First Church of the Nazarene
Pastor Henecke's Sermon and Devotional Outlines

| Sermon Outlines |





Pastor Henecke's Sermon Outline

The Woodland Street Pulpit

Gary Allen Henecke DD

May 21, 2006 A.M.

In the Storm

Mark 6:45-56

As soon as he had finished, Jesus made his disciples embark by boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he dismissed the crowd. After taking leave of them, he went up the hill to pray. It was now late and the boat was already well out on the water, while he was alone on the land. Between three and six in the morning, he saw them laboring at the oars against a head wind, and he came toward them, walking on the lake. He was going to pass them; but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But at once he spoke to them: "Take heart! It is I; do not be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them and the wind ceased. At this they were utterly amazed, for they had not understood the incident of the loaves; their hearts were hardened. So, they completed the crossing, and landed at Gennesaret, where they moored the boat. When they came ashore, he was recognized at once; and the people scoured the whole region and brought the sick on mats to wherever he was reported to be. Wherever he went, to villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him to let them simply touch the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched him were healed.

  1. Life is Dynamic in the Lord

    1. What a week the disciples had lived

      1. Life was literally exploding about them

      2. It was the season of Passover (32 AD)

        1. Jesus was not going "up to" Jerusalem

        2. The rejection of him was now in the open

    2. In Galilee he pursued his mission

The events of that season

  • The calming of the storm on the lake

  • The calming of the evil in a man called Legions

  • In Capernaum, an unnamed woman with a twelve year illness

  • The healing of the Rabbi’s twelve-year-old daughter

  • The calling and naming of the twelve

  • The crossing of the lake and the miracle of the loaves and fish

  • The kingship forced by man

  • The night they sailed alone

  1. The Night on the Lake

    1. With their heads and hearts swirling

      1. The kingship was at their fingertips

      2. All seemed under Jesus’ control

    2. The darkness set in – the real test of life:

      3. Can the Jesus you trust in the day – be trusted in the night?

      1. He is Lord of the storm! (Poseidon)

        2. Mark 4:41

        They feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

      2. We found him master of physicians! (Asclepios)

      3. He is master over death! (Hades)

      4. He is Lord over wine, fish and bread! (Dionysus)

    3. In each situation they were astonished

      1. They were constantly surprised by him

      2. He was master of every situation

        1. But, they were the experts in boating this lake

        2. And he was not here

    4. Here is found the issue of life

      1. First they were always mistaken about him

        1. Mark 6:3 Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Judah, and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

          1. They saw him externally

          2. They failed to see their God

        2. Mark 6:14 Some were saying, "He is John the baptizer raised from the dead; for this reason these powers are at work in him."

          1. He is miraculous

          2. He must be like another

        3. Now: Mark 6:49 When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and cried out;

      2. We/they are often putting limits on him

        1. At En Gev he had tested them

          2. John 6:5-6

          When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.

        2. Their response was classic

          1. Our resources are limited

          2. Send them away

    5. What is the lesson in all of this?

  2. The God who confronts us

    1. The key to this story is given to us by Mark

      1. That night their strength was taxed

      2. Their abilities were no match for the storm

        1. That’s when they saw him

        2. But he was passing by – not coming to them

      He was going to pass them; but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But at once he spoke to them: "Take heart! It is I; do not be afraid."

    2. God is passing by –

      1. Each of us

      2. All of the time

        1. Moses learned this on Horeb

        2. God revealed himself as the One who passes by

      Exodus 33:18-23

      Moses asked Yahweh, "Reveal to me your glory, I pray." God said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, 'Yahweh'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "You cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." Then Yahweh continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

    3. The issue – do we see him?

      1. Do we recognize him?

      2. Do we really believe he is God?

      3. Is he God in every situation?

    4. Is he God when we are alone?

      1. Why do we find it so hard to expect him?

      2. Why do we continue to be amazed?

    Then he climbed into the boat with them and the wind ceased. At this they were utterly amazed, for they had not understood the incident of the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

     

  3. What were they (are we) to learn?

    1. The lesson of the loaves

      1. God is our source!

      2. He is with us when we are all alone

        1. We must not limit God!

        2. We must look for him in the dark

    2. The hour has come to stop

      1. Stop seeing a carpenter

      2. Stop seeing a prophet

      3. Stop seeing a ghost

      4. Stop focusing on the need

      Psalm 127:1

      Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

    3. The battle is the Lord’s

      1. Israel failed to enter the promises

        1. They had seen God bring them out of bondage

        2. They had eaten bread from heaven

      2. But the giants of the land were too real

    4. God had said to them

      5. Numbers 11:23 The LORD said to Moses, "Is the Lord’s power limited?"

    5. Jesus had wept over the Jerusalem of his hour

      1. They had not recognized the hour of their visitation

      2. Their house was left to their own care

      Matthew 23:37-39

      "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’"

    6. So it is with each of us

      1. Is he lord in the deserted places?

      2. Is he God beyond human science?

      3. Is he God in the night?

  4. Behold Your God





Pastor Henecke's PM Sermon Outline


Please check back for updated information.








Back to Top
Copyright 1998-2006 First Church of the Nazarene
Last updated: May 29, 2006