Victory Over Danger Series

Sermon Outline:

THE DISCIPLES HAD:

his promise (vs 35)

his presence (vs 38)

his person (vs 41)

Sermon Content:

Ill:

• Two explorers were on a jungle safari;

• When suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them.

• “Keep calm” the first explorer whispered.

• “Remember what we read in that book on wild animals?

• If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run.”

• “Sure,” replied and his companion.

• “You’ve read the book, and I’ve read the book. But has the lion read the book?”

Fear is something we all have or will at times experience:

• Most of us experience it in mild form,

• Some folks experience it in extreme forms.

Ill:

• Aerophobia: fear of drafts.

• Porphyrophobia: fear of the colour purple.

• Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people.

• Levophobia: fear of objects on the left side of the body.

• Dextrophobia: fear of objects on the right side of the body.

• Auroraphobia: fear of the northern lights.

• Calyprophobia: fear of obscure meanings.

• Thalassophobia: fear of being seated.

• Stabisbasiphobia: fear of standing and walking.

• Odontophobia: fear of teeth.

• Graphophobia: fear of writing in public.

• Phobophobia: fear of being afraid.

Quote:

• Researchers at Johns Hopkins University;

• Reported that 30 years ago, the greatest fears of school children were:

• Animals, (2) Being in a dark room, (3) High places, (4) Strangers, (5) Loud noises.

• Today, kids are afraid of the following:

• Divorce, (2) War, (3) Cancer, (4) Pollution, (5) Being mugged.

Question:

• Fear is something we all have or will at times experience:

• So how do we handle our fears?

Answer:

• This Passage gives us some good principles to apply.

• When fear comes our way!

Notice: The reason why fear came into the lives of the disciples.

• Verse 35:

• “That day when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”

• The first two words in the verse are important links; “That Day” or “That same day”;

• Refer to the teaching Jesus had been giving the disciples;

• You looked last week at some of that teaching contained in chapter 4.

• Jesus taught them on the subject of the ‘Parables of the kingdom’.

• Now he wanted them to move out of the classroom and into the real world;

• Jesus was going to give them an opportunity to put his teaching into practice;

• This was an ideal opportunity to see how much they had really learned.

• Quote: ‘You don’t catch fish in a classroom, you catch them at the riverbank’;

• Learning the theory in the classroom is only ever half the battle,

• The real test comes on the riverbank – when we have to apply it in life!

One of the reasons God allows trials and difficulties into our lives:

• Is for our development and growth as Christians;

• Often it is through difficulties and trials that we grow up and mature in our faith;

• I would suggest that we cannot grow up in our faith without them.

Ill:

• A wise bird knows that a scarecrow is simply an advertisement.

• It announces that in this field or garden or allotment;

• There are some very juicy and delicious food ready for the picking.

• To the foolish bird it appears to be dangerous and they stay away.

• And remain hungry.

• The wise bird knows that a scarecrow is simply an advertisement.

• Saying; ‘Grub up!’

• Application:

• If I am wise - I too shall treat the scarecrow as though it were an invitation.

• “Faith is a bird which loves to perch on scarecrows.”

ill:

Cartoon Peanuts.

• Linus and Charlie Brown are walking along and chatting with one another.

• Linus says,

• "I don’t like to face problems head on.

• I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them.

• In fact, this is a distinct philosophy of mine.

• No problem is so big or so complicated that it can’t be run away from!"

In this passage of scripture;

• Jesus is going to teach the disciples a lesson;

• That they did not even know they needed to learn.

• The lesson is you don’t run away from problems,

• With Christ we are able to go through the storms of life!

• No matter how terrifying those storms seem to appear;

• This passage gives us three principles, three pieces advice;

• In handling life’s storms,

(1). His Promise (vs 35).

“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 3