Stepping Out in Faith Amid Life's Storms
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the story of Jesus walking on water and Peter's attempt to join Him, as recorded in Matthew 14. This narrative is rich with lessons about faith, community, and the nature of Jesus Christ. We began by setting the scene: Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000, and He sent His disciples ahead of Him in a boat while He went up to a mountain to pray. As the disciples were in the middle of the sea, a storm arose, and they found themselves struggling against the wind and waves.
In the midst of their struggle, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. The disciples were terrified, thinking He was a ghost, but Jesus immediately reassured them, saying, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Peter, in a moment of boldness mixed with doubt, asked Jesus to command him to come to Him on the water. Jesus said, "Come," and Peter stepped out of the boat. However, when Peter saw the wind and waves, he became afraid and began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" and immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him, saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
This story is not just about Peter's faith but also about the collective experience of the disciples. When Jesus and Peter got back into the boat, the wind ceased, and the disciples worshipped Jesus, declaring, "Truly you are the Son of God." This moment was a revelation for them, a confirmation of Jesus' divine nature and His control over the elements.
We then transitioned to how this story applies to us today. From the beginning, God created us to live in community, as seen in Genesis 2 where He said, "It is not good for man to be alone." We are part of various communities—our families, workplaces, and churches. Each of these communities will face storms, and in those moments, we have a choice: to be like Peter and step out in faith or to remain in the boat, paralyzed by fear.
Jesus assured us in John 16:33 that we will face tribulations, but He also promised that He has overcome the world. This means that while storms are inevitable, we can have peace and courage because Jesus is with us. Our faith, even if it starts small, can grow as we trust God with more and more of our lives. This growth in faith not only helps us but also serves as a testimony to others in our community.
I shared a personal story about a young man I worked with who was an atheist. Despite his disbelief, he asked me to pray for his sister who had cancer. We prayed, and months later, she was declared cancer-free. This experience didn't immediately lead him to Christ, but it planted a seed. Eventually, he did come to faith, showing how our actions and faith can impact others over time.
In conclusion, we are called to be like Peter, stepping out in faith even when the storms of life are raging. Our faith can inspire others and bring them closer to God. And when we are the ones struggling, we need a Peter in our lives to show us that stepping out in faith is possible and that Jesus is always there to catch us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith in Action: Peter's act of stepping out of the boat, despite his fear, demonstrates that faith often requires us to take bold actions. Even when we doubt, Jesus is there to catch us if we start to sink. This teaches us that faith is not the absence of doubt but the courage to act despite it. [41:42]
2. Community and Support: We are created to live in community, and our faith can have a profound impact on those around us. Just as Peter's faith affected the other disciples, our actions can inspire and strengthen the faith of others in our various communities. [46:08]
3. Growth Through Trials: Jesus allows us to go through storms to test and grow our faith. These trials are opportunities for sanctification, making us more like Christ. When we trust God in small things, our faith grows, enabling us to trust Him with bigger challenges. [48:54]
4. Witnessing Through Faith: Our faith can be a powerful witness to non-believers. The story of the young atheist who asked for prayer for his sister shows that people are watching how we live out our faith. Our consistent trust in God can plant seeds that may eventually lead others to Christ. [55:38]
5. Immediate Help from Jesus: Jesus responds immediately when we cry out to Him in faith. Just as He reached out to Peter, He is ready to help us in our moments of need. This immediate response reassures us of His constant presence and willingness to save us from our struggles. [43:56]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[28:53] - Setting the Scene: Jesus Sends the Disciples Ahead
[30:01] - Prayer and Introduction
[32:10] - The Snowball Effect of Jesus' Ministry
[33:02] - The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
[34:18] - Jesus Urgently Sends the Disciples into the Boat
[35:06] - Jesus Prays on the Mountain
[36:31] - The Storm and Jesus Walking on Water
[37:18] - Peter Steps Out in Faith
[39:53] - Jesus' Immediate Reassurance
[41:01] - Peter's Doubt and Jesus' Rescue
[43:56] - Jesus Saves Peter and Calms the Storm
[45:05] - The Disciples Worship Jesus
[46:08] - Application: Living in Community
[48:15] - Building Trust with God
[50:11] - Mutual Support in Faith
[51:37] - Peter's Faith Inspires the Disciples
[52:31] - Recognizing Jesus as God
[54:57] - Personal Story: Praying for an Atheist's Sister
[56:20] - The Impact of Persistent Faith
[59:03] - Being a Peter in Your Community
[01:00:29] - Encouragement to Step Out in Faith
[01:03:17] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
[01:05:04] - Announcements and Farewell
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 14:22-33 (Jesus Walks on Water)
- John 16:33 (Jesus Overcomes the World)
- Genesis 2:18 (It is not good for man to be alone)
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial reaction of the disciples when they saw Jesus walking on the water? ([39:53])
2. How did Peter respond to Jesus' invitation to come to Him on the water, and what happened when he saw the wind and waves? ([41:01])
3. What was the disciples' response after Jesus and Peter got back into the boat and the wind ceased? ([45:05])
4. According to the sermon, what does Jesus' immediate response to Peter's cry for help teach us about His nature? ([43:56])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Peter was the only disciple who asked to walk on the water? What does this say about his faith and doubt? ([41:01])
2. How does the story of Jesus walking on water illustrate the importance of community and mutual support among believers? ([46:08])
