3 Lessons Learned On The Lake

INTRODUCTION:

P-S-A : I should have done last week.

TOOTHBRUSH

IF ITS BEEN MORE THAN 6 MONTHS ITS PROBALY A GOOD TIME, IT WILL SAVE YOUR TEETH

CEILING FAN

CHANGE YOUR CEILING FAN DIRECTION, IT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY.

SMOKE DETECTOR

CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL WORK IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE

MATTRESS

FLIP IT OR ROTATE IT, IT WILL SAVE YOUR BACK AND THE MATRESS

HVAC FILTER

REPLACE IT IT WILL SAVE YOUR LUNGS AND ALLERGIES

UNDERWEAR

IF ITS HOLY ITS GOT TO GO-EY

-SUMMERY OF LAST WEEK -

Last week I preached about how we could chose to be better not bitter, this week I want us to focus on SELF-RELIANCE.

I want to answer one question this morning, Why Get Out Of The Boat?

Matthew 14:28–29

There are 3 lessons to learn from this passage.

When I read this passage I often focus on Peter taking his eyes off Jesus, but then I realized no one else walked on the water with Jesus, no one else Got Out Of The Boat.

Why get out of the boat?

The boat was safe - familiar - it has our friends and family in it.

Yet Peter stepped out.

And the truth is… Many Christians today are living their entire spiritual life in the boat.

Safe. Comfortable. But never Growing In Faith.

Matthew 14:23–29 KJV 1900

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

-PRAY-

So this morning we are asking one simple question: Why get out of the boat?

Peter had the same storm the other disciples had. The same

wind.

waves.

fear.

Yet Peter did something the others didn’t do. He stepped out.

And the first reason we see in this passage is this:

Why Get Out of the Boat, Because Jesus Is There.

Matthew 14:26–29 KJV 1900

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Sometimes the wind we feel isn’t on the sea like the disciples experienced…

Sometimes it’s the wind of FAER blowing through our life.

The storm of HEALTH-FINANCES-FAMILY

Faith means trusting Christ even when FEAR is loud.

Peter wasn’t stepping into the storm.

He was stepping toward Jesus.

Have you ever tried to grit your way through a problem?

I don’t need help, I got this

Sometimes its not fear it selfishness or self-reliance, but The safest place for a believer is where Jesus is calling them.

Side Note: If God calls us to wait, we should do what waiter do serve.

Repeat the line:

Sometimes faith means getting out of the boat.

So Peter stepped out because Jesus was there. He wasn’t stepping into the storm blindly — he was stepping toward Christ.

But there is another lesson in this passage that we cannot miss. The other disciples stayed in the boat.

- They were safe, & comfortable. But they missed something incredible.

That brings us back to our question again:

Why Get Out of the Boat, Because The Boat Cannot Grow Our Faith.

Matthew 14:29–30 KJV 1900

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

Many Christians stay in the boat because of:

fear

doubt

comfort

pride

Faith grows when we step beyond what feels safe.

Many Christians today are exactly like those disciples in the boat. We stay where things feel safe. We stay where things feel predictable.

But faith doesn’t grow in comfort. Faith grows when we trust God beyond what we can control.

It reminds me of a Rancher

The Cow That Never Leaves the Barn

A rancher who keeps all his cows locked in the barn because he’s afraid something might happen to them.

They’ll never face the weather. They’ll never wander too far. They’ll be safe in that barn.

But we know cows weren’t meant to stay in a barn all day.

They were meant to go out into the pasture where the grass is.

If they never leave the barn… they’ll never grow, and they’ll never produce.

Sometimes Christians do the same thing with faith.

We stay where it’s comfortable… but the pasture God wants us in is outside the barn.

Then land it:

The disciples stayed in the boat… but Peter stepped into the pasture of faith.

Sometimes stepping out in faith is risky, but that's ok ...

Why Get Out of the Boat, Because Jesus Will Catch You.

Peter did sink.

But notice what happened next.

Matthew 14:31 KJV 1900

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Jesus didn’t let Peter drown.

Even when Peter’s faith failed…

Jesus was still faithful.

If you got out of the boat what would happen?

Would you walk on water or would you sink?

Would you give Christ the ability to bless you or would you miss it?

What could you do in church or in your family if you had just a little bit of faith?

Sometimes the greatest lesson of faith isn’t walking on water…

it’s discovering that Jesus catches you when you fall.

Repeat the Line Again Sometimes the only way to grow in faith is to Step Out Of The Boat.

HOPE MOMENT (Climax)

That moment teaches us something powerful about faith. Faith doesn’t mean we will never struggle or that we will never stumble. Faith means when we start to sink… all we need to do is reach for Jesus.

And when the storm settled, and they are back in the boat, the disciples say:

“Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”

The storm that frightened them…

became the moment that strengthened them.

APPLICATION

So where is our boat ?

The place where we are comfortable.

Some of us today know exactly where it is.

Maybe God is calling you to:

trust Him with something difficult

forgive someone

serve in a new way

deepen your commitment to Him

But you can’t experience what Peter experienced… if you never Step Out Of Your Boat.

CONCLUSION:

Some of you know exactly what your boat is.

Fear - Comfort - Pride has kept you in it.

But this morning Jesus is still saying the same word He said to Peter:

“Come.”

And the question is not whether Jesus is calling.

The question is:

Will you get out of the boat?

Because Jesus Is There.

The Boat Cannot Grow Your Faith.

And Jesus Will Catch You.

CLOSING PRAY

Lord, as we close this service today, we come to You with thankful hearts.

• Thank You for Your Word — for reminding us that faith grows when we trust You and step toward You.

• Help us step out of our boats — out of fear, comfort, pride, and self-reliance — and trust You more this week.

• Strengthen our faith so we follow You wherever You call us.

• Prepare our church for Easter. Work in hearts across our community and begin drawing people to Yourself even now.

• Bless the seeds we are planting in this county. As we invite, serve, witness, and love people, we pray that You would bring a harvest of souls.

• Give us boldness to share Christ with our neighbors, our coworkers, and our families.

• Bring the lost to salvation, bring prodigals home, and revive Your people.

And Lord, help us remember this week:

When You say “Come,” give us the faith to step out of the boat.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.