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Hallelujah. Good evening. Welcome everyone to worship here tonight at Ebenezer as we come to close out the Lord's day.

We're blessed tonight that while Pastor Matt is on vacation, I preached this morning, this evening, our own Will Phillips will be bringing God's word to us tonight and we will celebrate the Lord's supper following. So, as we gather together tonight, may we now prepare our hearts to worship our God. Our call to worship tonight comes to us from the book of Psalms, particularly Psalm 95:E1.

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let's pray.

Oh gracious and merciful God, indeed we gather together to sing our joyful praises to you and to you alone. For you are our rock. You are our redeemer.

You are our all in all. You are the gracious and merciful God who has made us. The God that has saved us.

The God to whom we owe everything. And as is fitting as we come to give you the glory here this evening. And so, Lord, may the words our mouths, the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, oh God, our Lord and our redeemer.

And may you move mightily amongst us here tonight to equip us to go out and to honor you all the more. We pray all these things in the mighty name of Christ Jesus our savior. Amen.

This time, may we stand together, our first hymn tonight is number 302. Come Christians, join to sing. Halleluah.

Praise Christ. Halleluah. for his hallelujah.

Halleluah. Hallelu. our shall halleluj.

will sing forever. You may be seated. It's been working our way through the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

Tonight we come to the ninth commandment which is dealt with in shorter catechism questions 76 through 78. So I ask you which is the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment is thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

What is required in the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment requires the maintaining and promoting of truth between people and of our own and our neighbors good name especially in witnessbearing. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?

The ninth commandment forbids whatsoever is prejuditial to truth or injurous to our own or our neighbors good name. Often we think about the ninth commandment we say that in this commandment it means that we do not lie. And yes, that is indeed part of what this commandment entails.

But it's more than just don't lie. What this commandment wants us to do is to not only not destroy our neighbor's name, but also to promote it. This is a commandment that seeks the good of others, the benefit of others.

This is a commandment that tackles the sins of gossip, of slander, those times where we degrade someone else's name so we can get a leg up. This commandment requires for us to promote truth to build one another up and also it means that we promote the truth in love. Sometimes the truth hurts and yet we are those that do not dance around the truth when it comes to sin and the need for Jesus.

But sometimes we have to rip the band-aid off and speak the truth in love even if others do not want to hear it. for their good because that is what they need for their own well-being. Again, as you see in these latter commandments, it's concerned not only with what we should not do, but what we were called to do instead, which here is to promote our good name as well as our neighbors in truth.

And so, it's at this time I would invite Will to come up here tonight and to bring God's word to us. Well, good evening everyone. First, let me be first, let me introduce myself.

We haven't had the pleasure of meeting. My name is Will Phillips and I am the uh I don't know if I can still say new youth director considering I just finished my first VBS with you all. But um as I prepared for this sermon, I recalled one of my first times that I was really out on the ocean.

You see, growing up, my family, like so many often do this time of year, loved to go to the beach. We rode the waves. We got sunburned.

We enjoyed the views. They even got short and even got our sand in our shorts. But one day, my father decided that we were going to go out fishing on the ocean.

fishing specifically for, would you say, small to medium-sized sharks? Small to medium-sized sharks and other sea creatures. It was a dreary day, and a young skipper named Dulie was set to take us out that day.

The clouds were gray, much like they were this afternoon, and the waves were rough and choppy. And here we were in this admittedly small little boat for about five or six people that were on it, braving the waves to go fishing that afternoon. And amidst the fun and exhausting task of reeling in sharks, we didn't notice that those gray clouds were getting much, much darker.

And finally, someone radioed Duly and said that it was time to come back in. We sat down and we navigated back to the docks. But I remember looking back as we got off the boat and seeing lightning strike and soon thunder followed suit.

Now thankfully we didn't get caught in the storm. We got caught sort of on the outskirts of it as the waves got a lot rougher. But my young mind I was baffled at the fact that we narrowly got back and off the docks when a storm rolled in.

Had that call on the radio not come a minute later. Oh, I don't really want to think about what would have happened and who else would have had to be called in a rescue squad. But I digress.

The passage we're about to read has long been one of my favorites since I was a child. It carries with it a sense of magnitude, power, and also wonder. We'll be in Mark chapter 4.

But before we read, it's important to understand where we are in Jesus's ministry and why we're even here today. Now, in the chapter prior to this, Jesus had a huge crowd following him. We actually get an idea of how large the crowd was in the chapter prior.

People came to him from all over the place. They came from places such as Jerusalem and Judea and all the regions across the Jordan. In fact, this crowd was so large and full of people ridden with disease and evil spirits.

And while we know Jesus could have healed all of them that those were afflicted, when a crowd of people rushes towards one person, it ends up like how Black Friday used to be before it went all before all went online. The crowd was overwhelming and eager to hear Christ and to be healed by him as well. That to not be trampled, he taught from a boat while the crowd sat on the shore.

