Series: “Wandering Pilgrims” "Get Out of the Boat"

Sundays Sermon Jun 10, 2012  
Matt. 14:22-33

We are in week 2 of our 4 week series titled, “Wandering Pilgrims.” As we begin the summer months we as a faith community may be feeling that the interim process is slowing giving us the perception of a wandering or wilderness time. Last week we talked about this happening and that we should expect to experience times like this. We experience these times throughout our lives and this isn't be any different in the church either. It’s normal to experience this, and it’s ok because through the experience we will discover our true selves as a faith community.

This week we will reflect on another reason we find ourselves in wandering times, furthermore, it may also present an opportunity for us to end our wandering times… if we are willing to…. "Get Out of the Boat."

PRAYER:

In college I had a classmate named Joseph… he was from Kenya, and he over-heard our professor commending me for going to college as an older person. The prof likened it to walking on water and Joseph over heard the last part of that statement. Joseph said that's impossible. No body can walk on water. This is simply impossible. The prof told Joseph that by the end of his time here he will have the opportunity to walk on water. Joseph responded by saying there was no way he or anyone else could walk on water. In mid-January... Joseph walked on water... he then believed. 

When we are in a wandering or wilderness time in our lives we often feel little hope.

Quite often, we have a WOW is me attitude. We typically feel worthless and helpless, and unable to do anything. We often don’t see the opportunities that surround us. The same is true for churches. Many times our church loses focus on the main thing being the main thing, thus becoming self-serving and self-centered. In a sense… “Getting Out of the Boat” is a kick in the behind that opens our eyes to a needed perspective change. So my friends… if you want to walk on water, then you need “Get Out of the Boat.”

Our bible story today is a familiar one. Peter takes a risk and we often see it as a failure… we see it as a failure of faith. Jesus says, “You of little faith.” But, this story isn't only about Peter, but also about the other 11 who make no attempts to do anything.

This is really a story about fear and trust. Let’s look at these two attributes.

 Fear....

John Ortberg in his book “If you want to walk on water, you got to get out of the boat” says,

“There are 366 “FEAR NOT’S” in the bible, one for everyday of the year including 1 for Leap Year.”
Why do we fear so much? Why are we so afraid to do things? When we were younger we didn’t think too much about doing things… we just did them. Many times they worked out, and sometimes they didn’t, but generally we would continue to try things. Many of us live in a constant tension between fear & trust.

Maybe you experienced this as a parent or child… your child is on a platform and you call out to her to jump… I will catch you… trust me… I’m your father or mother… I will catch you… I love you and I won’t let you drop. How many times did we jump? How many times did our kids jump? Of course most of the time we jumped because we trusted our parent.

Yet… fear grips us. Fear paralyzes us… fear stops us from experiencing the joy of accomplishment and we do this in the church as well. When churches stop trying out of fear or of failing, or the fear of not having enough money, enough people, enough leaders, etc.
Sometimes we fear succeeding… new people will come… things will change… things will be different. When we fear too much… fear will always win the day.

Fear can be a good thing… when a small child touches a hot stove… the fear of being burned is good. However, most of the time we fear for no reason at all.

Jesus tells Peter, “Don’t be afraid… Don’t worry I’m here.”

I wonder how much ministry has not happened because of fear.

TRUST...

Jesus says to the 12, “Surely you don’t have much faith.” Some translations say, “You of little faith” or “you don’t believe because you have no faith.” Do you remember when we talked about the word “Believe” as one meaning “Trust”?

Trust says “JUMP”

 Fear says “NO”

Why does Peter walk on water initially?

Why does a church stop growing?...

When Jesus calls Peter to come out of the boat…. He believe Peter can walk on water… and at that point Peter believes he really can walk on water.

Peter believes he can do what his rabbi is doing.
Then Peter begins to sink… Jesus still believes he can do it.
Contrary to how we read the story, Peter hasn’t lost faith in Jesus.
Peter and the others have lost faith in themselves.
Peter loses faith that he could do what his rabbi is doing.

Rob Bell in his book “Velvet Elvis” says, “If the Rabbi calls you to be his disciple, then he believes you can actually be like him… what I believe frustrates Jesus most is when his disciples lose faith in themselves.”

Closing:

As we move through this wandering period… what waters do you need to walk on?  What boats do you need to get out of?

Are you jumping in trust? Or are you NOT jumping because of fear?

Jesus believes you can do this!!!!

Jesus believes we can do this!!!!

DO YOU????

See You Out on the Road