3. In what ways do the trials and storms in our lives serve as opportunities for spiritual growth and sanctification? ([36:31])
4. How can our faith and actions serve as a witness to non-believers, as illustrated by the pastor's story about the young atheist? ([55:38])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent "storm" in your life. Did you respond more like Peter, stepping out in faith, or like the other disciples, staying in the boat? How did that affect the outcome? ([48:15])
2. Think about a community you are part of (family, workplace, church). How can you be a "Peter" in that community, stepping out in faith to inspire others? ([59:03])
3. Jesus promises in John 16:33 that He has overcome the world. How can this assurance help you face your current challenges with peace and courage? ([53:32])
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of small steps of faith. What is one small step of faith you can take this week to trust God more in a specific area of your life? ([48:54])
5. The pastor shared a story about praying for an atheist's sister. Is there someone in your life who is watching your faith? How can you be a positive witness to them this week? ([55:38])
6. When you are struggling, who is a "Peter" in your life that you can look to for encouragement and support? How can you reach out to them this week? ([51:37])
7. How can you cultivate a habit of immediately crying out to Jesus in times of trouble, just as Peter did? What practical steps can you take to make this a reflexive response? ([43:56])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith Requires Bold Action
Peter's act of stepping out of the boat, despite his fear, demonstrates that faith often requires us to take bold actions. Even when we doubt, Jesus is there to catch us if we start to sink. This teaches us that faith is not the absence of doubt but the courage to act despite it. Peter's experience shows that our faith journey will have moments of fear and uncertainty, but it is in these moments that we must choose to trust Jesus and take that step of faith. When we do, we find that Jesus is always there, ready to support and save us.
This lesson encourages us to take risks in our faith, knowing that Jesus is with us. It challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones and trust God in new and deeper ways. Whether it's sharing our faith with someone, making a significant life change, or simply trusting God in a difficult situation, stepping out in faith is a powerful act of trust and obedience. [41:42]
Matthew 14:28-29 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? What bold action can you take today to trust Him more?
Day 2: The Power of Community and Support
We are created to live in community, and our faith can have a profound impact on those around us. Just as Peter's faith affected the other disciples, our actions can inspire and strengthen the faith of others in our various communities. When Peter stepped out of the boat, it wasn't just a personal act of faith; it was a moment that impacted all the disciples. They witnessed his courage and Jesus' power, leading them to worship and declare Jesus as the Son of God.
This teaches us the importance of our role within our communities. Our faith and actions can serve as a testimony and encouragement to others. We are not meant to walk this journey alone but to support and uplift one another. In times of struggle, our community can provide the strength and encouragement we need to keep going. [46:08]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Think of someone in your community who might need encouragement today. How can you reach out to them and offer support or a word of faith?
Day 3: Growth Through Trials
Jesus allows us to go through storms to test and grow our faith. These trials are opportunities for sanctification, making us more like Christ. When we trust God in small things, our faith grows, enabling us to trust Him with bigger challenges. The story of Peter walking on water illustrates this principle. The storm was a test of faith, and although Peter began to sink, the experience ultimately strengthened his faith and the faith of the other disciples.
Trials and challenges are a part of life, but they are also opportunities for growth. When we face difficulties, we can choose to trust God and allow Him to work in us. These experiences refine our character and deepen our relationship with Him. As we see God's faithfulness in small trials, our confidence in Him grows, preparing us for greater challenges ahead. [48:54]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial you faced. How did you see God at work in that situation? What did you learn about trusting Him through it?
Day 4: Witnessing Through Faith
Our faith can be a powerful witness to non-believers. The story of the young atheist who asked for prayer for his sister shows that people are watching how we live out our faith. Our consistent trust in God can plant seeds that may eventually lead others to Christ. Even when we don't see immediate results, our actions and prayers can have a lasting impact on those around us.
This reminds us that our faith is not just for our benefit but also for the sake of others. By living out our faith authentically and consistently, we can be a testimony to God's love and power. People may be drawn to Christ through our example, even if it takes time for them to come to faith. Our role is to be faithful and trust that God will use our witness in His timing. [55:38]
1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who does not yet know Christ. How can you be a witness to them through your actions and prayers today?
Day 5: Immediate Help from Jesus
Jesus responds immediately when we cry out to Him in faith. Just as He reached out to Peter, He is ready to help us in our moments of need. This immediate response reassures us of His constant presence and willingness to save us from our struggles. When Peter began to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" and Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him.
This teaches us that we can always turn to Jesus in our times of need. He is attentive to our cries and ready to provide the help and support we need. Knowing that Jesus is always there for us gives us the confidence to face any challenge, knowing that we are not alone. His presence is a source of comfort and strength, and we can trust Him to be our ever-present help in times of trouble. [43:56]
Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: What is a current struggle or challenge you are facing? Take a moment to cry out to Jesus for help and trust in His immediate response.
