Surviving Shipwreck

 

September 2, 2018 “Surviving Shipwreck” – Acts 27:27-44 
by Stephen Bilynskyj

Is Covid causing you to despair? Has some personal setback made you want to "jump ship?" Or has your deconstruction process led you to feel like giving up on Christians altogether? Here are my husband's thoughts on Acts 27:27-44, "Surviving Shipwreck.” (From a 2018 sermon, https://valleycovenant.org/podcast/september-2-2018-surviving-shipwreck-acts-2727-44/)

<I’d like to propose three lessons here for surviving shipwreck in your life. As I suggested three weeks ago, storms blow over us in many forms: natural disaster, sickness, financial loss and troubled relationships. These threaten to sink our boats, drown us in pain and sorrow. In all of it, the first lesson here from Paul is “Don’t jump ship.” Don’t give up and leave the community of God’s people.*

...The second lesson, then, is that Jesus Christ is with you in the storm. His Table spread before us constantly reminds us of that. Don’t jump the ship of church. Come to the Table because Christ is here. When the vessel of your life seems to be breaking up, remember that He is present. As the fifth century preacher John Chrysostom prayed, “Christ sails with those who sail.” He sails with every believer whether the seas are calm or rough.

... Now this third lesson for surviving shipwreck. Help save someone else.

....That’s the way to survive a shipwreck, then. Stay on board. Come to the Table and remember Jesus is with you. And when you have opportunity, rescue someone else. Those are the lessons we learn here from Paul. And the great good news of it all is right there in verse 44, “all were brought safely to land.” In a few moments we will confess our faith saying we believe in Jesus and saying we believe in “the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” No one who trusts in Christ needs to fear a shipwreck. No one needs to be lost. Everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. Everyone. Forever.>

*This is not to say that anyone should stay in a particular church that is abusive, or which fails to follow scripture, or which puts anything equal to or above Christ.