Do Not Be Afraid — Only Believe

Are you too proud to ask for help? Sometimes success and prestige can make us so prideful, that when we need help, we are often reluctant to ask for it. If you are use to being a leader or a person of influence, it can be hard to admit that you need help. And yet, sometimes, no matter how hard we try to act tough, no matter how strong we might try to stand in the face of adversity, sometimes the trial is too much. Sometimes we find ourselves broken and hurting, unable to do anything about it.

This morning we’ll look at this account of Jairus and the miraculous resurrection of his daughter. We’ll see how Jairus in this difficult trial in the life of his family, had to cast away his fears and find help and hope in Jesus. As a leader, he was not immune to the trials that go on in life, but when the trial came, he had the wisdom to get help. He placed his faith and trust in Jesus. And as we look at this faith of Jairus, we’ll see how we too need to fix our faith on Jesus, finding hope in him, even when things seem hopeless.

Passage: Mark 5:21-43
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/18/2008 in Novato, CA.
Other Scripture Readings: 2 Samuel 12:13-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Click here for the manuscript.

Share

Do You Still Not Have Faith?

I want us to consider today in this passage the importance of Jesus being able to control the wind and sea by the very word of his power.  I want us to consider what it means for Jesus to have this power and authority.  What does this tell us about who he is?  Well, certainly, it points to his divinity.  We’ll see how this event shows forth that Jesus is indeed who Scripture presents: the eternal Son of God who has come in the flesh.  But I also want us to consider the significance of this fact.  If Jesus is God in the flesh, able to control wind and water, and every aspect of creation, what should that do to our faith?  How should that affect our faith and how we respond to the trials that come in our lives?

Passage: Mark 4:1-34
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/05/2008 in Novato, CA.
Other Scripture Readings: Proverbs 30:4; Romans 8:28-39

Click here for the manuscript.

Share