Coaching Through The Storm
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Please turn to Matthew 14:22
Next week, I will introduce the Believe series, which begins Sept 16. But, this morning, we’re going to revisit last week’s sermon, but we’re going to look at it from Matthew’s perspective instead of Mark’s. The only big difference between the two is Matthew includes Peter walking on water - Mark does not.
Now, I’m taking a big risk this morning - there’s no sermon. We’re going to do an experiment. Many of you know that I’m working toward a certification in transformational coaching.
What is coaching?
You can read more about it your handout, but in short, coaching is a powerful conversation and a mutual journey of discovery. The coach listens, asks questions and helps the PBC discover their own answers.
So, this morning, we’re going to take a coach approach to the passage. For the most part I’m just going to ask questions and then give you an opportunity to process and come to your own conclusion. By the time we’re done, hopefully, each of us will walk away having heard from the Living God.
Prior to verse 22, Jesus sent the disciples out to proclaim the Kingdom, heal the sick and cast out demons. Who knows how long, but when they came back, they were tired. Jesus said, “Let’s get away, alone and get some rest.” They crossed the Sea of Galilee, and over 5,000 men, women and children met them during their break. Talk about an interruption. Jesus and the disciples feed them, and we pick it up in verse 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.
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,
and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
They’re following orders - obedient, but here’s the situation, they had no idea where Jesus was or if He would show up. All they knew was Jesus said, “Go,” and they were trying their hardest to go. (sounds like they were constipated …).
So, here’s question one.
1) Where is Jesus sending you?
Where are you going? What’s on the horizon? Where do you want to go? What are you working toward?
Take a minute and think about it. I’m going to guess that some of you have no idea. Never really thought about it. For those who don’t know,
What would it take for you to know?
What would it take for you to have an idea where Jesus is sending you?
Might need to ponder that this week, but let’s move on.
You’re heading somewhere. So let’s
2) Identify the storm.
I understand not everyone is in a “storm,” per se. For some, life is going well, but everyone has something a little windy and wavy. Perhaps there’s a decision to be made, a conversation that needs to be had, issues that need addressed. Maybe there’s some changes you need to make. Some of you are facing retirement - that could be your “storm.” Take a moment and identify the storm. Give it a name - e.g. Pastor Chad.
Now that we’ve identified the storm, let’s
3) Identify the waves?
What are the obstacles - things or people, or habits that are pushing against you, making it difficult for you to row? Later this week, maybe come up with a plan to tackle those waves.
So, we’ve identified the storm and some waves.
4) Of those waves, which waves are beyond your control?
Storms are uncontrollable, and so are the waves. Yet, we spend a lot of time and energy trying to control that which cannot be controlled. So, what are 2 or 3 things in your storm that are beyond your control? Now,
What will you do with the waves you cannot control?
Any relief?
5) In your storm, what can you control?
You’ll probably need to answer this later, but what do you plan to do with this information?
We got this storm brewing, we’re being tossed and beaten, we’re tired and struggling - take a moment and …
6) Name your boat.
For the sake of clarity the boat represents stability, safety, security. Who or what is stable in your life during this storm? Life is crazy right now - my boat’s name is Susan.
Go ahead, name your boat. Maybe it’s, “I have a secure job.” Maybe a friend, a spouse, a Swiss bank account, maybe a place … maybe it’s Jesus.
Now, take a moment and thank God for your boat.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
Here’s what we need to know about this story - this is not the first time, nor will it be the last when God shows up during the fourth watch. In Exodus 14, the LORD divided the Red Sea, the Israelites marched through during the night, and as they were coming up out of the water on the other side, the Egyptian army, the most powerful army in the world at that time was in hot pursuit and closing in fast.
During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.
And the rest of the story - Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea closed and not one Egyptian soldier survived. They were rescued during the fourth watch of the night - shortly before dawn. This is God’s MO.
Finish this sentence:
7) Knowing that Jesus is on His way, I ______________________.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
They thought they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. “We’re lost, it’s dark, there’s a ghost and it’s going to eat us.” We’ve already established (last week) that storms don’t necessarily mean we’re in the wrong place. Nonetheless,
It’s difficult to see Jesus when you’re not looking for Him.
They did not expect Jesus to meet them in the middle of the lake in the middle of the storm.
So,
8) Are you looking for Jesus in your storm? If not, what will you do to start looking for Jesus?
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus said what the disciples needed to hear.
They were tired, scared, thought they were going to die, get eaten by a ghost – saying, “Hey, guess what? I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico,” wouldn’t be very helpful at the moment.
Again, Jesus said what they needed to hear. Question -
9) What do you need to hear from Jesus in your storm?
Let’s take a moment and listen.
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
What’s Peter saying? “Aw, cool, dude - He’s like walking on water - that’s like totally rad. I want to do that.” No, I don’t think that’s what Peter was saying. I think he meant this, “Jesus, I just want to be near you in this storm. I’m cold, tired, soaked, hungry, scared, I’m shaking like a leaf - hopefully you don’t eat me - that would really be a bummer.
I really don’t care about walking on water, I just want to be near you.”
When was the last time you said that to Jesus? We get so focused on storms, wind and waves and praying for God to quiet the storms and we forget to just be near Him in the storm.
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Let’s switch things for a moment. Rather than the boat being a place of stability, let’s turn it into a security blanket.
Question:
10) What’s your security blanket?
You want to get closer to Jesus, you want to get out of the boat, but … you don’t want to let this go. For those who have a security blanket, what are you going to do with it?
Who asked who to get out of the boat? Jesus never asked Peter to get out of the boat. This was Peter’s idea, and it was an outlandish request. Yet, Jesus honored it.
Question:
11) If you could ask Jesus to do something outlandish in your storm, what would you ask Him?
What’s stopping you from asking?
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
We don’t know how far Peter walked. 2 feet, 10 feet, 20 feet – doesn’t matter because how far is not the point. Get this -
For a moment, Peter did something supernatural .
Let me say that again – for a moment, Peter did something supernatural – something that only God can do.
Let’s have fun -
12) If you could do something supernatural in your storm, what would it be?
We all know that Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus. Good thing it wasn’t walking over lava. So let’s get our eyes off Peter and on Jesus where they belong. How did Jesus respond to Peter’s doubt? Jesus didn’t let Peter sink! Jesus lifted him up and helped him walk on water again. So,
13) If you knew Jesus would not let you sink – what would you do?
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
We all need Jesus in our boat, that’s a given. But think about this,
14) Who else do you need in your boat during this storm?
Who could help you row? Who could you invite into the boat that could help keep you going?
There’s more to the story, but we need to wrap up.
What is a new awareness for you?
What are you taking away from this conversation? What is a next step - what are you going to do with what you’ve discovered?