Step out into the Water
The Point
Step out where God is calling you.
INTRO
Well this is the fourth and final week of Thirst. Today, we’re going to be talking about stepping out—stepping out of our comfort zones and stepping into where God is calling us, into the things He wants to do through us, teach us, and use us for.
We’re going to look at a passage in the Bible where Jesus calls one of His disciples to walk on water.
Check this out…
Matthew 14:22-33 NIV
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Well in this week’s episode, Eva is going to choose to leave the comfort of her group of friends and step out and venture into the unknown. Let’s see what happens in this last episode of Thirst.
PLAY WEEK 3 OF THIRST.
MESSAGE
We just watched as Eva ventured out from the comfort of her group in search of a promise she believed was true: water. She was in search of a place where she could start a new life and never be thirsty again. And it paid off. She found what she was looking for. She was willing to step out and step into the unknown—and because of that she found water.
As we get into this message, I want you to think about this and answer this question to yourself…
Where do you find comfort? What’s your comfort zone?
Your friends?Your family? In an activity or hobby? Your looks?Your smarts?Your strength?
What are the things you take comfort in in your life. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to give those things up! But I just want you to identify it. It’s just setting up where we’re going today. So start to think about that thing.
Now, let’s jump back into the story in the Bible that we looked at earlier.
Matthew 14:22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Ok, so the disciples are in the boat, and it isn’t smooth sailing for them. There is a storm going on around them. The boat is getting pounded by waves and the wind is blowing them around.
This isn’t some fun sailing adventure—they’re in survival mode.
25Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
I guess they’ve never seen someone walk on water before. And not some calm glassy water—it’srough, choppy water with battering waves. And Jesus is just taking a stroll, checking up on his peeps.
27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
This probably has double meaning, “Don’t worry guys it’s just me” but also, “Chill out, relax! I know this storm is freaking you out but I got this! I’m on top of this storm! I can just walk over it! You don’t need to be afraid!”
What’s something in your life that’s got you a little scared. What are the crashing waves that are going on in your life right now?
Know this, remember this…whatever you’re going through, whatever troubles you’re in the middle of, God’s got it. It may seem too big for you right now, but Jesus can just walk right on top of your problems and pull you through.
I mean look at Eva in this week’s episode. She’s scared. She was scared to leave her friends. She was sacred that she was going to run completely out of water. She was scared of the unknown. But she found courage and stepped out of her boat into the choppy waters of the unknown.
28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Where is God telling you to step out, to maybe venture out to where you’ve never been before?
(Tell about a time when you stepped out to where God was calling you)
Where’s God calling you to in your life?
Maybe it’s…
Making things right with a friend.
Trying out for that thing that you want to but are scared to.
Trying something new.
Leaving that group of friends ‘cause they’re just pulling you down.
Stepping out in your faith and being bolder with it so people know that you’re truly a Christian.
Inviting your friends to church with you.
The list could go on and on.
Where is God calling you to step out into the waters and step into what He’s calling you to do?
It might be scary. There might be some waves. But it’s going to be an adventure.
Well look at what happens when Peter steps out…
30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Peter sees what he got himself into and started to freak out.
You know what his mistake was here…he took his eyes off Jesus. He took his eyes off Jesus and started to pay attention to the storm.
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
You see, he didn’t doubt Jesus. He doubted himself. He saw the storm and thought to himself, “I can’t do this!”
Here’s the thing, when you step out for God, when you step into what He’s calling you to do, you might doubt yourself. You might think you don’t have what it takes. But don’t freak out. Know that God will give you everything you need to do what He’s calling you to do.
Peter can’t walk on water. But he could when Jesus called him to it and when he kept his focus on Jesus.
You can do what God calls you to do if you know that it’s He who gives you the strength, and if you keep focused on Him, and keep stepping out and walking toward Him.
So the only question that remains is will you choose to step out and step into what God’s calling you to do?
This is how things wrap up for Peter…
32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Of course the wind died down afterwards. Jesus just wanted to make a point, and just like that He can calm the storm because He truly is the Son of God.
CLOSE
Close your eyes and bow your heads.
If today you know that there are things that God’s calling you to do, and you’re willing to step out and step into those things I want you to raise your hand right now and let me pray for you…(Pray for the students.)
With your eyes still closedand heads still bowed…
For some of you, stepping out means stepping out of your own life and stepping into a relationship with God for the first time. You know today that God is calling you. You can sense that He’s saying to you, “Come to me.” Know that God loves you so much and has created you live out His calling. Jesus died on the cross for you so that you can go to God when He calls you. If you’re willing to step out of your boat and step into a relationship with God, then raise your hand right now and repeat this prayer after me… (Have students repeat prayer after you.)