Bible Reading
Mark 4:35-41 (ESV) — 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
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## Observation Questions
1. What was Jesus doing during the storm, and how did the disciples react to his actions? (Mark 4:38; [37:26])
2. What specific words did Jesus use to calm the storm, and what was the immediate result? (Mark 4:39; [39:21])
3. According to the sermon, why was Jesus asleep in the boat during the storm? ([36:06])
4. How did the disciples respond after Jesus calmed the storm, and what question did they ask each other? (Mark 4:41; [41:30])
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## Interpretation Questions
1. The disciples’ cry, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” was not a polished prayer. What does this reveal about how God responds to our honest, desperate prayers? ([37:26])
2. The sermon says Jesus was both fully human and fully God, sharing in our exhaustion and vulnerability. How does this shape our understanding of Jesus’ presence in our own “storms”? ([36:06])
3. When Jesus calms the storm, the disciples are left asking, “Who is this?” Why is this question so central to the story, and what does it reveal about faith? ([41:30])
4. The sermon mentions that faith grows in the waiting and the storms, not in the absence of them. How does this challenge common ideas about what it means to trust God? ([40:51])
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## Application Questions
1. The sermon compared life’s disappointments to a “soggy cake”—messy and embarrassing. Can you share a recent situation in your life that felt like this? How did you respond, and where did you see (or not see) God in it? ([30:31])
2. When have you felt like the disciples, wondering if God cares about what you’re going through? What was your “cry for help” like, and how did God respond? ([37:26])
3. The disciples’ prayer was raw and honest, not polished. Are there areas in your life where you feel you need to be more honest with God? What might it look like to bring your real fears or doubts to Him this week? ([38:00])
4. The sermon says, “Life gets messy, but Jesus is steady.” What would it look like for you to trust Jesus’ steady presence in a current area of chaos or uncertainty? ([33:26])
5. Baptism was described as “sending up a flare”—an honest declaration that we can’t handle life on our own. Whether you’ve been baptized or not, what would it mean for you to “send up a flare” to Jesus in your current season? ([43:23])
6. The sermon offered an invitation for a “big yes, little yes, or healthy maybe” in response to Jesus. Where do you find yourself on that spectrum right now, and what is one next step you could take in your faith journey? ([44:53])
7. Jesus didn’t rebuke the disciples for being afraid, but invited them to trust Him more deeply. Is there a fear or anxiety you’re carrying that you want to entrust to Jesus this week? What would it look like to do that practically? ([40:51])
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Closing Thought: — Remember, life’s messiness is not a sign of God’s absence, but an opportunity to discover His presence. Whether you’re ready for a big yes, a little yes, or just a healthy maybe, Jesus invites you to bring your mess, your questions, and your fears to Him—He is steady, and He is with you.
