Sermon Video: "Where is your faith?", Luke 8:22-25

Today is a good day, things are fine, but there’s no guarantee it will end that way.  Life is like that, one moment you’re floating across a calm sea on a sunny day, the next you’re being battered by the winds and the waves and just hoping to live to see tomorrow.  For the disciples, that scenario literally played out as they went across the Sea of Galilee with Jesus as their boat was in danger of being swamped by a sudden storm.  The disciples, certain that death was imminent, awaken Jesus who rebukes the wind and the waves and saves their lives. 

As the storm subsides, Jesus asks them, “Where is your faith?”  Most preachers or commentators would then talk about how the disciples needed to have more faith, needed to ignore the danger and trust God.  While that is true, it doesn’t answer the difficult questions about our doubts and fears, nor does it tell us what to do while we wait for God to calm our particular storm, or what we should do if God chooses to let us endure through our trial, even if it costs us our life.

We know that God is capable of calming any storm, Jesus’ power over nature is only a glimpse at what God can do, but we also know that God chooses, from our perspective at least, to intervene only a minority of the time.  The explanation that we’ve been given for this discrepancy by Paul’s words in Romans 8:28-29 may partially explain some of the difficulties that we go through in life, (that they’re part of refining our character and helping us become Christ-like) but still leaves us with many unanswered questions.  Ultimately, the only answer that we can obtain in this life is the answer that God gave to Job, in essence, you’re not capable of understanding the answer to your question, you need to trust me.

What is the purpose of faith?  It isn’t to get my own way and protect me from all harm, nor is it to keep us from having to go through hardships and suffering.  The purpose of faith is to allow us to continue to trust in the love of God through the dark times so that we can hold on to the hope that God has promised those who love him.

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Sermon Video: The early ministry of Saul - Acts 9:23-31

Do thinks that start poorly, always end poorly?  In our lives, and throughout history, we see examples of things that didn't start well, but in the end were a success, the ministry of the newly converted Saul is no different.  Three years after his conversion, Saul is in Damascus, but he has somehow worn out his welcome with his fellow Jews who have now decided that they should kill him.  Saul manages to escape Damascus and flee to Jerusalem, but this isn't exactly a stellar start to the career of a man that God has designated as his "chosen instrument".  In Jerusalem things aren't any better, the disciples are afraid to meet with Saul because they can't be sure that his conversion is genuine and not a trick.  It appears as if Saul's second attempt to serve God will also end in failure.
At this moment of potential despair, a man steps in who will become a life-long friend and missions partner of Saul, Barnabas.  For reasons we aren't told, Barnabas decides to risk his own reputation by vouching for Saul.  Not only does Barnabas take Saul to the apostles, but he testifies on his behalf that his conversion and preaching in Damascus were genuine.  Thanks to Barnabas, Saul finds acceptance among the original disciples of Jesus, perhaps things are finally looking up for Saul.
After preaching in Jerusalem to the Grecian Jews, Saul once again faces death threats.  This is the second time he has tried to preach to his own people about Jesus, and the second time the response has been rejection of the message (by most) and a desire to kill the messenger.  Is the problem with the people Saul is witnessing to, or is the problem with Saul?  If violence follows you wherever you go, wouldn't you start to think that you might be taking it with you?
Unfortunately for Saul, the apostles have had enough of the violence associated with this fiery preacher and they send him back to his hometown of Tarsus.  The text of Acts seems to flow quickly, but much time will lapse before we see Saul again.  In fact, it will be nine years until Saul is once again asked by the apostles to be a part of their missions efforts, until then he's on his own.  There is, however, a word of encouragement in that message for Saul when it finally arrives because the messenger who will bring to Saul word of the work that needs to be done in Antioch will be none other than his friend Barnabas.

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