READ ALL OR PARTS OF MATTHEW 8:23-27; MARK 4:35-41; AND LUKE 8:22-25 FROM YOUR BIBLE OR WATCH THE BIBLE STORY VIDEO.

DISCUSSION: What are some worries that you have? We can have serious worries of bad things that could easily happen, and also worries of things that probably wouldn't ever happen. 

STORY: A phobia is a persistent and excessive fear. The most common phobias are the fear of heights, the fear of enclosed spaces, and—of course—the fear of snakes! Even if these aren’t things you’re afraid of, something else probably has—at one point or another—caused you to be afraid. When the winds gusted and the waves crashed against the boat, the disciples were very afraid. The storm seemed so big. The situation appeared to be so dangerous that the men thought they were going to die. In their desperation, they cried out to Jesus for help, and Jesus, just with the command of His voice, calmed the wind and waves. When the disciples saw Jesus’ power, they were amazed. They had heard the wisdom in His teaching; they had seen the compassion He had for other people; but in this scene, the disciples saw the full glory and power of Jesus as the Son of God.

Because Jesus is the Son of God, we can cry out to Him for help when we are afraid or overwhelmed. He is strong enough to save us, and He is faithful to help us according to His will for us. He demonstrated His faithfulness and power most clearly when He came to die on the cross and rescue all who believe in Him

QUESTION: How did Jesus show faith during the storm? 

ANSWER: Jesus slept during the storm. He did this not because He didn’t care about the disciples, but because He knew the outcome of the storm and was in control of the storm.

Their fear was so great, they believed they would perish in the storm. Yet, Jesus experienced the same violent storm, and rather than quake in fear, He slept.



QUESTION: Is there a good type of fear talked about in the bible?

ANSWER: Yes, it’s the fear of the Lord. Fear is not a good thing for us, because it makes us lack that God is in control. But if we can look at God and all the amazing things he does it hopefully can help calm our worries, and if it doesn’t just keep asking him for help. Even the disciples feared, but they also knew where to go to – Jesus. At the sound of His voice, the wind and the waves were stilled. And the disciples' fear of the storm was redirected to a fear of another kind–one of reverence and awe. Go to God when you are afraid, and while the nerves in your body and the twisting in your stomach might not go away right away, we can be reminded that God is in control. 

WORK ON MEMORIZING OUR SCRIPTURE VERSE!

We praise You, Jesus, because You have power and authority over all of creation. Everything in heaven and on earth obeys You, because You are the Son of God. When the storms of this world rage, help us to trust in Your power to help us. Comfort and send your peace to us when we are fearful and our hearts are troubled. Let us depend on you. 

AMEN