And now that we're all caught up to speed, uh, turn with me to Mark chapter 4. We're beginning in verse 35. But before we read God's words together, let us pray over our time together this evening.

Let's go to him in prayer. Father, we come before you with open hearts and eager minds on this Lord's day, ready to hear your word as we turn into the scriptures. Father, we ask that your spirit guide us, calming the storms within us and opening our eyes to your power and also to your presence in our lives.

Help us to trust in your sovereignty as we exit here tonight and find peace in the truth that you are always with us. Pray all this in Christ's mighty name. Amen.

Now, beginning in verse 35. On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with them as well.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him, saying to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And when he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" They were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him? The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our Lord will stand forever.

I'm not quite sure where it comes from, but people often think that just claiming Christianity makes you live the good life, as they say. Supposedly, your cup will runth over with an abundance of love, friendship, opportunities, sunny days, and maybe even wealth, fame, or power. But if that's true, and maybe this is just me, I might be doing something wrong.

We'll come back to why I say that. But this boat ride turned scene out of the out of the TV show Deadliest Catch is a very significant story. And one thing I want to draw attention here at the start is that the entire boat ride was not just an idea to for a shortcut by one of the 12 disciples.

It was in fact Christ's idea. Jesus had the disciples right where he wanted them and he wanted them there and he intentionally placed them there. Life often feels like this, doesn't it?

We can be doing all the right things, serving in your local church, praying daily, being faithful, and yet storms still come sometimes from out of nowhere. Those storms come. They can come in a in the form of a phone call, a sudden diagnosis, an unexpected loss of a family member or a friend.

Those moments can truly shake us, leaving us overwhelmed and uncertain of what's coming next. You see, the Sea of Galilee is notorious for its sudden violent storms due to its geography. It said that even seasoned fishermen will be terrified, which should highlight how dangerous those waters truly were.

Now, if you've gotten to know me at all, I love movies. If you ever got to talk to me about movies, you know there's one that stands above the several hundred that I've seen in my 27 years. Jaws.

It's one of the fondest memories I share with my dad. But there is one scene in Jaws that I think perfectly establishes just how suddenly those trials emerge. Those who have had the pleasure of seeing the famous scene on screen may recall our reluctant hero, Chief Brody, is chumming the water to lure the shark out.

After some colorful language to his crew, suddenly Brody locks eyes with those soulless eyes of the massive beast. Those who had the pleasure of seeing it in 1975 may recall that sense of panic and dread when suddenly with no warning they were face to face with a massive shark. The storms come in all shapes and sizes.

In fact, sometimes they are literal storms or maybe man-eating sharks. But our response truly reveals where our trust lies. When storms come about, where do you run?

To whom do you raise your lamentations and cry out for peace? Is it to Christ or do you try to pick yourself up and weather that storm alone? In verse 38, we see it says that Jesus slept.

It says, "But he was in the stern asleep on the cushion." Now, I don't know about you all, but I enjoy a good nap during a storm. But picture this. Instead of being in your nice cozy bed or on the couch at home, the boat is being violently tossed.

Waves are crushing in and r excuse me, ra waves are crashing to the sides and water is rushing in. They're shouting and panicking. And yet Christ is asleep.

One thing to make crystal clear is that his sleep is not an indifference or a showmanship or waiting for that perfect time to really scare the pants off the disciples. Instead, it's a picture of perfect peace and perfect trust in the father. But the disciples clearly misinterpret it.

In verse 38 again, they cry out, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" How often do we do the same? When life gets hard, sometimes we question if God cares. And worse, sometimes we question if there is a God.

Is he even there? Because the book of James speaks to this doubt. James 1 5-8.

And it tells us, if any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God. God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you as well. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt.

Because the one who doubts is like a wave in the sea blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is doubleminded and unstable in all that they do.

But the same voice that spoke the universe into existence now truly commands his creation. And creation responds immediately. This is not merely an impressive miracle.

It is a revelation of who Jesus Christ truly is. that he is Lord over all. Now, I'm not sure about all of you, but when I get through one of those storms and those trials, sometimes life doesn't feel real, does it?

Can you imagine how the disciples felt? However, the sea was raging, hanging on for dear life, wondering if Christ even cares about them. And suddenly the storm ceases and the water is like glass.

The level of awe and wonder. I can't even fathom it personally. When we face these storms or trials, we often forget just how powerful Jesus is.

We find ourselves too focused on the size of the waves and if we're about to go down with the ship. instead of focusing on the one who calms all. You see, there is said to be three responses to fear.

Flight, fight, or freeze. If you're a flyer, you tend to flee from the thing causing you fear. If you label yourself a fighter, that means you usually will charge in head down like a raging bull.

