Faith and Compassion: Trusting Jesus in Life's Storms
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we continued our series on "Jesus Said," focusing on the importance of Jesus' words and actions and how they apply to our lives. We began by reflecting on the compassion Jesus showed even in His moments of grief, such as when He learned about John the Baptist's beheading. Despite His sorrow, Jesus chose to minister to the crowds that followed Him, demonstrating what it means to die to self and serve others.
We then delved into Matthew 14, where Jesus walks on water. This passage illustrates the importance of faith and trust in Jesus, especially during life's storms. The disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, but He reassured them, saying, "Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid." Peter's attempt to walk on water serves as a powerful lesson on faith. Initially, Peter walked towards Jesus, but he began to sink when he focused on the wind and waves. Jesus immediately reached out to save him, highlighting the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus and trusting Him fully.
We also discussed the significance of crying out to the Lord in our moments of need. Just as Peter cried, "Lord, save me," we too can call on Jesus, who is always ready to reach out and help us. This act of crying out is a profound expression of faith and dependence on God.
Finally, we touched on the idea that God's timing and our timing often don't align, but His plans are always for our good and His glory. We may not understand why we go through certain trials, but we can trust that God is faithful and will bring us through them stronger and more faithful.
### Key Takeaways
1. Compassion in Grief: Jesus exemplified compassion even in His moments of deep sorrow. After learning about John the Baptist's death, He still chose to minister to the crowds. This teaches us the importance of selflessness and serving others, even when we are hurting. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will and find strength in His purpose. [45:23]
2. Faith Amidst Storms: The story of Jesus walking on water and Peter's attempt to do the same highlights the importance of faith. When Peter focused on Jesus, he walked on water, but he began to sink when he looked at the wind and waves. This illustrates that our faith must remain steadfast in Jesus, especially during life's storms. [48:40]
3. Crying Out to God: In moments of overwhelming pressure and anxiety, crying out to God is a powerful act of faith. Just as Peter cried, "Lord, save me," we too can call on Jesus, who is always ready to reach out and help us. This simple yet profound prayer can bring immediate relief and divine intervention. [58:44]
4. God's Timing: God's timing often differs from ours, but His plans are always for our good and His glory. Whether it's waiting for a promise to be fulfilled or enduring a trial, we can trust that God is working behind the scenes. His faithfulness ensures that we will emerge stronger and more faithful. [59:54]
5. Divine Discipline: Jesus' rebuke of Peter for his lack of faith is a reminder that God's discipline is an expression of His love. Just as a parent disciplines a child, God corrects us to help us grow in faith and character. This divine discipline is always for our benefit, leading us closer to Him. [01:00:48]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:30] - Introduction and Series Overview
[1:45] - Compassion in Grief
[3:30] - Jesus' Ministry Despite Sorrow
[5:00] - The Importance of Alone Time with God
[6:30] - Feeding the 5,000
[8:00] - Jesus Walks on Water
[9:30] - Peter's Step of Faith
[11:00] - Crying Out to God
[12:30] - God's Timing vs. Our Timing
[14:00] - Divine Discipline
[15:30] - Encouragement to Trust God
[17:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV)
### Observation Questions
1. What was Jesus' initial reaction when He heard about John the Baptist's beheading, and how did He respond to the crowds that followed Him? ([43:44])
2. In Matthew 14:22-33, what did Jesus do after dismissing the crowds, and what happened to the disciples' boat during this time? ([47:46])
3. How did Peter initially respond when he saw Jesus walking on water, and what happened when he began to focus on the wind and waves? ([48:40])
4. What did Jesus say to Peter when He reached out to save him, and what was the disciples' reaction after Jesus and Peter got back into the boat? ([48:40])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to minister to the crowds despite His grief over John the Baptist's death? What does this teach us about compassion and selflessness? ([45:23])
2. What does Peter's experience of walking on water and then sinking teach us about the nature of faith and doubt? How does this relate to our own experiences of faith? ([48:40])
3. How does the act of crying out to God, as Peter did, demonstrate a profound expression of faith and dependence on God? ([58:44])
4. In what ways does the story of Jesus walking on water illustrate the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus during life's storms? ([48:40])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were grieving or in pain but still chose to help others. How did that experience impact you and those you helped? How can you apply Jesus' example of compassion in your current life? ([45:23])
2. Think about a recent "storm" in your life. How did you respond to it? Did you keep your focus on Jesus, or did you get distracted by the "wind and waves"? What can you do differently next time? ([48:40])
3. When was the last time you cried out to God in a moment of need? How did He respond? How can you make crying out to God a more regular part of your faith practice? ([58:44])
4. God's timing often differs from ours. Can you recall a situation where you had to wait on God's timing? How did it turn out, and what did you learn from that experience? ([59:54])
5. Jesus rebuked Peter for his lack of faith. How do you perceive God's discipline in your life? Can you identify a recent instance where you felt corrected by God, and how did it help you grow? ([01:00:48])
6. Identify one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith, like Peter stepping out of the boat. What practical steps can you take this week to respond to that call? ([48:40])
7. How can you create more intentional alone time with God in your daily routine? What specific actions will you take to ensure this time is protected and fruitful? ([45:23])
Devotional
Day 1: Compassion in Grief
Jesus exemplified compassion even in His moments of deep sorrow. After learning about John the Baptist's death, He still chose to minister to the crowds. This teaches us the importance of selflessness and serving others, even when we are hurting. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will and find strength in His purpose. [45:23]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you were hurting but still had the opportunity to help someone else. How did that experience impact you, and how can you be more intentional about serving others even in your own times of need?
