Goodwood Evangelical Church

Welcome

Welcome to our Online Sunday Service.  As a church we still can't meet physically together, but we can certainly still meet with the living God.

We'll begin with an old hymn, with updated music, that speaks of the deep, deep love of Jesus - do sing along!

Oh, The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (click on the subtitles icon - bottom right - if they don't appear)

Let's pray together

God, The Uncreated One (King Forevermore)

Let's continue in praise and worship with this hymn to the King Forevermore.

Storms at sea

James worked on container ships.  He was on board for weeks at a time and experienced first hand raging Storms at Sea.

We'll listen to what he has to say and then read the Psalmist's description of a Storm at Sea and how the LORD intervened.

The Psalm anticipates Jesus confronting the storm, related in our passage for today.

James Smith - facing storms at sea

Psalm 107: 23-31. The Psalmist describes a storm at sea and the LORD's response.

²³ Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁴ They saw the works of the LORD,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
²⁵ For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
    that lifted high the waves.
²⁶ They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril their courage melted away.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.
²⁹ He stilled the storm to a whisper;
    the waves of the sea were hushed.
³⁰ They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them to their desired haven.
³¹ Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

Speak, O Lord, as we come to you

This song helps prepare us to listen and to act on God's word the Bible.

Facing the storms of life

We're working our way through Mark's gospel and today we have come to the passage describing a storm on the Lake of Galilee.

• Read the passage before watching the video of the sermon.  We'll be thinking about how we can face the storms of life today with Jesus.

• If you have children then you may wish to show them the video of the story and download and print off the puzzles for them to do whilst you watch the sermon.
  

Our passage for today is Mark 4:35-41

Jesus calms the storm

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, â€˜Let us go over to the other side.’ ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, â€˜Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, â€˜Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’

Here's a children's cartoon of the passage followed by some children's activities

Sermon: Facing the storms of life (live from 6am)

The Perfect Wisdom of Our God

As we conclude our service let's sing of the Perfect Wisdom of our God.

The final verse is very much a prayer that, whatever storms we face in life,  we will have faith in God:

O grant me wisdom from above,
To pray for peace and cling to love,
And teach me humbly to receive
The sun and rain of Your sovereignty.
Each strand of sorrow has a place
Within this tapestry of grace;
So through the trials I choose to say:
“Your perfect will in Your perfect way.”