested in a massive way. Maybe you can relate to what is happening to them. Let’s look to Jesus and what He is teaching.
Mark 4: 35-41 NIV
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!”
I don’t want us to miss the first thing Jesus said to the disciples before they set out in the boat and any winds started to swirl, “let us go over to the other side.”
We should know or learn to trust, everything Jesus says is with intention and will come about as He says. He didn’t say let’s see if we can make it over there, or I hope we can make it across before any storms pop up. He was giving direction with authority for He knew the plans He had for them.
He knows the plans He has for us too. When Jesus speaks, these are promises and words of Truth we can trust in because just like He cared for His disciples and keeping them safe, He also cares for you and me. He will bring His promises about in our lives and it will require us to have faith in Him to do so.
- Jesus Rested in Faith.
Mark 4:38 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?”
Let’s take note that in His humanity after a long day of teaching to the masses, Jesus was tired. He called the disciples together and said let’s get away from the crowds and go over to the other side. It was a bit of a travel to get across so in His exhaustion, Jesus rested, in faith, that God the Father was working all things for good and bringing forth His divine purposes as He willed. We would be wise, myself included, to heed His example. We can’t run at mock speed all the time, or burn the candle at both ends, and think our bodies will just keep going. They won’t, and thus, we won’t. We are told in His Word to cease striving (that also means in our worrying about how to fix or care for everything) and know I am God. To Be still and know I am God. Jesus modeled this in His humanity and slept when He was tired. He rested in faith, the Father’s purposes would come about.
Also note where He chose to position Himself-not in some corner all balled up or hidden away. He stationed Himself at the stern and slept there. Originally the stern was placed at the back of a ship or boat, it is the place for steering and allows for stability and balance to the boat. So, Jesus did sleep but also positioned Himself right near the steering as a reminder, He is always overseeing, always watching, and always in sovereign control.
The disciples were about to enter training ground. What He wanted to teach them was look to Me, watch Me, and follow My example. I will show you the way and when I am with you, you need not fear. They should have taken notice that Jesus was completely peaceful, unshaken by winds rattling about and water rising over the boat. They should have remembered what Jesus spoke to them, “let us go to the other side”. He didn’t say let’s set out to our death, yet in the middle of the raging storm that is what they were thinking, “we are going to die and Jesus is taking a nap!” Their faith wasn’t mature yet-as is the case for all of us. This is why we enter training ground-because Jesus will stretch us and have us leave the comfort of the shore to go out into the deep waters and allow a storm to rise up against us. It is never so we get pulled under; it is so we learn to cry out to Him! He’s teaching us to look to Him, see what His Word says, and trust He will see us through.
Jesus was not the least bit disturbed by the fierce storm rising up against the boat. He knows who He is and He knows His authority to calm every wave and quiet the strongest winds. This is important for us to remember; it is not the storms that cause Jesus to act; but our faith in Him to rescue us in those storms.
- Take Jesus as He is.
Mark 4:35 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.
We might gloss over statements like this in the Bible, but please don’t. Every word is added for a purpose to teach us to look more closely, pay attention to the deeper meaning, and see the spiritual truths God wants us to know.
When they set off in the boat-they left immediately in the boat that Jesus had been teaching from. Jesus didn’t go get cleaned up first after a long day, grab a coat for the long boat ride, get a bite to eat-they took Him as He was and out into the deep they went.
What does this mean for us in our faith walk? We must learn to take Jesus for who He is, not who we wish Him to be; not as others present Him to be. But we come to His Word and we ask for divine revelation to be taught who Jesus is, as He states. Then we choose to believe Him at His Word. For when we start acting on this belief, our faith grows.
Hear Jesus’ invitation today and take Him as He is. Take Him at His Word.
Matthew 11:28-29 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Listen, some of you today are deeply troubled in soul and spirit and you’re weary. My question for you is this, are you taking Jesus for who He says He is? Are you heeding what He tells you to do? Are you yoking up with Him? Because His promise is when you do this, you WILL find rest for your souls. He doesn’t say I will take away all your trials-no that’s our training ground. He says, you will find rest for your soul. Why? Because our soul then is trusting in Him and believing He truly is our Savior, our Shepherd, our Counselor, our Protector, our Defender, our Provider, our Healer, our Shield… do you hear me today? Who is Jesus to you?
Hear His plea:
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
Belief comes from the heart. Choose to open the door to your heart and let Him in. Quit keeping Him at arms length. Believe, for when you believe, you trust. When you trust, you rest in faith.
If you wonder, Jesus tells us exactly who He is.
John 8:58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
He is GOD. He has always existed. He is I AM-all powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing.
Therefore, let this be our response when the storms begin to rage in our life.
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
- Let Fear Ignite Faith in Jesus.
We need to be clear it wasn’t wrong for the disciples, who were expert fisherman, trained how to handle rough waters, to be afraid. This was a severe storm and it is good when we have a healthy fear when we face times of danger. So today’s message isn’t about never being fearful, because we all will at times. What was wrong was their tone towards Jesus, “don’t you care Jesus?” “Are you indifferent to our plight?” Can you hear the frustration in their question? Can you relate to that same frustration and attitude towards Jesus in your trials?
Mark 4:38 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?”
Of course He cares for them and He cares for all of us. He wouldn’t have gone to the cross if He didn’t care. Everything that happens in our lives, He cares about. When we start thinking like this, we must go back and remember to take Jesus as He is.
What they did right that we can learn from and follow is appealing to Jesus in their time of need. Wrong tone-right action. They cried out to Jesus and it was their cry that woke Him from His sleep. The storm didn’t disrupt Him, their cry and fear did. Parents- think about when babies were little-our ears became trained to hear the slightest cry and we would awake from our sleep and go to help them. Now it’s our older dog who can’t get up the steps and wimpers for me to come pick her up. We can understand the heart of Jesus that responded to the heart cry of the disciples.
He acted immediately as they cried out. He has authority over every storm we face.
Mark 4:39 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.
You and I, like those disciples, cannot always quiet the raging storms in our lives, but Jesus can and He will as we cry out to Him. We often act surprised when Christ rescues us and calms the storm out of nowhere like He did for those disciples.
Instead, we should be saying, “that is just like You Jesus! Thank you!”
Let’s look to a couple Psalms we can learn and practice praying when we are in the middle of a storm.
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Conclusion: The storm didn’t disturb Jesus, the unbelief of His disciples did. Let us choose to live by faith and know /the boat is not going under when Jesus is on board! Follow where He leads you!
Let’s pray.
Offering:
Prayers:
Final Song
Final Blessing: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. May the Lord bless both your coming and your going from this place.
