Take Heart
About This Sermon
Emory Cothen teaches from Mark 6:45-56, where Jesus sends his disciples across the sea and meets them in a storm. The disciples are exhausted, fighting the wind, and terrified in the dark. Jesus sees them from the mountain, comes to them walking on the water, speaks courage over them, and gets in the boat.
The message shows four things Jesus does: he sees, he shows up, he speaks, and he gets in the boat. Emory reminds us that fear causes forgetfulness. When we are afraid, we forget who Jesus is and what he has done. Jesus's command to take heart comes before the wind stops. We can have courage not because our circumstances change, but because of who Jesus is.
Scripture: Mark 6:45-56
Study Guide
A few ideas to carry with you, discuss with your group, or revisit during the week.
Practical Takeaways (5)
- Jesus never takes his eyes off his people, even in the middle of a storm.
- Fear causes forgetfulness; we forget who Jesus is and what he has done.
- Jesus's command to take heart comes before the wind stops.
- We can have courage because of who Jesus is, not because our circumstances are good.
- Jesus gets in the boat; his presence changes everything.
Discussion Questions (4)
- What stands out to you about how Jesus responds to the disciples in Mark 6:45-56?
- What fear or difficulty is making it hard for you to remember who Jesus is right now?
- What does it mean to take heart before your circumstances change?
- How can you invite Jesus into a situation where you have been trying to paddle harder on your own?