Day 2: Faith Amidst Storms
The story of Jesus walking on water and Peter's attempt to do the same highlights the importance of faith. When Peter focused on Jesus, he walked on water, but he began to sink when he looked at the wind and waves. This illustrates that our faith must remain steadfast in Jesus, especially during life's storms. [48:40]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current storm in your life. What steps can you take to keep your focus on Jesus rather than the circumstances around you?
Day 3: Crying Out to God
In moments of overwhelming pressure and anxiety, crying out to God is a powerful act of faith. Just as Peter cried, "Lord, save me," we too can call on Jesus, who is always ready to reach out and help us. This simple yet profound prayer can bring immediate relief and divine intervention. [58:44]
"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress." (Psalm 107:28, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a situation where you felt overwhelmed. How did you respond? How can you make crying out to God your first response in future moments of distress?
Day 4: God's Timing
God's timing often differs from ours, but His plans are always for our good and His glory. Whether it's waiting for a promise to be fulfilled or enduring a trial, we can trust that God is working behind the scenes. His faithfulness ensures that we will emerge stronger and more faithful. [59:54]
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you had to wait for something important. How did you see God's faithfulness during that period, and how can you trust His timing in your current circumstances?
Day 5: Divine Discipline
Jesus' rebuke of Peter for his lack of faith is a reminder that God's discipline is an expression of His love. Just as a parent disciplines a child, God corrects us to help us grow in faith and character. This divine discipline is always for our benefit, leading us closer to Him. [01:00:48]
"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." (Hebrews 12:6, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a recent experience where you felt corrected or disciplined by God. How did it help you grow, and how can you embrace His discipline as a sign of His love and care for you?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "He stopped doing what he was doing, trying to go off and pray alone. He denied himself that time even to mourn because he was more interested in doing the will of the Father. The one who had sent him to minister to those people. And that's what it means to die to self. And to serve those people that God puts in our lives." [45:23] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But the one thing that has always, always worked and will always work is crying out to the Lord, Lord, save me. Lord, save me. And that is such an awesome prayer. The Lord is just waiting to immediately reach that, reach out and grab you, right? See that word immediately again. And you've heard it said that Jesus is as close by as a prayer. And that is so true. Cry out to God, save me." [59:19] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So even if you don't see it, even if you don't see it, even if you don't feel it, we sing this song all the time. I love this song. God is working. God is moving on your behalf. Just be patient. Pray. Seek the Lord." [01:00:21] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And let me just encourage you. There's somebody in here that's probably feel like they're sinking as well. But if you still have breath in your lungs, you ain't sunk yet. You know, you're going down, but you ain't down. And the Lord loves you. He sees you. And he's just waiting for you to cry out, Lord, save me. And he's going to immediately reach his hand down and pull you up. He's got you. You can trust him." [01:03:40] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So let me just encourage you that God loves you, and He is as close by as a prayer. And He's just waiting for you to cry out, Lord, save me." [01:14:21] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And really practically you can take steps today to pre-decide. Put a reminder in your phone. Add it to your calendar. Mark out those times to be alone with the Lord. Because it's so important. If you're not doing that, you're missing a huge part of this relationship thing. And God wants to meet you right there where you're at. And we're not meant to do this alone. He's waiting to hear from you. So I encourage you to do that. Do what Jesus did and get alone with the Lord. Times when you can just... Unplug." [46:16] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And the best I can come up with, which is true and accurate, is because it's for God's glory and for our good. And even when... When we encounter these storms, and why does He send us through it? And, you know, the Lord knows. The Lord knows. There's a quote from Tim Keller that I'm going to paraphrase. It says, If we knew everything God knew, that we would do it exactly how God did it. And it's okay to question that, right? Because a God that you could come up with and understand wouldn't really... wouldn't really be God, right?" [53:11] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So when you hear the Lord say that, O you of little faith, He doesn't say that to try to guilt you into submission. It's just to correct us so that we will put our faith fully in Him with that situation that we're going through." [01:12:04] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And if, if you get anything out of this today, I hope that it's that God loves you. hope that even if you've missed the mark that He hasn't given up on you, that God has always given us another chance to test our faith. To choose faith over fear. So even though there are going to be times when we all take our eyes off of Jesus and we look at the wind and we start to sink. What do you do? What do you do in those times? Proverbs 24, 16 says that the righteous falls, seven times, but rises again. The wicked stumbles in time of calamity. And I know that I've missed the mark. But He is patient. He is kind. He is long-suffering, giving us chance after chance to choose faith over fear." [01:11:18] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And so why did he rebuke him? The Bible lays it out very clear that the Lord disciplines the one he loves. He loves you. That discipline that you're going through because you made a stupid decision or someone else in your family, you know, made a bad decision, the Lord loves you and he's going to work it out for his glory and for your good every time. Every time." [01:00:48] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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