Week 1 – Wrecked

Acts 27:1-19

When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2We boarded a ship… and we put out to sea…4 the winds were against us. 5When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There, the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous…

1. Ignore the danger signs.

Acts 27:9-11

Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” 11But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.

2. Listen to the wrong voice.

Acts 27:12

Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

3. Follow the crowd.

Acts 27:13

When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted;

4. Trust your feelings.

Acts 27:13-16

… so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. 15The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.

5. Bad decisions become bad directions.

Acts 27:16

As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure.

6. You can’t see a way out.

Acts 27:17

So the men hoisted it aboard. They passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together.

7. Everything around you seems to fall apart.

Acts 27:17

Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.

8. You struggle to get back on course.

Acts 27:18

We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.

9. You pay a high price.

Acts 27:20

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

10. You lose hope.

Acts 27:21

After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete;

Acts 27:21-22

… then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.

11. God gives second chances.