Notes from the June 20 sermon on Luke 8:22-25, handily broken down for you. You can also jump to Community Group questions and Family Discussion questions for the week.
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?"
Luke 8:22-25
This week, Pastor Mark preaches on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus—fully man and fully God—ministered to crowds of thousands. As a man, he was truly exhausted when he and his disciples set out in a boat to cross the sea. He was so tired that he slept through a dangerous storm that made his disciples—experienced fishermen—desperate for help. As God, he commanded the wind and waves to be still; they obeyed Jesus’ voice, the voice of the Creator. The disciples were amazed because only God has such authority. Jesus is the Creator who made the world and the Savior who came into the world to rescue sinners.
Community Group questions
In the chaos of life we often forget the reach of God’s power. We often have a small view of Jesus by compartmentalizing Him to the "spiritual" aspects of our lives. Where is your faith when the practical storms of life hit? DISCUSSION- Why are the disciples and Jesus on the lake in the first place?
- What does this teach you about Jesus and His humanity?
- In what way is Jesus’ response to the storm surprising to you?
- What specifically would it cost you to take a step in your commitment to Jesus?
- In what circumstances is it easy for you to remember the sovereignty and power of God? When is it hard?
- What prevents you from taking that step of faith?
- What does it look like for us to have faith in the middle of the storm?
- How can we encourage one another to grow in our discipleship?
- For faith like Peter to step out of the boat
- That we would be a church full of faith
- That Jesus can change our city
- That the Holy Spirit would use this week to strengthen our church family.
Family Discussion questions
The disciples had seen Jesus heal people, cast out demons, and even somehow direct fish to fill their nets. But like the crowds who followed him, even the disciples didn’t yet fully understand who Jesus was. As they get in a boat to cross the lake, Jesus gives his disciples another opportunity to see who he really is, and that he is worthy of their faith. DISCUSSION When have you been really afraid? What did you do? EXPLANATION- What are Jesus and the disciples doing in this story? They were sailing across a lake in a boat.
- What was Jesus doing that others were not? He was sleeping in the boat.
- What happened that made the disciples afraid? A storm came and the boat was filling with water.
- What did they do? They woke Jesus and told him they were about to die.
- What did Jesus do? He woke up and rebuked (stopped) the wind and the waves.
- What did Jesus mean when he told them, "Where is your faith?" Jesus was telling the disciples that they needed to be more trusting of him.
- How did the disciples respond? They were afraid and wondered who Jesus really was that he had power even over nature.
