Grace, mercy, and peace be to God our Father,
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy
Spirit. Amen. Because she loved Hawaii, she desperately
wanted to make me a surfer. And so she went out
and she bought the coolest surfboard she could
find. It didn't matter if it was the right size,
or the right kind, or if it worked the way she
put it in my eye. She just thought it looked
cool. So she got a surfer. I had never tried
surfing before. I had never tried surfing before.
He finds out that I have a surfer. He says, hey,
I just got my hand on one myself. Do you want
to go try surfing? So the next one I have on
the board takes us over to Cocoa Beach, Florida.
at the dot home of Kelly Slater, multiple time
world champion, world famous surfer. We go to
Cocoa Beach and we start to give it a go. Now
there's something that they never really show
in surf movies. And that is getting out to the
part where the waves break. They don't really
show that part because it's kind of boring and
it's awful. Has anybody here ever tried surfing?
Yeah. The part of like getting out to where the
waves break. is a nightmare. And we're out there
and we're just floundering and paddling as hard.
At one point we were swimming and trying to drag
the boards behind us, just getting wave after
wave in our face. It was windy, there was water
in my nose and my ears and my mouth. It was just,
it was awful. Right? And we're exhausted. It
felt like we did this all day long, just trying
to get out there to even try and catch a wave.
And of course we come back to the shore. My mom
has been watching and she has the audacity to
say, well, you weren't far enough out. You guys
gotta go a little further. We're like we know
we have to go further. We can't get there It's
easy for you standing on the chore to say that
you try going out there. I think I ate a bunch
of seaweed I Only tell you that story because
I relate to old Peter here in our gospel reading
old Petey who jumps off the side of the boat
in the midst of a storm and all of a sudden is
going oh This is a lot worse than I thought it
was gonna be That feeling of, I'm gonna go, this
is it, this is the end of me, Lord, help me.
I can relate to that. So today we're gonna be
looking at that gospel reading, looking at that
story of Jesus, and yes, Peter, albeit briefly,
walking on water. But before we look at that,
let's go to our God in prayer. Lord God, Heavenly
Father, we thank you so much for today. for this
chance for us all to come here and worship you.
Lord, I thank you for the chance to share your
message. And Lord, of course, let it be your
message, as I pray every week. Move me out of
the way. This isn't about me. This shouldn't
even be from me. This is a chance for the Holy
Spirit to speak. I submit myself to you, and
I pray that all who hear this would be willing
to do the same. Pray all these things through
your son, Jesus, in his name. Amen. A special
welcome to those of you watching online. It is
great to have you with us today. So our gospel
reading is our main text. It's Matthew chapter
14, 22 through 33. For those of you who are watching
it separately, that is the section that we're
going through. I have to tell you, being a pastor
is a really weird job in this day and age. Because
I think back to the clergy of days gone by, right?
Where there was like the parish church, and you
were just kind of the clergyman in the neighborhood.
Maybe there were one or two churches, but by
and large, the job in the olden days of a pastor,
a priest, was to just kind of be around, right?
to be available to people in town to maybe offer
a sage bit of wisdom every now and then. Their
focus was, you know, people would come together
for a worship service and they would deliver
a little message and that was that. But in this
modern day and age, where we have competition
and marketing, where we have social media and
websites and online giving and staff and human
resources and 501c3 status and budgets and all
of those things, the role of a pastor has become
quite different. And on top of all that, I still
have to deliver like a 25 -minute speech every
week. And that speech has to be like... didactic
and teaching. It has to be this inspirational
and motivational Ted Talk. And it has to be theologically,
academically accurate and inspiring. Every week
I have to do this. And sometimes I look at the
assigned readings and I'm like, boy, God, I hope
that you're talking this week because I don't
know what I'm going to say. But luckily, this
is not one of those weeks. This week I looked
at that gospel reading and it was like, yes,
because this is just an amazingly rich story,
isn't it? It's downright cinematic. You can just
picture it. You can picture the whole scene.
There's conflict and resolution. There's moments
of tension. There's action. This is a movie.
This is a story, right? And it's allegorical.
They're so easy to see. Well, this represents
that and all that. So there's a lot in today's
message. So let's get into it. For context in
terms of what's happening here in the in the
midst of the story of the narrative of Jesus
in his ministry if you remember back early in
Matthew 14 Herod had just had a feast where he
murdered John the Baptist and Jesus found out
about that and was naturally distraught. This
is his cousin. This is his partner in ministry.
This is somebody that he was close to And so
it says that He tried to withdraw away from the
crowds, but because He's Jesus, the crowds followed
Him. They found Him. And rather than getting
aggravated, He had compassion. And in His compassion,
He continued to heal, continued to teach, continued
to be there. with and for those people. But,
and this makes my little introvert heart sing,
eventually he said, all right guys, party's over,
everybody go home, I need to be by myself. Right?
That's what we see in our gospel reading today.
He says, disciples, I don't care where you go,
just get out of here. It's time for me to spend
some time by myself, recharge my batteries. He
sends the crowds away and it says he goes up
to a mountain to pray. And whenever Jesus goes
up to a mountain to pray, that's significant,
right? That doesn't happen all that often. And
so this is a moment where He is really recharging
and connecting with His Heavenly Father. Well,
in the meantime, the disciples, He sends them
off in this boat, and off they go, and they find
themselves. It says a good ways away from shore.
Other narratives that say that it could be as
far as three miles. The width of this sea is
about eight miles, so they're about halfway across
the sea, give or take. And it says a storm comes
up. Now, in this telling of it, we don't see
explicitly stated that they were afraid. You
know, these are skilled fishermen. They spend
a lot of time, at least some of them are, a lot
of time on the water, so they probably knew what
to do. But we know from other instances where
they were out in the sea when the storm blew
up that there is a sense of fear and tension,
right? But I don't want to skip over something.
Why were they in the boat in the first place?
Because Jesus told them to right Jesus sent them
in that boat He said you guys go across to the
other side of shore all meet you there See sometimes
in our lives We encounter these storms. We encounter
these moments of trials We encounter these difficulties
and we think that God has abandoned us We think
that we have strayed away from what God had in
store for us But nobody ever said that following
God would promise sunny days. In this world,
there will be troubles. But take heart, for He
has overcome this world. I think back to Psalm
23, where the shepherd is leading the sheep to
the greener pastures. But along the way, where
do they find themselves? In the valley of the
shadow of death. So if you are in the midst of
a storm in your life a frustration a difficult
time know that perhaps you are still following
God's path Right because if you're in a storm
on a boat in the water The first thing you want
to do when a storm comes up is check and make
sure are we still on the right heading? So take
the time if you're in that storm to go to God
To seek out his word to go to him in prayer and
say God I just want to make sure I'm going through
some stuff right now There's a lot of chaos around
me. Am I still on the path that you want me to
be on? But trials They help in some sense and
that they tighten up our focus Because we don't
see the disciples arguing about who can row faster,
right? We don't see James and John, sons of Zebedee,
arguing and bickering about who gets the better
seat in the boat. No, because they are focused
on the storm at hand. They are focused on surviving.
They are focused on getting through this moment
of fear and trial. See, these trials in our life,
they have a way of tightening up our focus. Don't
believe me? You ever been lost in your driving?
What's the first thing that you do? Turn down
the radio, right? That's the first thing you
go, hold on. Jimmy Buffett, you can wait, because
I've got to figure out where I am right now,
right? Unfortunately, for some of us, we are
just driving along, singing Margaritaville at
the top of our voice, oblivious to what's around
us, and God's going, hey, maybe focus up a little
bit. Maybe take a look around you. Maybe take
in your surroundings. Realize what's going on
around you in life. Tighten up your focus. Sometimes
trials... can serve to do that. It's also worth
noting, again, these disciples, they're only
part way on their journey. So if you're going
through a trial, if you encounter a storm and
you have checked in and you make sure that you
are following God's path, you've checked in and
tightened up your focus, then just keep going.
The green pastures are waiting. It's okay. So
they're out there in this storm. They're trying
to, you know, fight through stuff. It's the middle
of the night and Jesus is done with his alone
time and says, okay, I'm gonna go meet them.
And I love this. Because he just walks to them.
He just takes a stroll across the sea. It's so
nonchalant. I absolutely adore it. Sometimes
you picture Jesus walking on water and it's like
this glassy sea. And he's kind of like a water
bug on the surface. Using the surface tension
he's good to go. But this is in the midst of
a storm. There is wind and waves. So he's like
riding the waves like a half pipe. Right? He's
going along. And they look out. The disciples
do. And they go... He's a ghost, which I love
that moment, right? It's a phantom. And Jesus
says the same thing that angels say when they
appear, don't be afraid. And then he follows
up, it's me, take heart, it is I, don't be afraid.
Now the power of this miracle is so unique because
we believe that Jesus, fully God and fully man.
fully both things. And this miracle so wonderfully
shows that. Because he's walking on water. This
is a divine thing. This is not something that
humans can do, right? Trust me, I've tried. We
can't walk on water. And so something divine
is happening here. And yet at the same time,
how does he get there? He walks. He's using his
very human muscle. He's using his quads and his
glutes and his core strength, right? Really proud
of myself for not going to the easy CrossFit
joke right now, but I'm just gonna skip over
that He's using his very human muscles. He's
walking This is fully God and fully man because
he's God he could just be like hey God Teleport
me to the other side of the sea. Hey God, just
make me pop up in the boat, right? Instead he
takes his legs his very fully human body and
has just taken a stroll across this eight mile
wide see. And He walks to them in the boat where
they're afraid, where they're dealing with a
crisis, because He's Immanuel, because He is
God with us, because in the midst of their trial
He is there, He is present, He is ready to offer
them peace, be not afraid. In your life, you're
gonna be going through some storms at some point.
Again, maybe it's happening right now. And you're
gonna say, God, why have you abandoned me? God,
why aren't you speaking to me? God, where is
your voice in all this? Send me a sign. Send
me, change the letters on a road. Whatever it
is, do something so that I know you are here.
But remember, when God approaches the disciples,
He walks. So sometimes God puts people in your
life. to come up to you, to walk up to you and
say what they need to say. God speaks through
people, family members, friends, co -workers,
whatever. Are you willing to listen? Are you
willing to listen to that very human, very mundane
vessel that God is using? Far too often we are
so consumed, we're like, no, no, no, not right
now. Now is not the time. Don't you see I have
a crisis here? Sometimes when God speaks to us,
he just walks up as a human. Okay, now we get
into what I think is just, it's the most dramatic
part where you have Peter. Oh, Peter. Jesus'
favorite pupil, right? Well, maybe not favorite.
He certainly wasn't a straight A pupil, let's
be honest. Peter was like, like when you're a
teacher and you ask a question, the same kid's
always raising their hand, and you're like, okay,
anybody, anybody else? Anybody besides... Peter,
right? Do you guys remember the show Welcome
Back, Cotter? Some of the older folks in here.
I remember because of the Nick and Knight, right?
And Horse Shack. Oh, Mr. Cotter, Mr. Cotter,
pick me. Like, that's Peter. Like, Jesus, Jesus.
Oh, pick me, Jesus, right? And so, ever Peter,
he says, Jesus, if it's you, I see you walking
on water. Call me out there. I'm going to walk
to you. And it doesn't say that Jesus rolled
his eyes, but maybe he did. I don't know. And
he says, oh, okay, Peter. Come on, come on, Peter,
come on out. And the craziest thing happens.
Peter takes that step over that boat. What are
the other disciples thinking at this point? They're
like, finally. Good luck, Peter, have fun. He
takes the step over the boat, and it works. We
don't know how long he walked on water. We don't
know if it was just for a second, a couple steps.
We don't know if he went a hundred yards to meet
Jesus where he was, but for whatever reason,
for a moment at least, it worked. And let me
remind you, as I said earlier, humans don't walk
on water. And what happens, why does Jesus suddenly,
when he starts to sink, what does Jesus say to
him? Oh, you of little what? Faith. To me, this
is such a profound statement that our faith that
we have is the Holy Spirit at work within us.
