January 5, 2025

Luke 8:22-39

A Savior in the Storm, A Deliverer from the Darkness

Sunday Sermons

In Luke 8:22-39 we read about two miracles of Jesus. The first was when Jesus was with His disciples out on the stormy sea, and the second occurred when Jesus was confronted by a raging, demon-possessed man. In the storm, all seemed lost. In the confrontation with the demoniac, all the darkness of hell was on full display.

What did Jesus do in each situation and what do we learn about Him? How did His disciples react? And what can that teach us as we seek to follow Christ ourselves?

Speaker

Jim Thomas

Series

The Gospel According to Luke

Go to Series

Scripture

Luke 8:22-39

Topics
Big Questions Doubt General Suffering Worship

Sermon Notes

Luke 8: 22-39

A Savior in the Storm, A Deliverer from the Darkness

Pastor Jim Thomas
The Miracles of Jesus:
  1. Display the power and authority of Jesus
  2. Arouse curiosity about Jesus
  3. Reveal the compassion of Jesus
  4.  Affirm the identity of Jesus
  5.  Inspire discipleship and worship of Jesus

1. Following Jesus doesn’t mean we will always have smooth sailing.

  • Storms of Correction
  • Storms of Perfection

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

2. Following Jesus does mean we always have a Savior to turn to.

“lf your faith rests in your idea of how God is supposed to answer your prayers, your idea of heaven here on earth or pie in the sky or whatever, then that kind of faith is very shaky and is bound to be demolished when the storms of life hit it. But if your faith rests on the character of Him who is the eternal I AM, then that kind of faith is rugged and will endure.”
Elisabeth Elliot

3. Following Jesus means we trust the One who has the power to calm storms and liberate captives.

Luke 8: 26-39

  1. The Devil and demons are real, strategic and active.
  2. Satan’s goal for your life is separation from God, from others, and even from being your true self in Christ.
  3. No one is beyond the reach of God’s amazing grace and the liberating, transforming power of Jesus.
  4. Following Jesus means obeying Him and walking in the light of His will.

“Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake with no storms; it comes from having Jesus in the boat.”
John Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat 

“One ship drives east and another drives west
With the selfsame winds that blow;
Tis the set of the sails and not the gales
Which tells us the way to go.”
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Discussion Questions

  • At the start of a new year, let’s take a moment to reflect,
    reorient, reprioritize, recommit and ask ourselves some
    important questions:
    – Are you who God wants you to be? Are you living in a
    way that brings joy and glory to him?
    – What are ways that you can nurture and increase
    your enjoyment of, and delight in, God?
    – What areas of your life need transformation?
    – How can you take steps to grow in grace and cultivate
    a rugged faith throughout the year ahead?
  • On what or who are you placing your ultimate trust and
    faith? Are you looking to people and props that can’t bear
    the weight? Is Jesus truly at your center? Are you fully
    trusting that you are right where he wants you to be and
    that he will deliver you safely through any storm?
  • Your testimony is about what God has done in your life –
    less about your story and all about his glory. Do you share
    what God is doing in your life with those around you? If not,
    what hinders and hangs us up from doing so? How can we
    look for opportunities to point others to and proclaim the
    goodness and sufficiency of God?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“This Is My Father’s World“ by Maltbie D. Babcock, Mary Crawford Babcock, and Franklin Lawrence Sheppard
“My Jesus I Love Thee“ by William R. Featherston and Adoniram Judson Gordon
“The King In All his Beauty“ by Matt Papa & Matt Boswell, Choir and Orch. Arranged by Rob Stroh
“Hallelujah What A Savior“ by Philip Paul Bliss, alt. verse: Tommy Bailey
“Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call“ by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell
 “Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690

Call To Worship

Come, Let Us Worship

Come, let us worship God the Father,
the maker of heaven and earth!

Let us worship Jesus Christ,
the resurrected King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Let us worship the Holy Spirit,
the promised comforter and counselor!

All glory and praise be to the one true God,
now and forevermore, amen!

Classic Prayer

John Baillie was a 20th-century minister, Scottish theologian, principal, professor, chaplain and author. His most well-known book was his book of devotions, A Diary of Private Prayer. He was also responsible for the Christian Classics edited works of Calvin, Augustine, Luther, Aquinas and others. Today’s prayer is a perfect daily prayer.

“Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of You, let my first impulse be to worship You, let my first speech be Your name, let my first action be to kneel in prayer. Amen.”