In this week’s message titled “Who’s In Your Boat”, Adam Birr shares his convictions as we continue on in our study of the book of Mark, Chapter 4, in our “Renewal” sermon series. Join us for our Sunday service as we celebrate, worship, take communion together.
Worship is led by Scott & Rachelle Galloway and features worship teams from various sister churches.
Message Summary & Reflection
Who’s In Your Boat?
All passages from Mark 4
v35-41 – The disciples, who are a ragtag team of unlikely men, are aboard a boat with their rabbi Jesus. A fearsome storm comes upon them as they sail to the other side of Galilee. We know that this storm was deadly, as even the experienced seamen among them were terrified for their lives! Yet Jesus was fast asleep at the end of the boat…
The disciples come to wake him, and in a panic start to question him, saying, ‘Don’t you care about us, that we might drown?!’ But Jesus rebuked the wind and waves, as well as the disciples with him because they had not the faith in him that they should have. Having known Christ and witnessed his authority in the past, they had every reason to be confident in their rabbi who could save them, yet at this moment, they relied only upon what they could immediately see. (Although we can understand and share in this response, it is the wrong one! 1 Pet 5:7)
Unlike the disciples, we have a different kind of faith. Ours is not by sight, but by the Word written for us, the accounts of the disciples and eyewitnesses to the work of Christ. But for all of us, from the time of the gospels until now, the hearts of men and responses to the message are consistent across the different generations.
v1-8 and 14-20 speak of Jesus’ teaching before the voyage. The parable of the sower shows us the state of our hearts in their different forms and the consequences of each. Each soil has its own problem, but the 3rd and 4th soils describe the most essential Christian walk! The seed sown amongst thorns – the worries of this life that choke out faith – is something we constantly encounter and are challenged with. This soil is to rely only on what is seen, to look around at the storm, and live fearfully, forgetting who God is and what He can do. And the seed thrown amongst good soil is prosperous and fruitful because is a soil ready to internalise the Word of God, practice and focus on it. Faith is the difference with this soil, and the heart of this person is always looking to God, even amidst disasters!
v21-23 – Our relationship with the Lord is personal, but our faith is very much public and visible to others. Like a lamp on a stand, our faith shines. And how we respond to life during chaos is critical to our faith. It shows us where our faith truly lies. On this night of the storm, Jesus shows himself to be the safest place. He does not necessarily remove us from all dangers, but he is the creator of all things, and he has authority, and he is the one to have in your boat. If we are living life ‘safely’ on the seashore, yet not with Jesus, this is false security. It is better to be on the choppy waves with Him who can rescue you. This is how we shine: John 1:3, Rev 4:11, 1 Cor 8:6, Col 1:16, Heb 1:3, 2 Thess 2:7-8.
Reflection questions: What is your view of God when life gets stormy? Do you question his care for you? How long is it before you turn to Him? How does your light shine, especially in chaos? And who is in your boat?
Psa 73:25-26, Matt 18:20
Scriptures Shared In This Message
This message will focus on the scriptures featured below:
- Mark 4
