Your June 23rd, Sermon & Ministry Resources

Calming the Storm

Lectionary Readings — Fifth Sunday after Pentecost — June 23, 2024

1 Samuel 17:32-49; Psalm 9:9-20; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41

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Call to Worship (based on Mark 4:35-41)

Leader: Let us gather in the presence of the Lord, who calms the storms in our lives.

People: We come, seeking peace and refuge in the midst of our trials.

Leader: On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us go across to the other side."

People: We hear the call to journey with Jesus, trusting in His guidance.

Leader: A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

People: In the storms of life, when we feel overwhelmed, we cry out to Jesus.

Leader: They woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

People: We sometimes doubt, questioning if God sees our struggles.

Leader: He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.

People: With His word, Jesus brings peace to our troubled hearts and minds.

Leader: He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"

People: We seek to grow in faith, trusting Jesus to calm the storms we face.

Leader: Let us worship the One who brings peace and calms our fears.

People: We come to worship Jesus, the calm in our storm, our hope and our salvation. Amen.

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Opening Prayer (based on Psalm 9:9-20)

Let us pray.

Gracious and Mighty God,

We come before You today, seeking refuge and strength, for You are our stronghold in times of trouble. As the psalmist declares, "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble" (Psalm 9:9). We find comfort in knowing that You never forsake those who seek You.

Lord, we remember Your wondrous deeds and praise You with all our hearts. Your justice and righteousness reign over all the earth. We thank You for being a righteous judge, and we trust in Your perfect timing and wisdom.

As we gather, we lift our voices in gratitude for Your faithfulness. We ask that You be present with us, guiding our hearts and minds as we worship and learn from Your Word. Help us to trust in You more deeply and to seek Your face in every circumstance.

Lord, hear the cries of the afflicted and oppressed. Show mercy to those in need, and let Your justice prevail. Remind us that You do not ignore the humble or the cries of those who suffer.

Empower us to be Your hands and feet, bringing Your love into our communities. May our lives reflect Your goodness and grace, drawing others to seek refuge in You.

We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]

Sermon Outline: Calming the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)

Introduction:

• Share a personal or contemporary story of facing a storm in life.

• Briefly introduce the passage from Mark 4:35-41, setting the scene of Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee.

Scripture Reading: Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV)

I. STORM IN THE SEA

• Description of the Storm: Explain the suddenness and intensity of the storm. Highlight the disciples' fear and the boat being swamped.

  • "A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped" (Mark 4:37).

• Disciples' Distress: Describe the disciples' reaction of fear and their cry for help.

  • "They woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’" (Mark 4:38).

II. SLEEPING SAVIOR

• Christ's Calmness: Highlight Jesus' remarkable calmness, sleeping in the midst of chaos.

  • "But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion" (Mark 4:38).

• Invitation to Faith: Discuss the contrast between Jesus' peace and the disciples' panic, inviting the congregation to reflect on their own responses to life's storms.

  • "He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’" (Mark 4:39).

III. SPEAKING TO THE STORM

• Authority of Jesus: Emphasize Jesus' authority over nature and His command to the storm.

  • "Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm" (Mark 4:39).

• Power of His Word: Reflect on the power of Jesus' words and the immediate obedience of the wind and sea.

  • Connect this to the power of God's Word in our lives today.

IV. STRENGTHENING FAITH

• Question of Faith: Discuss Jesus' question to His disciples about their faith.

  • "He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’" (Mark 4:40).

• Call to Trust: Encourage the congregation to trust in Jesus amidst their own storms, emphasizing that faith grows stronger through trials.

  • Relate to Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Conclusion

• Reflect on the Journey: Summarize the key points of the sermon, reiterating the importance of having faith in Jesus during life's storms.

• Personal Application: Challenge the congregation to identify the storms in their lives and to trust Jesus to bring peace and calm.

Closing Prayer:

• Offer a prayer for increased faith, peace in the midst of storms, and trust in Jesus' authority and care.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers