Summary
Standing at the edge of the Sea of Galilee, we’re confronted with one of the most captivating moments in Scripture: Peter walking on water. But this isn’t really a story about Peter’s boldness or even his failure when he begins to sink. This is a revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, the One who treads upon the waves just as Job prophesied only God could do. When we examine Matthew 14, we discover disciples exhausted in their boat, rowing for eight hours against fierce winds, making what should be a two-hour journey. They have a clear destination Jesus pointed them toward, but they face relentless opposition. How often do we find ourselves in the same place? We know where God is calling us in our marriages, our faith, our battles with sin, yet the winds work against us, and we grow weary. The beautiful truth emerges when Jesus appears, walking on the water, proclaiming ‘It is I’—the very name of God from the burning bush. He may not always be in our boat, but He is always on the water, never taking His eyes off us. We don’t need all our questions answered about why we’re facing storms; we need an anchor. And that anchor is the unwavering presence of Christ, inviting us to step out of whatever false security we’re clinging to and walk toward Him, even when the waves rage around us.
Key Scripture
Matthew 14:22-33
Ice Breaker
Share a time when you felt “out of your depth” or took a risk that required faith. What happened?
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Text
- Read Matthew 14:22-33 together. What stands out to you in this passage that you might not have noticed before?
- The sermon mentioned that Mark and John do not include Peter walking on water in their accounts. Why do you think Matthew chose to include this detail? Does it change the focus of the story?
- What does it mean that Jesus said “It is I” (literally “I AM”)? How does this connect to God’s revelation to Moses in Exodus 3?
Personal Reflection
- Destination & Opposition: What is a spiritual destination God has called you toward? Have you faced in opposition(s) to get there?
- The disciples had just witnessed Jesus feed 5,000 families with five loaves and two fish, yet they still struggled with fear in the storm. Why do you think past experiences of God’s faithfulness don’t always prevent future doubt?
- Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves. What “waves” in your life tend to distract you from keeping your eyes on Jesus?
Going Deeper
- The sermon stated: “I’d rather have Jesus and no boat than a boat and no Jesus.” What is your “boat”—the thing you’ve identified as your security or stability instead of Jesus? What would it look like to step out of that boat?
- Fear was defined as “imagining a future without God’s presence.” How does this definition change the way you think about your fears? How can remembering God’s presence change your perspective?
- Peter couldn’t swim (likely), yet he still stepped out of the boat. What does this teach us about the nature of faith? When has God called you to do something that felt completely beyond your abilities?
- Jesus asked Peter, “Why did you doubt?” This is a question for all of us. Why DO we doubt? What keeps us from fully trusting Jesus in our current circumstances?
Scripture Reference
- Matthew 14 (primary text – the story of Jesus walking on water)
- Matthew 14:22 – Jesus making disciples get into the boat
- Matthew 14:25 – Jesus walking on water early in the morning
- Matthew 14:27 – Jesus saying “Have courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
- Matthew 14:31 – Jesus saying “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
- Job 9:8 – “He is the one who spans out the stars of the sky and who treads on the waves of the sea”
- Matthew 8 – Another storm story with Jesus in the boat
- Mark 6 – Parallel account of the walking on water (mentions disciples didn’t understand about the loaves)
- John 6 – Another parallel account of the walking on water
- Exodus 3 – Moses and the burning bush, “I AM that I AM”
- Exodus 33:18-23 – Moses asking to see God’s glory, God passing by