Faith Over Fear: Embracing New Beginnings Together
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound truth that the biggest battle we face is often within our own minds. We are our own greatest distraction, especially in the midst of life's storms. God calls us to have faith and to start a new chapter with Him at the center. The concept of "walking on water" symbolizes performing the impossible through faith. We are encouraged to reflect on our recent accomplishments and to reconnect with God and our loved ones. Many of us are stuck in survival mode, overwhelmed by the storms of life, and it's crucial to take action through faith and God's Word.
We must stop living in the past and start focusing on the present and future. God is with us in every storm, and He calls us to be strong and courageous. We need to have a plan of action and not avoid the challenges we face. Our purpose is to serve God and others, not just ourselves. Today is a new chapter, a new purpose, and a new opportunity to reconnect with God and live out our God-given purpose.
We are reminded that we are not alone in our storms; we have a community and a church family to support us. God has given us everything we need to face our challenges. We must take bold steps of faith, like Peter walking on water, and trust that God is with us. It's time to get intentional with our spiritual walk, to serve others, and to live out our purpose. We must forgive, let go of the past, and move forward with faith. God is waiting for us to take action and to trust in His perfect timing.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Battle Within: The greatest battle we face is often within our own minds. We are our own biggest distraction, especially during life's storms. God calls us to have faith and to start a new chapter with Him at the center. This requires us to stop living in the past and to focus on the present and future, trusting that God is with us in every storm. [01:07]
2. Living Out Our Purpose: We are called to live out our God-given purpose by serving God and others, not just ourselves. This means taking bold steps of faith, like Peter walking on water, and trusting that God is with us. We must get intentional with our spiritual walk, serve others, and live out our purpose. [07:38]
3. Community Support: We are not alone in our storms; we have a community and a church family to support us. God has given us everything we need to face our challenges. We must take bold steps of faith and trust that God is with us. It's time to get intentional with our spiritual walk, to serve others, and to live out our purpose. [09:40]
4. Forgiveness and Moving Forward: Forgiveness is crucial for moving forward. We must let go of the past and move forward with faith. God is waiting for us to take action and to trust in His perfect timing. We must forgive those who have wronged us and focus on living out our purpose. [31:11]
5. Intentional Living: We must get intentional with our spiritual walk, our relationships, and our daily lives. This means starting our day with prayer, reading God's Word, and serving others. We must find balance in our lives and focus on our God-given purpose. [36:23]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - Prayer and Introduction
[02:07] - Walking on Water
[03:04] - Facing Life's Storms
[04:14] - Taking Action Through Faith
[05:25] - Starting a New Chapter
[07:38] - Living Out Our God Purpose
[09:40] - Community and Support
[11:38] - Serving Others
[14:47] - Jesus Walking on Water
[18:46] - Dismissing Distractions
[21:11] - Bold Faith
[22:16] - Intentional Living
[23:16] - Reconnecting with God
[24:28] - Adding Value to Life
[25:26] - Finding Balance
[26:49] - Moving Forward
[28:57] - Facing Different Storms
[30:12] - Faith to Walk on Water
[31:11] - Forgiveness and Moving Forward
[32:21] - Restoration Process
[33:29] - Holding On in the Storm
[34:25] - Taking Care of God's Temple
[35:19] - Building Bigger Faith
[36:23] - Elevating to New Levels
[37:27] - Alone Time with God
[38:35] - Investing in Relationship with God
[39:53] - You Are Your Biggest Threat
[40:53] - Discovering Your Purpose
[42:18] - Prayer and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 14:22-33 (Jesus Walks on Water)
### Observation Questions
1. What does the term "walking on water" symbolize in the context of the sermon? ([02:07])
2. According to the sermon, what are some examples of recent accomplishments that can be seen as "walking on water"? ([02:07])
3. How does the pastor describe the impact of life's storms on our relationships and mental state? ([03:04])
4. What does the pastor suggest we need to do to start a new chapter in our lives? ([05:25])
### Interpretation Questions
1. In Matthew 14:22-33, why do you think Jesus sent the disciples into the storm? How does this relate to the challenges we face in our own lives? ([14:47])
2. The pastor mentions that we often talk ourselves out of our blessings. What might be some reasons we do this, and how can we overcome this tendency? ([09:40])
3. How does the concept of "intentional living" as described in the sermon align with the actions of Peter when he stepped out of the boat? ([22:16])
4. What role does community support play in helping us face our storms, according to the sermon? ([09:40])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent "storm" in your life. How did you handle it, and what could you have done differently to keep your focus on God? ([03:04])
2. The pastor emphasizes the importance of starting a new chapter with God at the center. What specific steps can you take this week to make God the center of your new chapter? ([05:25])
3. Think about a time when you were in "survival mode." How did it affect your relationships and your faith? What can you do to move from survival mode to thriving in faith? ([02:07])
4. The sermon talks about the need for forgiveness to move forward. Is there someone you need to forgive? How will you take steps to forgive them this week? ([31:11])
5. How can you get more intentional with your spiritual walk? Identify one specific action you can take this week to deepen your relationship with God. ([22:16])
6. The pastor mentions the importance of community support. How can you be a source of support for someone else in your church or community this week? ([09:40])
7. What distractions are currently preventing you from living out your God-given purpose? What practical steps can you take to minimize these distractions? ([18:46])
Devotional
Day 1: The Battle Within
The greatest battle we face is often within our own minds. We are our own biggest distraction, especially during life's storms. God calls us to have faith and to start a new chapter with Him at the center. This requires us to stop living in the past and to focus on the present and future, trusting that God is with us in every storm. [01:07]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What negative thoughts or distractions are currently holding you back from fully trusting God? How can you begin to renew your mind today?
