Focusing on Jesus Amidst Life's Distractions
Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound lessons from the life of Peter, particularly his experience of walking on water and the distractions that led to his sinking. We began by reflecting on the nature of distractions in our lives, recognizing that even good things can become idols if they draw us away from Jesus. We delved into the story of Peter, who, amidst a storm, stepped out of the boat to walk towards Jesus on the water. This act of faith, however, was challenged when Peter became distracted by the wind and waves, leading to his fear and subsequent sinking.
We examined the importance of identifying and confessing the distractions and sins that entangle us, drawing from Hebrews 12:1-2, which encourages us to lay aside every weight and sin, running the race with endurance, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We were reminded that Jesus is our Waterwalker, the one who has triumphed over the grave and calls us to do extraordinary things for His glory.
The sermon emphasized that following Jesus is not a guarantee of an easy life; rather, it often brings greater challenges. However, the presence of Jesus provides us with a hand to hold, joy beyond measure, and peace that surpasses understanding. We were encouraged to cry out to Jesus in the midst of our storms and to take His hand when He offers rescue.
We concluded with a call to action, inviting individuals to focus on Jesus, eliminate distractions, and make life-changing decisions to follow Him. We were urged to join together as a church body, committed to the mission of glorifying God, loving one another, making disciples, and serving the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Distractions, even those that seem good, can become idols if they prevent us from focusing on Jesus. It is crucial to identify these distractions, confess them, and seek to remove them from our lives. This process requires a heart willing to be searched by God and a commitment to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. [34:00]
- Peter's experience on the water teaches us about the necessity of faith and the dangers of distraction. While it is easy to criticize Peter for his doubt, we must recognize our own tendencies to focus on the storms around us rather than on Jesus. The call to step out in faith is one that requires our full attention and trust in Christ. [29:33]
- The Christian journey is not one of ease but of perseverance through trials. The presence of Jesus in our lives does not remove the storms but provides us with the strength to endure them. In our difficulties, we find a savior who walks with us, offering His hand of rescue and the promise of His peace. [31:20]
- The act of calling out to Jesus for help is incomplete without the willingness to accept His rescue. It is not enough to recognize our need for salvation; we must also be prepared to take the hand of our rescuer and allow Him to lift us from our struggles. This step of faith solidifies our trust in Jesus and our commitment to follow Him. [36:09]
- The decision to follow Jesus is a defining moment in our lives. It is a commitment that should not be taken lightly, as it will shape our priorities, actions, and the very course of our lives. As we make this decision, we must be ready to face opposition and distractions with the assurance that Jesus is our master and Lord, leading us to victory. [03:59]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus Walks on Water
2. Hebrews 12:1-2 - Running the Race with Endurance
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Peter's initial reaction when he saw Jesus walking on the water, and what did he ask Jesus to do? (Matthew 14:28)
2. How did Peter's focus shift when he began to sink, and what did he cry out to Jesus? (Matthew 14:30)
3. According to Hebrews 12:1-2, what are believers encouraged to lay aside, and where should they fix their eyes?
4. What did Jesus do immediately after Peter cried out for help, and what was His response to Peter's doubt? (Matthew 14:31)
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Peter was the only disciple who stepped out of the boat to walk towards Jesus? What does this say about his faith? (Matthew 14:29) [28:47]
2. How do the distractions in Peter's story (the wind and waves) relate to the distractions we face in our daily lives? (Matthew 14:30) [28:09]
3. In Hebrews 12:1-2, what does it mean to "lay aside every weight and sin"? How can this be practically applied in a believer's life?
4. How does the presence of Jesus in the midst of the storm provide comfort and assurance to the disciples, and how can this be applied to our own storms? (Matthew 14:27) [24:11]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's distractions. How did you respond, and what could you have done differently to focus on Jesus? [10:58]
2. Identify one specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What steps can you take this week to minimize or eliminate this distraction? [34:00]
3. Peter cried out to Jesus for help when he began to sink. Is there an area in your life where you need to cry out to Jesus for rescue? What is holding you back from doing so? [28:09]
4. The sermon mentioned that following Jesus often brings greater challenges. How can you prepare yourself to face these challenges with faith and perseverance? [31:20]
5. The decision to follow Jesus is a defining moment. Reflect on your own journey of faith. What steps can you take to deepen your commitment to Jesus and eliminate distractions? [03:59]
6. How can you support and encourage others in your small group or church community to focus on Jesus and eliminate distractions in their lives? [39:10]
7. Think about a recent storm or trial you faced. How did you experience Jesus' presence and peace during that time? How can this experience strengthen your faith in future storms? [24:59]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the lessons from the sermon and apply them to their daily lives. Encourage open and honest discussion, and support each other in your journeys of faith.