Because Peter can't walk on water on his own.
He's human. He's very much human. But if he has
the Holy Spirit dwelling within him, if that
faith from the Holy Spirit is inspiring him and
giving him the strength and the power to essentially
perform a miracle in this moment, It's when he
lets go of that faith. It's when he starts to
wave run. It's when that doubt starts to creep
in and he loses that connection to the Holy Spirit
that he begins to sink into those waters and
cry out, God save me. May we have that same connection
to the Holy Spirit. May we have the faith to
take the step over the side of the boat. Now
it's not lost on me that today's assigned readings
that the The Romans reading is the one that's
assigned with this because we see in Romans it
talks about how beautiful the feet of the ones
who carry the gospel. And the fact that the one
who takes this step over the side of the boat
is Peter. The one that Jesus says, upon this
rock I will build the church. Peter, who the
Catholic Church believes that is where the popes
are descended from. Peter, who represents clergy
and called people in so many ways. The ones who
bring the Gospel. It's not lost on me that the
beautiful feet are the ones that go over the
edge of the boat. That walk on water. That step
out in faith. The question that I have to you
is, are you called to take that step? Are you
called to take the step over the side of the
boat? Some step of faith. Yes, there is clergy.
There are pastors who have an actual calling.
You've heard my story. I didn't want to be a
pastor. That was never my goal. But God spoke
through people to come to me time and time again
and say, this is what I want you to do. And I'm
not going to argue with God. So there is an actual
divine calling. But God also has taught us about
the priesthood of all believers. That each of
us have the capacity to share the gospel. And
maybe it's not that you're called to preach.
Maybe you are. Maybe you are. Maybe it's time
you look into something like that. But you are
called to live out grace. You are called to share
the good news of Jesus Christ. You are called
for your life to be a testament to the faith
that is within you. Are you called to take that
step? of talking to your neighbor, of talking
to your sibling, of having a tough conversation
with your kids. Are you called to step out of
the boat? Now, don't lose sight of the fact,
11 disciples stayed seated, right? 11 disciples
stayed in the boat, and it doesn't say anything
that they were wrong. So maybe you're not called
into that step, but you know what you should
do? Support the one who takes the step. Support
the one who is sharing the gospel. Because you
don't see them like grabbing his cloak and pulling
him back. You don't see them heckling him like,
hey, Peter, you sunk down. What a fool. You don't
see that. I would hope that they're cheering
him on. If you're called to be in the boat, that's
okay. Just be supportive because people need
to hear the good news. People need the feet to
carry it out into the world. But challenge yourself.
Am I telling myself that I'm called to be in
the boat because I'm scared? Or because I'm actually
called to do that? If God is calling you to take
this step, be bold enough to trust. Let the Holy
Spirit inspire faith. Be not afraid. But no matter
what, As you go through the storms of this life,
as you feel the boat shaking underneath you,
as you see things happening time and time again,
and you're laying awake at night and you're saying,
God, where are you? Listen for the gentle whisper.
Listen for the people that God sends to walk
up to you and give you a word. Know that God
is with you. He is Emmanuel. He walks across
that sea. He will pass over waters to get to
you. He walked across the water and then walked
up a hill called Golgotha. He walked up to a
cross carrying his own method of execution so
that we can be set free. So that we can know
that the storms that we are going through are
temporary. Because we have been given entrance
into heaven by the price. that Jesus paid by
the debt that He fulfilled that we racked up.
That is the gospel of our Lord. He knows you.
He knows what you're going through. He knows
where you are in the sea. He knows the storms
that you've already survived. And be proud of
that. And He knows the storms that are yet to
come. And He loves you. Oh, He loves you so much.
It's my prayer that you would be courageous enough.
and have enough faith to take this step. But
no matter what, know that God is with you. He's
walking up to you because He loves you. But share
that love with everything we have. Amen? Amen.