TITLE: Stepping Out of the Boat

TITLE: Stepping Out of the Boat

TEXT: Matthew 14:22-34THEME: God rewards believers who take risks based on his promises.

Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles

across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision.

God has done a wonderful work at BBC over the years - we have

crossed an ocean so to speak. In the coming years we want to “extend a

road out into the wilderness” because we believe that Bonnyville will see more growth and that there

are more people to be reached

How does taking measured a risk confirm the promises of God?

I. We cannot know God’s power by staying in the boat. (22-26)

Matthew 14:22-26

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Matthew 14:22-26

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear


A. The boat is a place of relative safety.



B. The boat is a place of inactivity due to fear.



B. The boat is a place of inactivity due to fear.

C. The boat is a place of confinement.

How does taking a measured risk confirm the promises of God?

II. We see God honour His promise if we step out of the boat. (27-31)

Matthew 14:27-31

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said.

Matthew 14:27-31

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”


A. Peter wanted confirmation from Christ.


A. Peter wanted confirmation from Christ.– He is asking to do something he knows is

impossible.


A. Peter wanted confirmation from Christ.– He is asking to do something he knows is

impossible.– It seems that when people read this scripture they

forget the request and the first step and they only remember that he sank. Instead we need to applaud Peter because, in this passage, Peter did something that the other 11 disciples didn’t do. Peter got out of the boat

Why the other 11 didn’t try to walk on water?


• They were fearful.


• They were fearful. • They preferred the safety and certainty of

the floating boat to the uncertainty of the water


• They were fearful. • They preferred the safety and certainty of

the floating boat to the uncertainty of the water

• Look at what they were missing. A chance to walk on the water with Jesus!

When a church holds back and stays in the boat so to speak is it

for the same reasons? Is it fear or comfort? Is it uncertainty as to

the response?

When is the reward big enough for us to want to take a risk?

When will the potential result be worth our efforts?



B. Peter acted on the promise of Christ.



B. Peter acted on the promise of Christ.– Peter took a risk getting out of a boat, but it

wasn’t a rash decision, it was a calculated risk. God doesn’t want us to take unnecessary risk.



B. Peter acted on the promise of Christ.– Peter took a risk getting out of a boat, but it

wasn’t a rash decision, it was a calculated risk. God doesn’t want us to take unnecessary risk.

– Peter did is that he wasn’t going out there alone.



B. Peter acted on the promise of Christ.

C. Peter took his eyes off Christ.

When you take a risk that you have prayed about and you know this is God’s will for you, and then you know that God will not leave you alone. He will be with you every

step of the way.

How does taking a measured risked confirm the promises of God?

III. God reveals His power in risky situations (32-36)

Matthew 14:32-36

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God

Matthew 14:32-36

34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.


A. Jesus deliver’s Peter.


A. Jesus deliver’s Peter. B. Jesus calmed the wind


A. Jesus deliver’s Peter. B. Jesus calmed the wind. C. Jesus heals the sick.

APPLICATION:

• Is God asking that you risk possible embarrassment of talking to that neighbor

APPLICATION:

• Is God asking that you risk possible embarrassment of talking to that neighbor?

• Is He asking you to risk rejection by telling your boyfriend or girlfriend that you are going to be faithful to God above all else no matter what

APPLICATION:


• Is He asking you to risk rejection by telling your boyfriend or girlfriend that you are going to be faithful to God above all else no matter what?

• Is He calling you to volunteer for some form of ministry within the church?

APPLICATION:


• Is He asking you to risk rejection by telling your boyfriend or girlfriend that you are going to be faithful to God above all else no matter what?

• Is He calling you to volunteer for some form of ministry within the church?

• Is He calling you to give or to commit your life today?

APPLICATION

• As a church what is God calling us to do? Next Friday join us as we look at what we believe He is calling us to risk.

APPLICATION

Whatever He is calling us or you to do, remember that if you want to walk on the water, you have to get out of the boat. And you may sink, Peter did. But Christ picked

him up and boy did he have a story to tell his grandchildren. The story of how with the

Help of Jesus he did something impossible. What risk will you take this morning?

Julie Shimer

“The real learning moment came when Motorola missed the coming of digital cellular technology in the mid mid-nineties, AT&T asked Motorola to develop a digital phone. Motorola thought that customers would not accept digit because of the poor voice quality. They had the attitude that they were the market leader, they were doing great, and if they refused, it would not happen.

Julie Shimer

So, AT&T went to Nokia instead, and Nokia got it. They said, "We'll do it for you." Brand-new in the business, Nokia led the way, ending the era of analog and beginning the new digital era. Nokia took market leadership from Motorola. Missing the ending of analog in cell phones was a big mistake. I learned through that experience to pay attention when something is over and it is time to create urgency around the new.

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TITLE: Stepping Out of the Boat