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Jesus will do that for us too if we cry out to him with the right heart. The audience participation part of the day. Whose problem got solved? All of them. Not just Peter. Their whole problem got saved. They got changed. Jesus stepped in the boat, rescued Peter, but the storm stopped. So everything they struggled against stopped because I am showed up. Because I was there." [45:05]
2. "You understand that as human beings, we are created to live in community. You can help me. We can grow together. God can use us to help each other. And other people, we are designed to live in community. And we have many different communities in our lives. Your family is a community that you're a part of. Your job is a community that you're a part of. This church is a community that you're a part of." [47:08]
3. "What community are you in today that needs a Peter? What community are you in today that needs somebody just to have a little bit of faith to step out of that boat and be the example for everybody else in that community. It can be an amazing experience. Yeah, I'm sure Peter had a good time. But I can imagine what those guys in the boat felt they saw Peter reach, when Jesus reached out to Peter and he stepped back in the boat and all of the waters calmed they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the I Am was there." [59:03]
4. "You stepping out of the boat will not only solve your problem, but it may give somebody else the encouragement and the courage to step out of the boat as well. He's so amazing and He's so good. No man today that could use a Peter. And God, that's what the tests and trials in our lives do. You are molding us and shaping us into the image of your dear son every day." [01:03:17]
5. "If you don't know the I Am that we're talking about, we'd love to introduce you to Him. All you've got to do is come ask. I'll take you right to the foot of the cross. Am is here today. All you have to do is step out of the boat." [01:00:29]
### Quotes for Members
1. "I think we will be both at one point in our lives. Depending on the storm that comes your way, depending on the storm that hits your community, you may have the faith to be the Peter. Or you may not have the faith and be the disciple. But there is a Peter in your boat that's going to show you what a small step of faith can do. Do you know how you build trust with God? Yeah, we're supposed to trust him, right? I know this from experience. This is how it went with me. I didn't know about trusting God. I didn't know if I could trust God with everything in my life. So you know what I did, Val? I gave him something little. I gave him something little. God, can you handle this? There it is. And God was faithful and he immediately took care of that problem. Well, what did that do?" [48:15]
2. "It's my job to use my faith where I can. Why? To help you. There may be a situation that you're going through that I've come through. That I can help you because I've been through that situation and I've watched God show up in my life. And I can be a witness to you about that situation and how God will handle that situation if you'll trust him. And I can hopefully give you just that little bit of faith to get out of the boat. At the same time, there may be something that I go through that I've never been through before that you've been through. And when I'm in the middle of that storm trying to figure out how it's going to get fixed. God will send you to me to say, hey pastor, I've been through that storm that you're going through. It's going to be okay. Let me tell you how God helped me through it. Let me show you what God did for me to get me through that storm. That's why we need each other. That's why the church is so important. That's why relationships are so important. We're supposed to live this life together. When those storms hit, we need that Peter to step out on faith. Even if it's just a little faith. Because it was Peter's faith that Christ reacted to." [50:11]
3. "And God, then one day they can be Peter and step out of the boat. Father, if we're the ones in this. If we're in the boat as one of the disciples in a storm. God, give us a Peter to see. Give us a Peter that we can relate to. A Peter that we can talk to. That'll encourage us and we can see them go through that storm. And see you help them immediately. And know that you're no respecter of persons. And that if you did it for them, you would do it for us. If we just had a little measure of faith." [01:04:20]
4. "And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. That was the assurance that Peter got. That Jesus was who he said he was. Peter had a doubt. But Jesus said, come on. And of course, we know the story. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, instead of looking at the one, he looked at the situation around him. And when he did, he started to sink. But here's what I want you to think about. Before he stepped on the water, Peter was in the boat. Before he stepped out on the water, Peter was just as afraid. The Bible before that doesn't say they were all afraid, dot, dot, dot, except for Peter. It doesn't say that they were freaking out, dot, dot, dot. But Peter was hanging out on the side of the boat because he just knew Jesus was coming. Little bit more faith than they did. Just enough to get him out of that boat. But think about this. The 11 are watching. Can't you imagine if they all thought it was a ghost and Jesus made that statement and Peter in his doubt, that means the rest of them were doubting. And when Jesus says, come on, can't you see the rest of them going, Pete? Pete, you sure about this? Have you seen that water out there?" [41:01]
5. "And the disciples have seen this progressive ministry of his go from literally nothing, to then they watched him as the woman with the issue of blood got healed. They watched him as he raised a little girl from the dead. They watched him as he healed hundreds and hundreds of people. And this snowball effect just keeps going here. And not only is he teaching the crowd, so his wisdom is starting to be seen. And it's just this big snowball effect. And I get the idea in my head. I can see those disciples in my mind just getting more excited and more excited as they're seeing all this stuff happen right now. In front of them. They're watching the crowds get bigger and bigger. They're watching the miracles get bigger and bigger." [33:02]
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