Take Courage: We Are in a Perfectly Good Boat

Sep 20, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Boat You’re In Is Meant for Community

When life’s storms rage, we often fixate on our own struggles, forgetting we’re surrounded by others weathering the same winds. The disciples’ boat wasn’t unique—other vessels battled the same sea. Historic church architecture mirrors ship hulls, reminding believers they journey together. To abandon the boat for solo heroics risks missing Christ’s call to collective courage. True faith thrives not in isolation but in the shared rhythm of oars and whispered prayers. [52:33]

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”
(Matthew 14:22-23, NIV)

Reflection: When have you undervalued the “ordinary” community around you, mistaking their steady presence for lack of faith? How might leaning on others anchor you today?

Day 2: Storms Reveal Who’s in Your Fleet

The Sea of Galilee’s squalls battered every vessel—not just the disciples’. Life’s tempests tempt us to assume we suffer alone, yet Christ sees all “other little boats” fighting the same waves. Our storms become holy ground when we notice fellow travelers, their struggles mirroring ours. Fear narrows vision; faith widens it to see fleets of faithfulness. [38:04]

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’”
(Matthew 8:23-25, NIV)

Reflection: Whose “little boat” have you overlooked recently? What simple act could remind them they’re not alone in their storm?

Day 3: “It Is I” Changes Everything

Christ’s declaration—“It is I”—cuts through chaos like dawn piercing night. His identity as eternal God transforms storms from threats to canvases for revelation. We debate doctrines, yet the creeds anchor us: Jesus is “true God from true God.” When waves loom, His “I AM” outshines every ghostly fear. [33:52]

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
(John 1:1-3, NIV)

Reflection: What storm feels too personal for Christ’s “I AM” to address? How might His eternal nature reshape this struggle?

Day 4: Faith Grows in the Hull, Not the Spotlight

Peter’s water-walking fails, yet the miracle isn’t his stumble but the disciples’ collective worship. Faith matures in the boat’s creaking timbers—through shared meals, weary shifts at the oars, and hands steadying shoulders. The church’s strength lies not in solo spectacles but in crewmates whispering, “Take heart,” as spray stings faces. [44:43]

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
(Ephesians 4:2-3, NIV)

Reflection: Where have you compared your “below-deck” faithfulness to others’ highlight reels? How might embracing ordinary community deepen your trust?

Day 5: Worship Is the Wake Left Behind

The disciples didn’t applaud Peter’s attempt—they worshipped Christ. Our storms find purpose not when we walk on water, but when waves drive us to declare, “Truly, You are the Son of God.” The boat’s true miracle isn’t survival but transformed vision: battered planks become altars where “Lord, save me” becomes “Lord, You’re enough.” [55:37]

“And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
(Matthew 14:32-33, NIV)

Reflection: What distraction—even something “good”—needs releasing so your focus returns to Christ’s sufficiency? How could worship recalibrate your heart today?

Sermon Summary

Jesus comes to the disciples after the feeding of the five thousand, not while the sea is calm, but while their boat is being battered by waves. The storm does not make Jesus absent. Jesus walks straight into the fear and says, “Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid.” The words matter because “take heart” only has teeth when the One speaking is truly God.

The contrast between Matthew 8 and Matthew 14 shows that Jesus does not always command the storm to stop right away. Jesus sometimes speaks first to the people in the storm: “It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” The other little boats remind the church that pain is rarely isolated. Other people are getting hit by waves too, even when their storms look different.

Faith begins with the One who says, “I am,” not with Peter trying to do something spectacular. Peter’s brief walk on water is not the center of the account, because the other Gospel writers do not even include it. Peter’s problem may not simply be that he sank after stepping out. Peter’s lack of faith may have shown up in wanting to get out of a perfectly good boat and do what only Jesus can do.

The boat becomes a picture of spiritual community. The church has historically gathered in a nave, a word tied to a ship, because God’s people are carried together by grace. Community does not mean everybody is always easy to travel with. Community means followers of Christ do not have to become independent ninjas, mavericks, or spiritual lone wolves.

