Where is Your Faith?
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on June 26, 2021 in Mark 4:35-41
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost June 27, 2021
Text: Mark 4:35-41 CW 3 Year Series B 21:2267
Theme: Where is Your Faith?
This was a good fishing lake. The beach was used by men who earned their living by fishing. It was done at night. However, during the early part of the day, you could watch the men sitting near their boats, preparing their nets. It was like that every day.
But today the beach was crowded with people. Some came out of curiosity. Others couldn’t tell you why they came. For many it was an emptiness in their hearts, longing for something more. Those who stood out in the crowd were the sick, the crippled, the helpless. So many! Their faces lined with years of suffering. But this day, in their eyes was a new gleam of hope. Jesus had come!
The crowd on the beach pushed forward. They wanted to hear. Many wanted to touch Him. Had you been there, you would have seen Jesus as someone looking like any other man, except He appeared tired, very tired. The crowds gave Him little rest. He could not even sit down to eat a bite of food with His disciples because the people constantly pressed Him. I suppose that He could have sent them home. But, tired as He was, He couldn’t do that. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So many needed Him.
Newcomers arrived. But those nearest Him didn’t want to step back. For a moment, it looked like the crowd would push Him right into the lake. But look! Jesus stepped into one of the boats along the shore and His friends rowed Him out a little way. Now, everyone could hear and see Him.
“When you light a lamp,” Jesus said, “You don’t put it under a bed or a bushel basket. No, you set the lamp on a table so that everyone in the house can see it. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see, and glorify your Father in heaven.” With hungry hearts the people listened. No one ever talked to them like this before. They listened as He told them one parable after another.
But now it was growing dark. At last Jesus turned to His friends in the boat and said, “Let’s go over to the other side.” The people there need Him too. His friends picked up the oars. Jesus went to the end of the boat and laid down to rest. It had been a long day. But He had reached so many lives. At once He fell asleep.
It was about 7 miles across the top of the lake. His friends took
turns rowing and always kept an anxious eye on the sky. This lake was known for its sudden, violent storms because of its position between the snow-covered mountains and the plains below sea-level. It wasn’t long before the sky darkened with heavy, black clouds. The wind picked up; the waters rose, choppy; and the little boat rose and fell on the swells. More violently the wind blew. The waves broke against the side of the boat and began to spill into it. No matter how hard or how fast they bailed, the boat began to fill.
These were not cowardly men. Many of them made their living on this lake. They had seen such storms and heard about others where men never came home. Were they to drown just now …now that life seemed to be worth living…now that they had found the divine Teacher? With fearful eyes they looked at one another.
Meanwhile, Jesus’ eyes were closed as He slept most peacefully in the back of the boat. Finally, they shook Him awake. “Didaskale, ou melei soi oti apollumeqa! ”Teacher,don’tYou care that that we are about to perish!”
Without a word Jesus arose. He didn’t take hold of an oar. He didn’t grab a bailing pail. He simply spoke in a quiet tone, with the authority of heaven: “Hush! Be still!” Immediately the winds grew silent. The waves fell. All was calm as a quiet afternoon. Then He turned to His friends and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you not yet have faith? Where Is Your Faith?” (Lk.8:25).
Do you hear the note of sadness, the tinge of disappointment in His’ voice: “Why are you so afraid? Where’s your faith? Do you not yet have it?” After all that they had been through and seen of their divine companion whose grace and power were evident in the sermons He preached and the miracles He performed. Faithless after all that! How could they deny His abilities?
