About Us

Audio Sermons

Bible Courses

Bulletin Articles

Directions

Links

Sermons

Sermons In Series

 

Spiritual Lessons from a Plane Crash

Genesis 50.17-21

Introduction: Jesus used everyday events to teach spiritual lessons. Parables such as the sower, the widow that lost a coin, and the lost sheep, are some examples of what I am talking about. A number of months ago an event happened that should teach us some lessons.

I) A Plane Crashed

A) January 16, 2009

1. US Air Jet crash landed in the Hudson River

2. Shortly after take off the plane hit a flock of birds which caused its engines to stop

3. Pilot Chesley B. Sullenburger was able to safely land the plane in the Hudson River

4. All 155 people on board were rescued

B) This was called the “Miracle on the Hudson

II) Five Spiritual Lessons to Consider

A) Divine Providence

1. Providence comes from a Latin word that means to “forsee”; in the Greek it is the word pronoia which means forethought.

2. Divine refers to God’s omniscience, His ability to know things before they occur.

            a. God forsees and uses events to accomplish His purpose, His will.

            b. What if the birds hit the plane at take off?

            c. What if the birds hit the plane a few minutes later?

            d. Of all the rivers or cities this was the best one for this to occur in.     The boat operators were highly trained for events such as this one.

3. In the Bible we see God’s Divine Providence

            a. Joseph saw the hand of God in his life, Genesis 50.17-21

            b. Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts 8.26-29

                        i. God knew where the Eunuch would be

                        ii. God sent Philip to preach to the Eunuch

4. Divine Providence is a rule and not an exception.

5. We have to be like Joseph and the Eunuch and listen to God; we have to be like Philip and do God’s will.

B) Decision Making

1. Sully decided with in a couple of seconds what he had to do to save the people.

2. Every day we are called upon to make decisions.

3. The people on the Day of Pentecost were called upon to make a decision, Acts 2.37-38

            a. Should I obey God or reject Him?

            b. Joshua 24.15 “choose you this day whom you will serve”

            c. Today is the day of salvation, 2 Corinthians 6.1-2

4. Everyone in the Book of Acts were told what to do to be saved; they had to decide if they wanted to be saved or lost.

C) Doing our part

1. Every person had to do their part on the plane

            a. Pilot had to land the plane

            b. Co-pilot tried to restart the engines and get the plane ready for a            crash landing on water.

            c. Stewardesses had to prepare the people and stay calm.

            d. The passengers had to listen and do what they were told.

2. Not all were pilots or passengers.

3. Some had to take charge and others had to follow; all were on the plane.

4. Body of Christ is compared to a physical body and each member does its part, 1 Corinthians 12.12-14, 15-18

            a. Some are encouragers, others, teachers, others visitors, and some can do it all.

            b. The key is for me and you to do what we can.

D) Be Prepared

1. The Pilot was 57  years old; flew as a fighter pilot, was a safety instructor.

            a. The co-pilot had just gotten through safety training on this very     plane.

            b. Stewardesses are trained to handle emergencies

2. Experience is a hard teacher; gives the test first and the lesson afterward.

            a. Rehoboam did evil because he did not prepare his heart to follow            God, 2 Chron. 12.14

            b. Hell is a prepared place for the unprepared, Matthew 25.41

3. Great servants of the Bible were prepared to serve God.

            a. David was prepared to defeat Goliath, 1 Samuel 17.32-37

            b. God prepared Moses for 80 years before He called Moses to lead   the children of Israel .

4. Being prepared is what we do every day of our lives, 2 Timothy 2.15.

E) Taking the way of escape

1. After the crash landing the people still had to get off the plane.

2. Required getting out on the wings of the plane and then getting in a boat.

3. The people on the Day of Pentecost had to listen and take the way of escape, Acts 2.40-41

4. Does not do any good to argue with God or His word.

5. We have just one way out of sin and to heaven, John 14.6

            a. Must hear the Gospel of Christ and no other Gospel, Galatians 1.6-8

            b. Must believe with our heart

            c. Must confess Jesus as the Son of God

            d. Must Repent of our sins

            e. Must be immersed for the removal of our sins

Conclusion: “Miracle on the Hudson ” was not really a miracle but it was a joyous occasion. Joy is found in doing God’s will.

Home Page