And if you find yourself freezing, it usually means you are too terrified to move towards or even away from that which causes you fear. I'm sorry to bring it up again, but that scene that I mentioned earlier in Jaws, where Brody chums the water. All three responses are on display.

Brody, after shock, flees from his position of chumming to alert Quint, the captain. Quinn emerges to go look at the shark and to get ready to tangle with the excuse me, I have the I have the dimensions here. The 25 foot three-tonon beast below them.

And lastly, Mr. Hooper is frozen at the helm. But fear is an alarm bell or kind of a sixth sense of sorts.

If it were a statement on paper, we would all fill in the blank of when fear arises, I blank. But that six sense of fear also acts as a call. It calls us back to trusting what we know and that is Christ.

One thing I envy of the disciples that they got to witness Jesus perform these incredible deeds and miracles yet in this moment fear overshadowed their faith to him. It's human nature of course when something has worked or performed well 9 99 times when it doesn't work on that thousandth try, we must throw the whole thing out and assume that it's all going to fail. The whole system is busted and we need to start panicking.

My engineering friends that I lived with in college taught me that one well. But this very feat of control, the disciples put it best in verse 31 when they ask, "Who then is this that even the wind and the seas obey him? Pet owners will understand that even a beast such as a dog or a cat can be trained.

If you ever been to a circus, even those lions and tigers and bears can be trained as well. Yet the power to command the forces of nature such as a raging sea or howling winds. None of us can do that.

Only Christ can. This question demonstrates to us a new understanding from the disciples. Up to this point, the disciples after being called have seen Jesus drive our drive out impure spirits in Capernaum, heal sicknesses and ridding people of demonic possession.

He even heals leprosy. And in this day and age, that was without a cure. And excuse me, they have seen all these things and yet it's the calming of a storm that truly rips the veil off of their eyes and they see that Jesus truly is the son of God and he has power over all.

This moment is when they realize that he is no mere man, prophet or rabbi. That he is truly the son of God. And he wasn't like those chosen men that came before allowed to perform such great feats.

He is the one who allows them. A great example of this would be the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus. The Egyptians are hot on the heels of the Israelites.

And as they at the bank of the Red Sea, Moses and Israel cry out. And the Lord tells Moses, "The shall go forth on dry land." When it came time to cross, we see it said, "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on the right hand and on their left.

Again, their awe should remind us that witnessing the power of Jesus Christ and and his dominion should be met with worship and praise. For he truly has control over all things before, as we saw with Moses, the Lord allowed that and cause the sea to part. Christ merely speaks and creation listens.

Their awe is this light bulb moment when it clicks. He is what he claims to be. He did not ask God for permission to do this feat.

God didn't have to command him or bless him. He simply spoke and it happened. Moments ago, I mentioned how animals can be trained.

And all you pet owners, you know that when a master speaks, the animal listens. Christ was there when the universe was created. He is its master giving a command and creation listens falling back in line.

And yet Christ, this all powerful being, he fights for and would go on to die for all of us. The greatest storm we face is not financial struggles, health scares, or even the passing of loved ones. The greatest storm we face will always be sin and separation from the father.

Yet when he was nailed to that cross, Jesus weathered the ultimate storm, the full wrath of God. all so that we may have peace and eternal life with him. Those who were there or even cheered for his death probably thought that they got him.

He's not coming back. Those silly followers are going to hide in fear now. But little did they know that even death was a storm that could not be that could not and would not consume him.

For he is the son of God and he stands in victory over death forever. Jesus who calmed the storm is the one who died for us. What greater love and assurance could you need?

You can rely on him during those storms, those trials in your life. Now, if you're sitting here today wondering what all of this has to do with us here halfway through 2026, remember the cross. It's the ultimate demonstration of Jesus Christ's power and his love.

When life feels overwhelming, we often turn to things that appear sturdy, such as political leaders, our financial security, and our careers and homes. But these things, no matter how strong they seem to be, cannot save us when storm when a true storm comes. We all know that famous line from Jaws, whether you've seen it or not.

You're going to need a bigger boat. And we do the same thing, don't we? Trying to build and build these bigger and bigger boats.

These boats of trust in what we can these boats of trust in what the world offers to us. But remember, the Titanic was pra was called practically unsinkable. Look at how that one turned out.

If you're feeling unsure of where to place your trust in the middle of a storm, you have pastors here at Ebenezer such as Jordan or Matt or come find me. I'm usually in my office. Not the next two weeks though.

I'll be Questing Horizon. Talk to someone. talked to him about what it means, what it means to trust the one who calmed the storm of the sea, who defeated sin and death on the cross, and how it promises to bring peace to your life, too.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I ask that as we go forward into this week, if any storm or trial arises or continues onward for all of us, you remind us that we should look to you. For you sent your son to weather the most powerful and terrifying storm of your wrath.

