Peter Walks on the Water
Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon Outline from the Morning Service - 21 May 2000

We are used to the regularity of life. But God has a method for startling man from a life of the commonplace.

His method is miracles.

I. The context -- Jesus feeds 5000 people with a small lunch.

II. Often asked questions:

A. Why did Jesus send the disciples out if He knew a storm was coming?

1. They were fishermen by trade and were in no danger of drowning.
2. The stormy weather was necessary for this story.
3. Jesus "saw" the disciples straining at the oars (Mark 6:48). Though separated from them, His loving protection still guarded them.

B. How did Jesus walk on the water?

1. Some people suggest that Jesus didn't really walk on the water.
2. It is simply one force (God's power) overruling another force (what we often call nature's laws).
Thrust and lift allow a plane to defy the law of gravity.

III. Jesus' teaching for His disciples:

A. The primary teaching -- "you of little faith, why did you doubt?" With God's power anything is possible in
doing His will.

1. I think of Peter as having great faith.

a. Jesus said it was little because it could have been greater.
b. All of God's power was available to them if they would only use it to accomplish God's will.

2. Though his faith was little, he did have some faith. Seeing Jesus walk on the water excited that
possibility in him.

3. Faith helped him step out of the boat, but soon he began to doubt.

a. Why Peter began to sink -- "When he saw the wind he was afraid..." Reasoning overtook faith.
b. Though he was the bravest of the disciples, Peter still failed.
c. The Lord Jesus is ready to help us in our time of need.

B. Secondary teaching -- prayer is important

1. For 7 hours Jesus was praying. He was fellowshiping with God.
2. For 7 hours the disciples were rowing and getting nowhere.
3. Jesus' time was better spent in praying than in sitting in a boat.

a. Martin Luther -- "I have so many things to accomplish today, that I must spend extra time in prayer asking for God's blessing on it all."
b. We want the circumstances of our lives to be advantageous. In prayer God can change either our hearts or our circumstances.

C. An illustration for preaching the gospel

1. They were in hard circumstances, not getting what they aimed for.
2. All of their work was for nothing; it was getting them nowhere.
3. They didn't recognize Jesus
4. Christ is ready to help when we see our need and call upon Him.