NLCC of Toledo

08/30/2026

4. The Reasons for Storms
1. To Determine Our Faith
The secret of their survival was faith. And it's not the amount of faith that you have. It's what you put your faith in that makes a difference.
2. To Deepen our Faith
If christ is the captain of your vessel and you have relinquished contre of your life to Him, just trust Him. He knows what He is doing! Just like Christ, You can rest easy in the storm knowing that Christ has thi power to rescue you at a moments notice..Hte won't desert you! Let th storms of your life humble you and deepen you faith in who Christ is an what He can do!
The lesson is this: Jesus can be trusted in the storms of life. The only way you're going to learn that is to go through them.
Remember the Promise of Jesus.
Remain in God's Presence.
Rely on the Power of Jesus.
You see, you and I- we're like sponges. When the storms of life come, we reveal what's inside of us - our faith in God's plans for us, our faiti in God's protection around us and our faith in God's presence with us.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/php.3.13.NKJV

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.1.7.NKJV

“He calms the storm, So that its waves are still.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.107.29.NKJV

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

08/30/2026

3. The Rescue from a Storm
Even when the disciples reacted with fear, Christ still calmed the waters and caused the wind to cease! with just two words! Two com-mands! Immediate calm. with His rebuke, He rescued these men from death. But this brings us to possibly the most important part or ques tion of this sermon,

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

08/30/2026

2. The Response to Storms
What is your response when the storms come? When the pain hits?
When the calamity shakes your home or life? When you FEEL that you are at the end of your rope and there are no options? Can you lie down and sleep knowing that Christ is in control. Or do you feverishly and angrily shake your fist at God and doubt His power and love?

“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.4.35.NKJV

08/30/2026

1. The Reality of Storms
A common misconception is that if we don't follow God, we experience storms and when we do follow God we don't. There's only one problem with that line of thinking - it's not biblical. That's why storms reveal our faith in God's plan. It's easier to understand facing a storm outside of God's will, but to face a storm in the middle of God's will is much more difficult to handle.

“But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.

08/30/2026

God's Primary Concern is Not our Happiness, but our Holiness...
The Bible says three things about the storms of life that I want you to get before we look at the text.
1. Storms in life are Unavoidable. In James 1:2 it says "When you face trials..." It does not say "If you face trials."
2. Storms are Unpredictable.
Try as we may, we cannot predict the things that will happen to us.
3. Storms are Unbiased.
Matthew 5:45 says, "He sends the rain on the just and the unjust."

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials

08/30/2026

“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.1.29-31.NKJV

“Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭38‬-‭41‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.4.38-41.NKJV

Encouraging and challenging you to seek intimacy with God every day.

08/30/2026

The storms on the sea life. Pastor Tim Frass

08/30/2026

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever— Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭146‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.146.1-10.NKJV

"Forever"Peformed by Michael W. SmithCCLI SONG # 3148428CHR...

08/23/2026

3. Trust Jesus with your Past Jesus is speaking to removing all hindrances to following Him.
Jesus was saying let your past be buried. Let go of your past and take hold of my dynamic future.
We have all made mistakes. Our hopes and dreams often are crushed like a walnut in a nut cracker, and we are left with just the shattered shells. But thank God, we can start anew.
Our past mistakes, our past sins are covered by Jesus' blood, and we can start anew.
Jesus is saying to you. Trust me. Trust me with your present, I know what is best for you. Trust me with your future plans, I hold them in the palm of my hand. And Trust me with your past, only I can forgive you, and invite you to start anew.
I read this somewhere that is something to take to heart, At the close of your life, the question will not be,
"How much have you gotten?" but "How much have you given?"
Not "How much have you won?" but "How much have you done?"
Not "How much have you saved?" but "How much have you sacrificed?"
It will not be "How much were you honored?" but "How much have you loved and served Jesus,"

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/php.3.13.NKJV

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.1.7.NKJV

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

08/23/2026

2. Trust Jesus with your Plans
A true disciple of Christ must be ready at all times for the call. The call to serve is rarely convenient, and is never in our time, but is always when Jesus needs us.
In other words, "If you're going to follow me, you need to put me first, even above family allegiances."

So, here's the question you need to ask yourself if you claim you want to be a follower of Jesus: are you willing to let Jesus be your primary allegiance in every aspect of your life?