Jesus does not need to be a copilot. Jesus needs to be in control, period. The goal is not to replace Christ, impress people, or become the kind of person who can walk on water. The goal is to follow Christ, take courage, pray for leaders, lean on the people nearby, and remember that God has not left the situation.

Worship becomes the right ending because Jesus enters the boat, the wind ceases, and the disciples recognize who he is. Peter wants to be like Jesus the man, while Christ calls his people to become more Christlike. The confession remains simple: Jesus is the Son of God, and this is a perfectly good boat.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is present in the storm. Jesus does not wait on shore until life becomes manageable. Jesus comes near while the wind is against the disciples and their boat is getting battered. Christ’s presence does not always mean immediate calm, but it does mean fear is no longer the final word. [38:53]
2. Faith begins with Jesus’ identity. Faith does not begin with a person generating enough courage to do something impressive. Jesus first says, “It is I,” and only then tells frightened people to take heart. Confidence becomes solid when it rests on who Christ is, not on what a believer thinks can be accomplished. [48:17]
3. A perfectly good boat matters. The boat pictures the grace of Christian community, where people travel, worship, struggle, and grow together. Individualism can look spiritual when it is really just a desire to be special. Christ does not call disciples to prove themselves by leaving the boat, but to become faithful followers within his people. [52:11]
4. Worship, not spectacle, is the ending. Peter’s water-walking does not receive applause at the end of the account. Jesus entering the boat leads the disciples to confess, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” Spiritual maturity turns attention away from personal achievement and toward the identity of Christ.

## [55:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:08] - A Perfectly Good Boat
[27:19] - The Little Boat Illustration
[27:35] - Trying to Walk on Water
[30:09] - Jesus Walks on the Sea
[33:31] - Take Heart, It Is I
[34:22] - Battered by the Waves
[36:10] - Jesus Does Not Always Stop Storms
[37:39] - The Other Little Boats
[39:23] - Jesus Identifies Himself
[43:59] - Faith Begins With I Am
[49:02] - Why Did Peter Get Out?
[51:02] - Community Is the Boat
[55:16] - Worship the Son of God
[57:05] - Lean on Your Community
[59:14] - Invitation to Follow Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 14:22–33

22. Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the crowd. [30:14]

23. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, [30:23]

24. and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. [30:31]

25. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. [30:43]

26. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. [30:50]

27. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” [30:59]

28. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” [31:07]

29. “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. [31:13]

30. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” [31:13]

31. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” [31:25]

32. And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. [31:34]

33. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” [31:38]

Matthew 8:23–27

23. Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. [35:19]

24. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. [35:31]

25. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” [35:45]

26. He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. [35:58]

27. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” [36:00]

Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” [44:12]

Matthew 16:16

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [55:51]

Observation questions

What details show that the disciples in Matthew 14 were in real trouble before Jesus came to them, and what was Jesus doing before he came? [30:23]
What does Jesus say immediately after the disciples mistake him for a ghost, and in what order does he say it? [30:59]
What differences can the group observe between Jesus’ response to the storm in Matthew 8 and his response in Matthew 14? [36:10]
At the end of Matthew 14, where does the attention of the people in the boat go: Peter’s water-walking or Jesus’ identity? [55:24]

Interpretation questions

Jesus says, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Why does Jesus identifying himself matter before he tells frightened people not to be afraid? How does Exodus 3:14 help the group hear the weight of “I AM”? [48:17]
In Matthew 8 Jesus calms the storm right away, while in Matthew 14 he first speaks courage to the disciples in the storm. What does this contrast suggest about Jesus’ presence when circumstances do not change immediately? [36:10]
Jesus asks Peter, “Why did you doubt?” Could Peter’s lack of faith be seen not only in his sinking, but also in his desire to leave the boat and do what Jesus was doing? Why might that be an important question? [50:50]
The disciples end by worshiping Jesus and confessing that he is the Son of God. How does this response connect with Peter’s later confession in Matthew 16:16, and why is worship a better ending than celebrating a dramatic experience? [55:37]