So, what happened out there on the stormy water when the wind howled and the waves crashed, tossing their little boat about? Well, the first thing that happened was that they looked to themselves to get them out of their predicament. Have you done that, too? Looking to yourself first? Is God just a last resort? But when human abilities fail and our little boats got swamped, we panic, like they did: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
After hearing and seeing so much of His loving care for all, such little confidence they had in their Friend. At least they went to Him, but barely. They only crept upon their faith in Him, so much so that the Lord felt constrained to gently chide: “Why are you so afraid? Where Is Your Faith?” (Lk.8:25)
It’s almost to be expected, isn’t it, for if we are honest, we are weak in ourselves. That’s not such a bad thing to see. When our voyage through life is battered by the tempests of troubles that arise, we too are shaken. In fact, it can be expected that even the firmest believer will be fearful, for we are not yet perfected. Sin and temptation still affect us here. No matter how brave a front you put up, who can face calamity, who can look into the jaws of death without wincing? Illness, misfortune, accident! Even Job, the most righteous and upright man of his time, was shaken.
God does not expect that we will not be shaken either. Nor does our Christian faith demand us to put on a false front of manly bravado. The Lord Jesus Himself wept at the grave of His friend. And the Apostle Paul did not berate Christians for crying because of their losses. But in their shaken state he reminded them that “we do not grieve like the rest of men who have no hope” (1Th.:4:13). For we’ve got the surest hope of all – Christ – by our side. He will be our anchor in every storm of life.
So, dear friend, if in your weakness you find yourself beginning to creep ahead in fear of what life might bring…if you find yourself allowing the storms of trouble to cause you great alarm…if you find yourself beginning to permit the clouds of adversity to darken the memory of the Savior’s sunshine of grace, it is good to hear His gentle voice reminding: Where Is Your Faith? It’s a question that gently shakes us to our senses, for without Him we are lost. And then He goes to work to help us.
After the disciples woke Him, Jesus rose to His feet. With a wave of His hand and a word from his lips the turbulent sea was smoothed; the howling wind subsided. “Hush! Be still!” And it was so. The wind died down and all was quiet. And there in the mystic calm that followed the storm, our Lord stood in all His glory. And, that we would not miss the impact of it all, He asked, “Why are you so afraid? Where is your faith?” It was a question given to point to His grace, for in His great love, so undeserved at times because of weakness, He provides what is needed to comfort and take care of us. It was as if He said, “Here is the faith that will comfort and take care of you. Here it is, in me – your Savior.”
And so it is that in the times of our weakness, and especially, after the trouble has subsided, He does His work that we might be more mindful of our weak state and His strength. For if we did not go through the struggle and fail, how would we ever find our strength and rest in Him? We would think that it was our arm and our ability that got us through and solved the problem.
This is my fear for myself, for our church, and especially for our country in these times. When things seem to be against us, illness, crime, murder, homes lost, jobs not found, finances failing, our people make plans to pull ourselves out of our difficulties. That is good to the extent that the Lord gives us our brains and the abilities to make it through and then says, “Work so that you eat.” We must do all within our power to do the work the Lord gives us to do in our families, in our church, and in our land while it is day.
And yet who was it that got the disciples out of their troubles? It was not they, the experienced men of the sea, who saved themselves. It was the Lord who provided the means for survival. As they went to Him, He did not abandon them but poured out His grace upon them. And so that they might not miss the moment, there He stood in the wreckage of the storm, arms outstretched in blessing over them. Even the wind and the wave must obey Him.
What a picture you have, dear friend, of the Lord in your life. He stands tall in the boat, arms outstretched over you, blessing you with calm after the storm has done its part. The Savior never abandons His people, not even in their weakest moments. Oh, He might allow the storms to show us our weakness and inabilities, but that is done not to harm us. It happens that He might gently shake us as He points us to His grace in our lives.
You see, the Lord Jesus holds not just the winds and the waves in His hands, but He wants to hold our very souls. With His blood He cleansed us from our sin when we were unable. With His Spirit He made us His own through the waters of Holy Baptism and the hearing of His Word. (So family, Savannah and Noah, and all of you, keep teaching RaeLynn that Word. Baptism is not the end. It’s just the beginning. And what a beginning in faith it is.) Through the continued hearing of His Word He will guide, strengthen, and keep (her and) us as His own now and forever.
