Bible ReadingMatthew 14:22-33 “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
[36:56] [38:08] [42:37] [45:19] [47:19] [48:21] [50:20] [53:12]Genesis 3:1-7 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden”?’ And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”
[46:11]Genesis 11:1-9 “Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.’ And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.’ And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.’ So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.”
[46:31]Observation questions- In Matthew 14, what does Jesus do after sending the disciples away, and what does that show about how he responds to exhaustion, grief, and pressure? [38:08]
- What details in the passage show that the storm is still active when Jesus comes to the disciples and when Peter steps out of the boat? [47:19]
- When the disciples first see Jesus on the water, what do they call him, and what are some modern ways people can misname God’s presence in their lives? [45:19]
- In Genesis 3 and Genesis 11, what repeated desire shows up in both stories about human beings trying to take God’s place? [46:11]
Interpretation questions- Jesus goes up the mountain to pray before anything in the boat gets better. What might that suggest about the kind of help a worn-out soul most needs first? [39:29]
- Jesus does not calm the storm before coming near. How does that shape the way a person understands God’s presence during suffering? [42:37]
- Peter is invited to come while the wind and waves are still against him. What does that suggest about when faith begins in a person’s life? [48:21]
- Jesus saves Peter when Peter is sinking. How does that scene help explain the difference between being saved by personal faithfulness and being held by God’s faithfulness? [50:20]
Application questions- When life feels crowded, painful, or overwhelming, is the first instinct to escape, fix everything, or get more deeply connected to God? What would deeper connection look like this week in a real and honest way? [38:30]
- Where does life currently feel like wind and waves are pushing hard against the direction someone hoped to go? How might Christ’s presence be showing up there, even if the storm has not stopped? [42:37]
- God’s nearness can be mistaken for luck, discipline, personal strength, or having everything under control. Which of those misnamings is most tempting right now? [45:19]
- Self-reliance can look strong on the outside while quietly pushing God to the margins. Where is the phrase “I’ve got this” shaping daily life more than trust in God? [45:58]
- Jesus calls people into deeper faith before cancer ends, finances settle, family conflict clears, addiction loosens, or loneliness lifts. What storm is still active right now, and what might one small step of faith look like in the middle of it? [48:21]
- Many people stay in the boat until they feel more in control. Where is there a strong pull to wait for calmer conditions before trusting or obeying? [52:06]
- Peter’s turning point is his cry, “Lord, save me.” What would it look like to pray that kind of honest prayer instead of pretending to be fine or trying harder alone? [53:12]