Day 2: Living Out Our Purpose
We are called to live out our God-given purpose by serving God and others, not just ourselves. This means taking bold steps of faith, like Peter walking on water, and trusting that God is with us. We must get intentional with our spiritual walk, serve others, and live out our purpose. [07:38]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one bold step of faith you can take this week to serve God and others? How can you be more intentional in your spiritual walk?
Day 3: Community Support
We are not alone in our storms; we have a community and a church family to support us. God has given us everything we need to face our challenges. We must take bold steps of faith and trust that God is with us. It's time to get intentional with our spiritual walk, to serve others, and to live out our purpose. [09:40]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to for support or encouragement this week? How can you be a source of support for someone else?
Day 4: Forgiveness and Moving Forward
Forgiveness is crucial for moving forward. We must let go of the past and move forward with faith. God is waiting for us to take action and to trust in His perfect timing. We must forgive those who have wronged us and focus on living out our purpose. [31:11]
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?
Day 5: Intentional Living
We must get intentional with our spiritual walk, our relationships, and our daily lives. This means starting our day with prayer, reading God's Word, and serving others. We must find balance in our lives and focus on our God-given purpose. [36:23]
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to be more intentional in your spiritual walk? How can you better balance your time to focus on your God-given purpose?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The term walking on water means to perform an impossible or God-like task. Many people express it, oh, I feel like I'm walking on water. Everything is going your way. You received that promotion. You found love. You reconnected with your kids. You reconnected with your church. You're serving at church now. You're doing outreach out in the community, at local homeless shelters. And the title of today's message is start walking on water. Start walking on water." [02:07] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Today begins a new chapter with a new purpose. And that purpose is God. Repeat after me, church. Today begins a new chapter in my life. With a new purpose in my life. And that purpose is God. purpose is God in my life. We keep going back to what we did last season, what we did many years ago. We have to stop living in the past, and we have to start living in the present, and be focused on the future, be focused on what our next move is going to be." [04:14] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God is with you everywhere you go. When you go to the hospital, he is with you. When you have that pain in the middle of the night, he is with you. God is with you. Do you see God in your life today, or is Jesus asleep in your life? The storms that we go through in life, how do you react to the storm? Do we cry out to God? Do we have a plan of action? Do we have an evacuation plan in action? Or are we avoiding that plan?" [05:25] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Today, we start a new purpose. Today, we reconnect with God. Today, we reconnect with God. Today, we reconnect with God. Today, we reconnect with our God purpose. Today, we reconnect with our better life. Because our better life is waiting on us to take action in God's word. Applying the life, applying God's word in the life of others. Let's start living out our purpose." [07:38] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You have everything that you need in the storm that you are facing right now. The most important thing is to breathe. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own, is what scripture is. God reminds us, don't worry about tomorrow. Don't worry about what the doctor said. Don't worry about your finances. Keep working. Keep working." [09:40] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We are connected to many people that are going to help us fulfill our goals in life. You're not facing the storm by yourself. You're not facing the storm by yourself. You're not facing yourself. You have everyone that you need by your side to fight the storm. But we get so caught up in pushing our loved ones away. And we isolate our feelings. And we isolate what we're going through. And that's exactly what the enemy wants. He wants you to feel that you are alone." [09:40] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We have to stop losing sight of Christ. Because the moment we lose sight of Christ, we will drown and sink. It's time to wake up, church. Church, repeat after me. begins a new chapter with a new purpose. And that purpose is God. Repeat after me. I have faith to walk on water. Do you believe that? Do you believe that you have faith to walk on water? Do you believe that you have faith to make it through the storm alive and well and blessed?" [30:12] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You are the author of your story. You have to believe it. You've been influenced in so many wrong ways. And you've been trying to write out your story. And you found yourself separate from God. Well, today is the day that we reconnect to God. There's a new chapter, a new purpose. Today is the day that we start walking on water, regardless of the storm that we are facing. You have to believe that you have everything you need. Everything you need to make it through this storm alive and blessed." [31:11] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Get intentional with your restoration process. Get connected to church. Get connected to a ministry within the church. We're here to help you. To pray for you. To come together. We are your teammates. We are your soldiers. Your warriors in this storm. You do not have to face this storm alone. You have your church family to pray for you to be there. But if you don't allow us to know what storm you're going through, we're not going to know. Sometimes in life we have to cry out for help." [32:21] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, but we should not be satisfied with mustard seed faith, we have to build our faith up. want that big blessing? We need to have bigger faith. And it's like I preach all the time. We want God to elevate us to new levels. Take us higher in our walk, Lord. Open up that door. That elevator door that's going to elevate us to the next level. And God reminds us that we're not ready for that next level. Because with that next level comes new devils. Comes more distractions. Comes more chaos. More responsibility." [36:23] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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