Father, help us remember all of this that we heard today. Allow it to rest on our hearts and allow your spirit to guide us as we go forward into the rest of this evening. Pray us all in your son's name.

Amen. For what was the last stand with us as we finish and we sing hymn number 84. I am single.

We are Glor. Glory. Glory.

Hallelujah. Glory to God. Glory.

You are share. Happy. You may be seated.

As we come to the Lord's table tonight, we are reminded of what it is that we are doing here. If you consider the words just preached, we have an almighty savior, one who calms the wind and the waves. And yet, if he is able to do that, why would he not rescue himself when he was arrested?

Why would he not command his angels to take him off that cross? Why would he not wipe out his enemies with a snap of a finger? Well, it's because he came to save.

That by his body being broken, that by his blood being poured out, sinners like us would be forgiven. And we can be assured of that forgiveness because the almighty power of Christ and the fact that he did not stay dead, but he rose again in victory so that all who have put their trust in him would find a true and a lasting salvation. That's why this table has been given to us to encourage us.

It's a means of grace that God uses to equip us spiritually to go and live for him all the more to nourish our faith to give us hope and assurance in the midst of the storms of life that we have a savior who not only could calm the winds and the waves but has defeated sin and death for us. And so as we come to this table tonight, I would ask that if you have not put your trust in Christ, please do not partake of this table because this table is not for you. I instead offer you something greater, the Lord Jesus himself.

Come to know him, to know the truth of what it means to find salvation, his name. And for those that have professed faith, this is indeed your table. This is the table of Christ Jesus for his people.

Whether you are a member here at Ebenezer or in the ARP denomination or wherever if you are in good standing, this is a table for believers. And so as we come to this table tonight, if you profess faith in Jesus, may you be blessed by it. Also, just as a couple housekeeping things, please hold the elements.

We'll take them together. And also there's a glutenfree option um in the baggies in the middle of the plates. Before we partake of this, may we go to our God to set aside these elements for his purposes.

Let's pray. Oh gracious and merciful God, we again come before your throne of grace here tonight. As we are confronted with your majesty, we are reminded of our frailty, of our sinfulness, of our deserving nothing but your wrath.

But we are also reminded of your mercy and grace that are found in Jesus Christ. For Lord, we are sinners, but you remind us that if we confess our sins, you are faithful to forgive. that you remove our sins as far as the east is from the west, not by any merit in ourselves, but by the blood of the lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose body was broken and blood was shed for sinful people like us.

And Lord, this is a meal you have given to us to nourish us. It may be a small piece of bread. It may be a little bit of juice.

And yet by your spirit you nourish us in a mighty way, encouraging us and equipping us to go out and live for you all the more, not giving in to fear, but living by faith. And so, oh God, as we come to this table tonight, we pray that you would set apart these elements for your purposes, for the good of your people, and for the glory of your name. We pray all this in the mighty name of Christ Jesus, our savior.

Amen. The Apostle Paul tells us that on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus after giving thanks, took bread and he broke it. Said, "This is my body broken for you." And after dinner, we're told that in the same manner, he took the cup and said, "This cup is a new covenant in my blood.

As often as you drink of it, do this in remembrance of me." For as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. So, brothers and sisters in Christ, we celebrate this meal together. body of Christ broken for you.

Take he remeance of Christ. The blood of Christ shed for you. Take drink in remembrance of Christ.

Let's pray. But mighty and everlasting God, again, we cannot fathom the grace and the mercy and the love that you have showed to us through our Lord Jesus. That by his great sacrifice, sinners like us would be forgiven.

That we would have a right standing with you and we would have an everlasting hope. Oh God, what a joy, what a comfort, what a peace that gives. and also to know that you, oh God, have not given us the tools and left us until the end.

But Lord, you are with us every step of the way. That by your spirit, we will be those that live for you more and more. And one of the ways in which you do this is through this meal.

And so Lord, we pray that we would be have been nourished by this meal here tonight to honor and to glorify you all the more to proclaim your name with boldness and joy and to be those that withstand the storms and the winds and the waves of this life because we have a savior who has died but who has risen again in whom we have a hope that will last forever. And so, oh God, may you nourish us by your spirit with these wonderful truths. Conform us to your ways.

May you help us to proclaim you as we leave tonight until you indeed return again. We pray all these things in the mighty name of Christ Jesus, our risen savior. Amen.

If I were to stand together our final hymn tonight, it's number 688, verses 1, 2, and 4 of Have Thine Own Way, Lord. I am sore. Christ.

Am I? Thank you again for being with us in worship tonight. And as you leave, may you leave with our God's great benediction.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you now and forever more. Amen. And amen.

Glory.