Sustaining Grace
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In this Holy Wednesday message from FirstSF Church, the pastor reflects on the third stanza of John Newton's 'Amazing Grace,' focusing on how God's grace sustains believers through life's trials. Drawing from Newton's personal experience of surviving a violent storm at sea—where he prayed for mercy and felt God's hand guiding him—the sermon explores how grace not only saves and sanctifies but also sustains. The central illustration comes from Mark 4:35–41, where Jesus calms a storm while sleeping in the boat, prompting the disciples to cry out in fear. The sermon unpacks how their initial view of Jesus as a teacher or master is transformed when He reveals Himself as Lord and God over creation. The key insight is that sustaining grace isn't about avoiding suffering, but about revealing Jesus’ sovereignty in the midst of it. The disciples’ fear shifts from terror of the storm to reverent awe of Jesus, demonstrating that true faith sees Jesus not just as a helper, but as the Almighty King. The message concludes with a call to trust that grace has brought us thus far and will lead us home, even through storms.
Sustaining grace is revealed not in the absence of trials, but in God’s sovereignty through them.
Our view of Jesus must evolve from seeing Him as a helper to recognizing Him as Lord over all creation.
Fear of circumstances can be transformed into reverent awe of God when we see His power and presence.
Jesus leads us through storms not for comfort, but to reveal more of Himself and deepen our faith.
We can trust that grace which has brought us thus far will continue to lead us home.
Introduction to Sustaining Grace
The pastor begins Holy Wednesday’s message by reflecting on John Newton’s third stanza of 'Amazing Grace,' emphasizing how grace has brought believers safely thus far and will lead them home.
John Newton’s Storm and Conversion
The pastor recounts Newton’s near-death experience during a storm at sea, where he prayed for mercy and later saw it as a divine moment of grace that led to his conversion.
Jesus Calms the Storm in Mark 4
“Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Revealing Jesus: From Teacher to Lord
“Jesus is showing up on the scene here almost like a superhero... but I'd probably be terrified, as probably would all of us.”
Grace Sustains Through Sovereignty, Not Comfort
“'Tis grace that led me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.'”
“We can trust that grace which has brought us thus far will continue to lead us home.”
“Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
“God is not for our comfort and safety at all. What God is for is our identity in Christ, our sanctification... our ability to be sustained by grace.”
Host
Jesus
person
John Newton
person
Disciples
person
Storm at Sea
other
Mark 4
other
Amazing Grace
media
Superman
other
FirstSF Church
organization
Psalm 107
other
Clark Kent
other
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