Application questions

What storm or pressure is making fear feel especially loud right now? What would it look like this week to hear Jesus’ words personally: “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid”? [39:23]
It is easy to focus so fully on one’s own waves that the “other little boats” are forgotten. Who nearby may be facing a different kind of storm, and what is one specific way to check in, listen, pray, or offer practical help? [38:53]
Where is there a temptation to prove spiritual strength, stand out, or do something impressive rather than simply follow Jesus faithfully? What might choosing the “perfectly good boat” look like in that situation? [55:05]
Jesus does not need to be a copilot; he is Lord and in control. In what area of life is there a tendency to take over, insist on having the final say, or rely only on personal ability? What would trusting Christ’s leadership look like there? [54:33]
Following Jesus was not meant to be solitary. Is there a need that has been kept private because asking for help feels difficult? What could it look like to lean on Christian community in a healthy and honest way? [57:50]
The disciples worshiped Jesus because they recognized who he is. What practices could help shift attention this week away from personal achievement, fear, or comparison and toward worshiping Jesus as the Son of God? [58:32]

Sermon Clips

59s

#JesusIsLord

“This is the confession of this story. Jesus, you are the son of God, and this is a perfectly good boat. The life you've given me, I don't need to walk on water. I have no one to impress. My attention is on you, and when you say take heart, my heart will respond. So this morning as we as we've gathered today, we've looked at your word, Lord. We've worshiped you. We've discussed you. We've wrestled with you. We say thank you for who you are.”

72s

#WorshipChrist

“The scene ends with applause for with not applause for Peter, but worship directed at Christ. That's the most important piece. When Jesus enters the boat, the disciples confess his identity and worship him. Peter, who's still struggling with who Jesus is, it's gonna take him two more chapters before he declares that Jesus is Christ, is king. The other guys got it. Notice how they didn't get out of the boat? This miracle reveals the disciples who Jesus is. Worship was the fitting response. Unfortunately for Peter, he wanted to be like Jesus, the man. He didn't want to become more Christ like.”

64s

#FaithInJesus

“Faith does not begin with us. Faith begins with the one who says I am. This is my third point. We might do four. We might just do three. Peter's failure does not become the center of the story. So Peter walking on water was not in the other accounts of scripture. That tells us immediately that Peter not being able to walk on water for a long period of time is not the most important thing. It's not. As Pentecostals, we read this through a Pentecostal lens, and I have probably preached this in different context too many times, trying to stir up faith. We're we're gonna pray for miracles. You just gotta step out on the water. But that's really not what this is about.”

46s

#LeanOnCommunity

“Maybe there's a storm you're going through right now. And I believe the prophetic word for you today is to lean on your community. If we want to be more Christ like, that looks like community. That looks like leaning on the people next to you. That looks like asking for help when you need it. It looks like offering help when someone else needs it.”

50s

#GraceInCommunity

“Have you have you ever considered, historic churches? You take a historic church. We build now for function, and it's great. But you take a historic church, you turn it upside down, and more often than not, they represent the hull of a boat. Traditionally, we would call this the nave, the place where people gather, but in Latin, it was ship. This is important because it's supposed to be a reminder when we gather together in spiritual community, we're traveling together, we're worshiping together, we are people being carried by the grace of God together.”

55s

#TakeHeart

“But the other little boats are going through stuff too. If you are going through a storm in life, and we all are, some are big, some are small, you need to remember this morning the words of Christ. Do not be afraid. Take heart because Jesus has not left your situation, which brings us really to the second observation that Jesus identifies himself. This is really important.”

58s

#GodsGotThis

“Do you ever try to take the place of Christ in your own life? We're pretty confident in our own abilities. Most things we think we can do on our own. If we can embrace the concept of taking courage in community, we have an ability as churches to speak to the situations around us as a collective whole and say, take courage. It's going to be okay. What if that was what we were known for as opposed to bashing our our leaders and and making our statements and our claims. What if we were known for simply being like, hey, God's got this under control.”

46s

#DoNotBeAfraid

“He does not command the the wind. He does not command the waves. He doesn't speak to the weather. He just says, hey. It's me. Don't be afraid. So why over here did he need to vocalize the situation? Why over here did he have to say, hey. Storm, stop that. Now you guys stop it too. But over here, we had we cut out the middleman, and we just went right to, hey, don't be afraid. Storms are gonna happen, but you can hold it together because I'm here.”

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