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.’”
[23:27] [26:35] [28:48] [29:36] [35:33] [35:48] [36:18] [37:36]1 Kings 19:1-18 “Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’ Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.’ And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’ And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’ And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’ And he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’”
[13:52] [30:11] [31:16]Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I AM has sent me to you.”’”
[24:55] [25:06]Genesis 1:1-5 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”
[24:17] [24:47]Observation questions- In Matthew 14, what details show how long the disciples had been struggling, and how severe the storm really was? [28:20]
- What does Matthew say Jesus did before the disciples got into trouble on the sea, and what does that tell the group about why they were out there? [26:35]
- In the reading from 1 Kings 19, what signs show that Elijah was overwhelmed and ready to give up? [31:16]
- What happens immediately after Peter begins to sink, and how do the disciples respond once Jesus gets into the boat? [35:48]
Interpretation questions- Matthew says Jesus made or compelled the disciples to get into the boat. How does that shape the way hardship should be understood when it comes during faithful obedience? [36:18]
- Jesus comes to the disciples in the darkest part of the night and over the chaotic water. How might that connect with the creation story in Genesis and help explain what Matthew is showing about Jesus? [24:17]
- Jesus says, “It is I,” or “I am.” Why does that matter in light of Exodus 3:14, and what does it suggest about Jesus’ identity in this moment? [25:06]
- Peter does fail in one sense, but he also cries out and clings to Jesus. What does that reveal about the kind of response Jesus honors in the middle of fear and doubt? [35:33]
Application questions- Have there been seasons when obedience to Jesus felt more exhausting than encouraging? What did that season look like, and how did it challenge expectations about the Christian life? [29:18]
- The waves were not merely inconvenient; they were tormenting, and the wind was against the disciples in hostility. Where does life feel like that right now—at home, at work, in health, or in the heart? [28:48]
- Jesus sees the trouble clearly and knows exactly where his people are. Is it easy or difficult right now to believe that Jesus sees the situation clearly? Why? [29:36]
- Elijah ran in fear and wanted to give up, yet God still met him there. When fear or exhaustion hits, is the first instinct to run, shut down, isolate, or ask for help? What usually happens? [31:16]
- Peter’s prayer was short and desperate: “Lord, save me.” When life becomes overwhelming, what does it look like to pray that simply and honestly instead of pretending everything is fine? [35:48]
- Jesus held Peter with compassion, not irritation. Does that match the way Jesus is usually imagined in moments of weakness, or does it challenge that picture? How might that change the way struggles are brought to him? [35:33]
- “Cling to Jesus and don’t let go” is simple, but not easy. What helps a person actually hold on to Christ in a hard week—Scripture, prayer, worship, honest conversation, rest, asking for help, or something else? [37:36]
