In this five-week study, Davis addresses life's turbulent, trying moments by looking at some of Scripture's most significant "storm stories." By turning the popular phrase, "the calm before the storm" on its head, The Storm Before the Calm presents a unique take on the significance of life's storms--grief, job loss, relationship failures, etc.--and how faith in Christ helps us weather them. Davis's message is clear and challenging: life's storms prepare us for the calm that follows. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter are designed to help leaders of small groups. Also available when purchasing the book is access to a free video trailer and an audio recording of the author's sermons as another way to experience the weekly message. Talbot Davis is the pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, a congregation known for its ethnic diversity, outreach ministry, and innovative approach to worship. He has been repeatedly recognized for his excellence in congregational development. During his 10-year term as pastor at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church prior to serving Good Shepherd, that congregation doubled in size and received the conference's "church of excellence" award six times. Talbot has also received the conference's Harry Denman Award for Excellence in Evangelism. Since Talbot began serving at Good Shepherd in 1999, average worship attendance has quadrupled, growing from 500 to 2000 each Sunday. Talbot holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Princeton University and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He lives in Charlotte with his wife, Julie, and they have two grown children. The Storm Before the Calm Making Sense of Life's Troubles By Talbot Davis Abingdon Press Copyright © 2015 Abingdon Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-5018-0431-1 Contents Introduction The Storm Before the Calm, Chapter One The Eye of the Storm (Luke 6:46-49), Chapter Two Storm Chasers (Mark 4:35-41), Chapter Three Storm Shelters (Isaiah 25:1-8), Chapter Four The Perfect Storm (Acts 27:13-44), Chapter Five After the Storm (Genesis 9:18-27), CHAPTER 1 THE EYE OF THE STORM When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn't shake the house because it was well built. (Luke 6:48) Some time ago, Frank Knox, who was then U.S. Secretary of the Navy, uttered the following words: "Whatever happens, the U.S. Navy is not going to be caught napping." When did Secretary Knox say this? December 4, 1941: three days before the Japanese attacked the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor. Sadly and tragically, the Japanese forces caught the Navy napping. A storm came in the form of Japanese bombers, fighters, and aircraft carriers, resulting in over 2,400 Americans killed and more than 1,100 wounded. A storm came, and despite boasts to the contrary, there was little preparation and much napping. And the results were predictably tragic. As we move through this book, particularly here in Chapter 1 , "The Eye of the Storm," it will become clear that preparation is important. The message of this chapter, and of the Scripture passage that we will discuss, has everything to do with preparation (or a lack of preparation) and storms. In Luke 6:48-49, Jesus tells the story of two men who each encounter a flood. One man is prepared, and the other is not. One person's house survives the flood, while the other's is swept away. Like the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, the second man is caught napping. Jesus' story vividly illustrates the disaster that can come when we fail to prepare. Yet as we will see, like most of Jesus' parables, it communicates something deeper than the story itself. The tale of the two houses shows us how vital it is to obey Jesus' teachings. Here is the story, in Luke 6:46-49: Why do you call me "Lord, Lord" and don't do what I say? I'll show what it's like when someone comes to me, hears my words, and puts them into practice. It's like a person building a house by digging deep and laying the foundation on bedrock. When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn't shake the house because it was well built. But those who don't put into practice what they hear are like a person who built a house without a foundation. The floodwater smashed against it and it collapsed instantly. It was completely destroyed. Before we look closely at this parable, it's important to recognize when and why Jesus tells it. It occurs at the end of Luke 6, and Jesus uses it to conclude his Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-49). This is Luke's version of Jesus' most famous public address, more widely known as the Sermon on the Mount. It's most commonly called the Sermon on the Mount based on Matthew's version (Matthew 5–7), where Jesus speaks on a mountain (Matthew 5:1). In Luke it's called the Sermon on the Plain because Luke 6:17 tells us that Jesus speaks from "a large area of level ground." I