Devotional
Day 1: Identifying Distractions as Idols
Distractions are often subtle and can be disguised as good things in our lives. However, when they start to draw us away from our focus on Jesus, they become idols. It is essential to take time to examine one's heart and life to identify these distractions. Once identified, the next step is to confess them and actively seek to remove them from our lives. This process is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of prioritizing our relationship with Jesus and allowing Him to search our hearts for anything that competes with our devotion to Him. [34:00]
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16 ESV)
Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you might be prioritizing over your relationship with Jesus, and how can you begin to change that starting today?
Day 2: The Necessity of Faith Amidst Distraction
Peter's experience on the water is a powerful illustration of the necessity of faith and the dangers of becoming distracted by the storms of life. It is easy to become consumed by the worries and fears that surround us, but it is in these moments that we must fix our eyes on Jesus. Faith requires undivided attention and trust in Christ, especially when the winds are howling and the waves are crashing around us. By focusing on Jesus, we can find the courage to step out in faith, even when it seems counterintuitive. [29:33]
"And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1b-2 ESV)
Reflection: Recall a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed. How can you shift your focus to Jesus in similar situations in the future?
Day 3: Perseverance Through Trials with Jesus
The Christian journey is marked not by the absence of storms but by the presence of Jesus who provides the strength to endure them. His presence does not mean that challenges will cease, but rather that we have a constant companion who offers peace and joy that surpass understanding. In the midst of our trials, we are not alone; we have a Savior who walks with us, ready to extend His hand of rescue. This assurance allows us to face difficulties with a steadfast heart, knowing that Jesus is with us every step of the way. [31:20]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3 ESV)
Reflection: What trial are you currently facing, and how can you more consciously rely on Jesus' presence for strength and peace?
Day 4: Accepting Jesus' Hand of Rescue
Recognizing the need for help is the first step, but it is not complete without the willingness to accept the rescue that Jesus offers. It is one thing to cry out to Jesus in our time of need; it is another to take His hand when He reaches out to us. This act of faith is what solidifies our trust in Him and our commitment to follow Him. By accepting Jesus' help, we acknowledge our dependence on Him and open ourselves up to His transformative power in our lives. [36:09]
"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him." (Psalm 91:14-15 ESV)
Reflection: Can you think of a time when you resisted Jesus' help? How can you practice being more receptive to His assistance in your life?
Day 5: The Defining Decision to Follow Jesus
Deciding to follow Jesus is a defining moment that shapes our entire life. It is a decision that should be made with a full understanding of its implications. Following Jesus means facing opposition and distractions with the knowledge that He is our Lord and Master. This decision reorients our priorities, actions, and the course of our lives towards victory in Christ. It is a commitment to live for something greater than ourselves, for the glory of God and the good of His kingdom. [03:59]
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:7-8 ESV)
Reflection: What does following Jesus look like in your daily life, and what changes might you need to make to align more closely with His calling for you?
Quotes
"We would benefit a lot in following Jesus by wearing some spiritual blinders, being able to recognize what those distractions are and saying I'm not going to allow those things to distract me from the focus that I want to have on Jesus." [11:39]
"Peter was the only one that demonstrated that faith that day if Jesus can walk on water and he can come to see I don't want to be the one that didn't even have enough faith to get out. I have a member to water walkers ever in the history of the world that I know of that the Bible teaches about and that's Jesus and Peter." [29:33]
"When you decide to follow Jesus, the devil's job goes into overtime because from that point forward he knows he can't bring you into hell... but our enemy is craftier than any other creature ever made and our enemy wants to make you and I ineffective." [04:50]
"We serve a Waterwalker... Jesus turned the paths of trial into the path of victory... You and I don't ever have to fear the storms in our life because Jesus is with us... Do not fear, do not fear you know I don't know maybe more maybe less but I'll tell you what do not fear be not afraid occurs a whole lot of times in Scripture." [25:55]
"What or who is keeping you from focusing on Jesus now? What are the distractions in your life that are becoming idols that are consistently drawing you away from God?... We've got to identify our distractions and we've got to confess the sin that trips us up." [34:00]
"Peter gives us a tremendous example because he cries out lord save me... Peter knew where his help came from. Peter knew who his rescuer was... Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him saying to him oh you of little faith there's still room for you to grow." [32:15]
"Would you join us here at It'll Grow Baptist Church? Whatever it is, Pastor Berry's gonna be up here with me, you come. Jesus will call you to do extraordinary, impossible, unthinkable things for his glory. Will you trust and obey? Will you shift your eyes, eliminate the distractions, and focus on Jesus?" [40:01]
"Give us another Lord, would you draw another to follow you, the author and perfecter of our faith... that confession is just the first thing that you and I have to do. There's a couple more steps that Peter demonstrated for us. We've got to call out to Jesus for help." [36:09]
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