So, dear friend, Where is Your Faith? What better, safer, more comforting, and happier place can it be than in Him who stands in the calm of every storm to bless you? Here is your faith; it is in Christ Jesus, your Savior. Stand boldly in Him. God grant us all such a faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield
(A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)
Church phone: 417.887.0886 Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244
www.zionluthchurch.com email: revelehmann@gmail.com
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost June 27, 2021
“He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!”
The wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39
F o r O u r V i s i t o r s
The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.
U p o n E n t e r i n g G o d’ s H o u s e
“God is our Refuge and Strength, an ever-present Help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea….Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46).
W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t
Who is this? It is a question about Jesus’ identity that the disciples asked after He calmed the storm that overwhelmed them on the sea.
Who is this? It the question that the Lord asked of Job after Job had lashed out at God and accused Him of being powerless and not caring.
Who is this? It is a question about the Lord Jesus that the Apostle Paul strove to answer in his preaching. As Jesus’ spokesman, Paul felt compelled by Christ’s love to tell others that He is the Redeemer.
Who is this? He is the all-powerful God, the Creator of all things, whose true work is seen in His reconciling sinful mankind to Himself. In Him life is given, faith is strengthened, and confidence prevails. He is Lord of all, Lord in all, and Lord to all whose trust is placed in Him
To that end we pray: O Lord, our God, govern the nations on earth and direct the affairs of the world so that Your Church may worship You in peace and joy; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
– T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y –
Old Testament Lesson: Job 38:1-11
Dare a person question God and His ways? God is the omnipotent, omniscient Creator. He was there at creation; He knows what needs to be done. Who is man to question Him? Will God not do what is best?
Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Christ makes the world a new creation, reconciling it to God. He gives His Church this good news to proclaim, bidding each listener to receive it as his own. Those who believe it, stand in awe of Christ’s reconciling love. His love compels them in love to proclaim it.
Gospel Lesson: Mark 4:35-41
“Lord, don’t you care what happens to us?” We are tempted to question Him when things don’t seem to go right in our lives. Does the Lord care when life’s storms threaten us? He never will forsake us. Even though He appears to sleep, the Savior will rise to help us in our need.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Trio: Lois Wiese, Jane Rips, Pastor
Point to Ponder: “If you want to go abroad with Christ, bad weather will not fail to come, and Christ will want to sleep. Then we really feel the temptation. Otherwise, if He were not sleeping and were to check the bad weather soon, we would never find out what it means to be a Christian, and, I suppose, would think to boot that we were helping ourselves by our own power. Here, however, temptation strengthens faith. Therefore, one must say: ‘No human power was able to help; God alone and His dear Word have done it.’”
— Martin Luther on At Times Christ Seems to Have Left us to Ourselves
Thy holy wings, dear Savior, Spread gently over me,
And through the long night watches, I’ll rest secure in Thee,
Oh, may whate’er betide me, Be Thou my hiding place.
And let me live and labor Each day, Lord, by Thy grace.
Outline of Our Worship
Lord, Hear Us
Opening Thoughts on the Service
Opening Hymn: #234
Today’s Order of Worship: Morning Praise: Hymnal pg.45
Lord, Feed Us
Psalm of the Day: #46 Hymnal pg.84
Job 38:1-11
2 Corinthian5:14-21
Trio: Thy Holy Wings, Dear Savior
Mark 4:35-41
Sermon Hymn: #433
Sermon Text: Mark 4:35-41 Where Is Your Faith?
Lord, Accept Our Response
“We Praise You, O God” Te Deum Laudamus: Hymnal pg.48
“Lord, Have Mercy”
Prayers, Lord’s Prayer & Prayer for Grace Hymnal pg. 50
Lord, Bless Us
The Benediction Hymnal pg. 51
Closing Hymn: #405
Silent Prayer
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – Series B
Old Testament Lesson: Job 38:1-11 – The Lord Answers Job
1Then the Lord responded to Job out of a violent storm. He said: 2Who is this who spreads darkness over my plans with his ignorant words? 3Get ready for action like a man! Then I will ask you questions, and you will inform me.
4Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you understand anything about it. 5Who determined its dimensions? I am sure you know. Who stretched out the surveying line over it? 6What supports its foundation? Who set its cornerstone in place, 7when the morning stars sang loud songs together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8Who locked up the sea behind doors when it burst out of the womb? 9When I clothed the sea with clouds, when I wrapped it with thick darkness as its swaddling cloths, 10when I broke its power with my decree, when I locked it up behind barred, double doors, 11I said, “You may come this far, but no farther. Here is the barrier for your proud waves.”
Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 – The Ministry of Reconciliation
14For the love of Christ compels us, because we came to this conclusion: One died for all; therefore, all died. 15And he died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves but for him, who died in their place and was raised again.
16As a result, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we knew Christ according to the flesh, we no longer know him that way. 17So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. The new has come! 18And all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19That is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, inasmuch as God is making an appeal through us. We urge you, on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Gospel Lesson: Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus Calms a Storm
35On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” 36After leaving the crowd behind, the disciples took him along in the boat, just as he was. Other small boats also followed him. 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves were splashing into the boat, so that the boat was quickly filling up. 38Jesus himself was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to drown?”
39Then he got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still lack faith?”
41They were filled with awe and said to one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019 The Wartburg Project.
C a l e n d a r & A n n o u n c e m e n t s f o r Z i o n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h
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June 27 |
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Divine Worship Service on line – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Brief Bible Study
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Midweek Bible Class 5 pm Confirmation Choir |
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Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion on line – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Brief Bible Study Pentecost 6 |
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
The world is a confusing place. We often feel it doesn’t deal fairly with us. We go through the emotions of anger, or at other times terror, when we don’t understand the turmoil around us. But Jesus reminds us of His presence and changes our eyesight to see the great and enduring salvation He has won for us. This gives life a new perspective and purpose.
The Gospel Lesson: Mark 4:35-41 (answers are found on the back side)
- What miraculous action did the disciples observe?
- Why did Jesus rebuke them?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Dea Windsor; Clyde Johnson; Dave Ballou; Greg Miller; Lou Schulz; Norine Richardson; Barbara Long; Jodi Milam; William & Laurie Moon; Patsy Mickelson; Lance & Jodi Milam; Pastor Tim Buelow and Kathleen Huff in W. Virginia; Pauline Jaeger, Randy’s mother, diagnosed with cancer; the family of Sherry Wiese, Jim & Lois Wiese’s sister-in-law; Linda Yount’s family; Ken Burns, former member at Zion who is very sick and in hospice care in Iowa.
During the Upcoming Week elections will continue to be held on-line for Wis. Synod officers and ministry positions. The synod first vice president was voted on last week. This week the synod secretary position will be filled. Pastor Lehmann is a delegate this year. If you have suggestions or questions to the election or convention process, please share them with him.
No Face Mask Regulations Facemasks are no longer required in a church setting. If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, especially with the upswing in Covid cases in our community, you may do so. Masks, disposable gloves, and sanitizer are in the narthex and the fellowship hall for your use. We are again passing the offering plate in our worship service.
Forward in Christ’s next edition for July has arrived. Copies for family and friends may be found in the narthex. Copies of Pastor’s Daily Devotions this past week from Psalm 93 will also be found there.
The Week in Review
Last Sunday’s Worship Attendance: 38; Communed: 32; Bible Class: 15; Offering: $1,598; Midweek Bible Class: 6.
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
Pentecost 6: Lamentations 3:22-33; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9,13-14; Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 (Series B)
Answers to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:
- Jesus calmed the rough seas just by talking to the wind and the waves. Here was another example of Jesus divinity as He showed them He could do what was impossible for humans to do.
- They should have realized there was nothing to be terrified about with Jesus nearby. Faith does not gain its perspective from what it sees around us, but by the person with us. Does your faith rest on Jesus despite the turmoil around you?
This week I am praying for……
