Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 27:21-26

Theme: Moving Toward God in Crises of Faith

Notes:

“When tragedy strikes, we enter a crisis of faith.
We either move toward God or away from God.”
— Bob Kelleman

When you are in a crisis of faith,
move toward God and He will give you courage
to keep moving and help others move toward Him.

How To Move Toward God

Acts 27:23, “…to whom I belong and whom I worship”

1. Communion with Christ
   • “to whom I belong”
   • Don’t wait til tragedy strikes to move toward God
   • Ephesians 5, “…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
   • Know God and Enjoy Him
     • John 17:3, “…that you may know the Father”
     • John 15
     • Nehemiah 8:6
2. Conformity to Christ
   • “whom I worship”
   • We become like the object of our love/worship
   • All of us are being conformed to something–either Christ, or something else
     • Romans 12
     • Ephesians 3
3. Courage in Christ
   • Luke 8:22-25
   • Psalm 121, “…my help comes from the LORD”
   • Psalm 107
   • Paul’s faith/courage in this trial became a ministry to others for their good

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 27

Theme:

Notes:

We can confidently face circumstances outside of our control
because God is committed to His purpose and his people.

Related Scriptures:

• 2 Corinthians 5
• Colossians 1
• Job 42
• Ephesians 1
• Romans 8
• Genesis 50
• Luke 21
• Isaiah 43

4 Things That Give Us Confidence

1. God is committed to His purpose
2. God is committed to His people
3. God is committed to His providence
4. God is committed to His promises

God never promises that we will not suffer–He promises that we will not suffer alone.

The people we celebrate are those who come into our lives and leave us changed for the better.

God’s promises are not a means of binding Himself
in order to bind him to do that which He does not want to do
–He gives those promises for our good.

Be motivated by the heart of Christ.

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 27

Theme: Godly counsel can prevent spiritual shipwreck

Notes:

Thesis: We can confidently face circumstances outside of our control
because God is committed to His purpose and His people.

“Paul wasn’t in charge–he was in chains.”

2 Types of Wisdom

1. General Wisdom
   • Wisdom gained by truth gained education, experience, expertise
     • Example: Exodus 18, Jethro’s wise counsel to Moses regarding delegation
   • General wisdom is a gift of God’s common grace
   • Unbelievers may be gifted with general wisdom
2. Spiritual Wisdom
   • Wisdom gained through revelation from God
     • Example: Proverbs 1

Rejecting biblical counsel is a downward spiral

1. It gets difficult
2. It gets dangerous
3. It becomes disastrous
4. We fall into despair
   • This passage is a counterpoint to the story of Jonah

How do we help those who have already suffered shipwreck?

1. Give it to them straight
   • People cannot escape unaddressed problems
   • They cannot repent of that which remains unidentified
2. Walk with them
   • When the crew shipwrecks on Malta, Paul gathers wood for a fire
3. Give them the truth
4. Give them hope
   • “Take heart men, for I believe God”

Live It Out

1. Seek godly counsel
2. Give godly counsel

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: 1 Samuel 25, Ecclesiastes 9

Theme: Abigail

Notes:

A woman who acts with wisdom and faith in God’s promises will rescue others by her godly influence.

“Saul didn’t like God’s plan…that happened a lot in the life of Saul”

Three Lessons From Abigail

1. She had a knowledge of, and a trust in, the character of God
   • She repeatedly invokes God’s name
   • She points David back to God
2. She acted boldly by faith on her knowledge of God
3. She wisely counseled others to trust in the character of God

Live It Out

• Counsel biblically
• Act faithfully
• Respond thoughtfully
• Encourage always

2 Corinthians 1:19-20

For Men:

• Be thankful for the Abigail-influences in your life
• Praise them for their faithfulness
• Do not be like Nabal–harsh, selfish, and foolish

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Luke 7:17-23

Theme: You can face your doubts without deconstructing

Notes:

3 Questions:

1. What is my motive for asking?
   • Do I seek to believe and follow, or do I seek a way out?
2. What evidence do I need to believe?
   • Judas and Peter saw the same evidence, yet came to different conclusions and two different destinies
3. What do I really want?
   • Demas wanted the world; Thomas wanted Christ

John the Baptist sent word to Christ to see if He really was the Messiah

How to Deal With Doubts:

1. Ask for the right reasons
   • Questions and doubts are normal
   • Things That Prompt Doubts:
     • Trauma
     • Difficult Challenges
     • Failure in Responsibilities
     • Introduction to New Worldviews
     • Being Surrounded by Unbelievers at Work/School/Etc
     • Trials
     • Weak Faith
2. Ask the right people
   • Ask those who believe
   • Read the best sources
3. Ask the right questions
   • Assume that there is an answer
     • Everyone starts with a belief system
     • Everyone has preconceptions
     • Everyone starts with motives

Jesus isn’t afraid of your doubts or questions

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