Which Boat Are You In?

Which Boat Are You In?

Opening Ill- There has been so much in the news lately about the Titanic- the new movie, books and memorabilia springing up since the popularity of the movie; possibility of bringing artifacts up from the ocean floor where the wreckage now lies...

There is no question but that when the Titanic pulled out of harbor on it’s maiden voyage, the most enviable place to be was on that ship; however, not too long after, it was a place of death for hundreds, and instead the lifeboat was the best place to be...

Let me ask a question of you today... What boat are you in?

I. The Boat of Dangerous Faith...Luke 5:1-11

Ill-It’s been said that “to laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk exposing our true self. To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try at all is to risk failure. But to risk we must, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The man, the woman, who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.”

Exp- Jesus was looking for a few good men, who were willing to risk it all for Him... And these men were able to see Jesus for Who He is- [read vss 4,5, & 8 {”Master” to “Lord”}

And when you do see Jesus for Who He really is, then you will abandon all for Him!!!

Ill-A certain South African missionary society once wrote to David Livingstone, "Have you found a good road to where you are? We want to know how to send some men to join you." Livingstone wrote back: "If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road."

Scr-Luke 5:10b-11

Ill- I love the story about the Episcopal pastor who was having a cup of coffee in the restaurant across the street from the church. He was reading his paper when the fellow next to him noticed his clerical garb and asked what church he was with. He pointed across the street to the Episcopal Church and the fellow said "Why that's the church I go to myself." At this the pastor perked up and said "That's strange. I've been preaching there for five years and I don't believe I've ever seen you." The man responded, "Come on now, preacher. I didn't say I was a fanatic."

App- Jesus is worthy is not just worthy of our affection, or our attention.... He is worthy of our all, of our lives; He is worthy of our fanaticism; He is worthy of followers who will live a dangerous faith for Him... WHAT BOAT ARE YOU IN?

II. The Boat of Desperate Need...Matthew 8

Exp- The disciples lost sight of Who Jesus is [read vss23-25] ; and from that distorted perspective,

■ They questioned His heart {another gospel says they said, ‘Lord, don’t you care?’} --

■ They determined what their future would be { ‘We’re going to drown’}...

Desperation tends to draw our our attention to the movements and motions around us, the busyness and activities that invade our life...

Scr-Psalms 25:3 “No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame.”

Psalms 59:16 - “But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge intimes of trouble.”

Matthew 8:25- “Lord, save us; We’re going to drown!”

Ill- A Kindergarten class went to the fire station for a tour and some instruction in fire safety. The fireman was explaining what to do in case of a fire. He said, "First, go to the door and feel the door to see if it's hot. Do you know why we feel the door?" “To see if there is fire on the other side”, a child responded. Then he said, "Next fall to your knees. Does anyone know why you ought to fall to your knees?" One of the other children said, "Sure, to start praying to ask God to get us out of this mess!"

App- Jesus is not afraid of circumstances- He is in Charge!

I don’t think anyone avoids spending some time on this boat, and I hope that if you’re in this boat right now, that this truth will bring you some comfort... around you sit so many others who have been in the Boat of Desperate Need...

You might be in this boat, but you don’t have to go down with the ship!!!!