I want to welcome everyone here to Embrace…
whether you’re joining us… at a campus…
whether you’re joining us online…
whether you’re listening on itunes…
we’re so thrilled that you’re with us today…
My name is Adam… I’m one of the pastors here…
and as always…we are just so excited… that you are here…
Especially… if this is one of your first few times…
We’re pumped that you are with us…
Last week… I was able to worship at… our Sertoma Campus…
And also… at the Tea Campus…
which was great… and it’s just so cool to see what God is doing.
But one person in Tea… told me…
They said: Adam… I just always thought…
and I just assumed... that you were taller…
ya know.
I just thought… you’d be taller…
And I just wanted to say back…
Did you think I had more hair as well?
And on that note… please pray… for the people of Tea…
and that God would soften their hearts…
No but seriously though…
Last Sunday… it was just so cool…
to see what God is up to…
in Tea… and on the west side of Sioux Falls.
It was just fun meeting people…
and hearing how God is truly…
changing people’s lives.
And I also wanna give a huge shout out to St Croix…
And say that… I’m slightly jealous that I’m not there today…
to hear Jason Roy.
And… hello Jason… I’m a big fan!
But once again…
I just wanna say that we are thrilled…
and honored that each of you… are here with us.
**Now jumping into things for today…
I just wanna start by asking…
Looking back at your life… can you ever remember a time…
that you were scared.
Again… looking back… maybe at your childhood or as a teenager…
can you ever remember a time…
that you were scared… of something.
And this week… for myself…
I actually… remembered a bunch of times…
that I was scared…
but there was one particular time…
that I was terrified.
And I think this is a safe place to share… my soul right?
And I’ll take that silence… as a yes…
but in 3rd grade…
we lived on the edge of Milbank South Dakota.
And my parents had an acreage there…
and we were just on the edge of town.
When one day…
my mom gave me permission to ride my bike…
to a store… called Deweys…
which sounds like a liquor store right… Deweys…
but it was actually… a little shop…
that had snacks and stuff…
and whatever else.
And it was just under… a mile down the road.
And so I was given permission…
And I got on my bike… and I began the long journey...
which was awesome…
but between… my house and Deweys…
there was a junk yard…
Yes, like… a big junk yard...
and what I didn’t know… until that day…
was that the junk yard…
had this huge scary… dog.
And so I’m riding my bike…
And I was kinda nervous to start…
about the leaving home…
heading into the big city.
And I’m riding past… the junk yard…
when all of sudden…
it’s like a small buffalo…
comes out of the ditch toward me.
And so this huge elephant is running towards me…
and I just remember… screaming…
and I turned my bike around… and I peddled as fast as I possibly could… away
until the dog stopped chasing me.
And so I stop… and I’m scared out of my mind….
But I just keep thinking…that if I just go fast enough…
that I can get past this dog…
and get to Deweys!
But each time… I tried…
The dog would catch up with me…
and I’d have to turn around…
and start peddling away again.
And I tried... getting past him…
over and over again…
and yet each time… he’d catch me.
and I was exhausted from trying….
And in looking back… I can laugh about it now…
Because the dog… probably just wanted to lick me or something.
but I was so sure… that this dog was trying to tear my leg off..
and that he was trying to kill me…
And in this moment… there was no question…
That I just was just scared…
in this moment… there was no question…
I was completely… terrified…
**Now one of my favorite stories… in the Bible…
is found… in Matthew… chapter 14…
And so if we have a Bible… I’d encourage us to open up.
use the Bible on our phone…
download the youversion Bible app.
Again… it’s Matthew 14…
And no worries if you don’t have a Bible.
But bringing us up to speed on what’s happening…
Jesus… has just finished feeding 5,000 people…
And He’s been teaching and healing people…
When he tells his 12 disciples…
to get into a boat… and to cross over the Sea of Galilee
while He dismisses the crowd.
again… there’s thousands of people.
And so the 12 disciples get into the boat… and they start paddling…
And Jesus… tells the crowd that they can leave…
and then we’re told…
that Jesus goes up onto a hillside… and he starts to pray.
And picking up with our story… in verse 24…
here’s what we’re told…
It says: Meanwhile, the boat… fighting a strong headwind…
was being battered by the waves
and was already far away from land.
When very early in the morning…
Jesus came to his disciples…
walking on the lake.
And when the disciples saw him… walking on the lake…
they were terrified and said, "It's a ghost!"
And they were so frightened…
that they screamed.
**Okay so just to picture this…
again… the disciples are trying to row across the Sea of Galilee…
which they’ve been doing for… hours…
into a strong headwind…
and they’re a couple of miles in…
on this 8 mile journey across.
And we’re told that…
they were being battered by the waves.
Like the waves are tossing them…
all over the place.
It can also translate to say:
that they were being harassed by the waves.
When very early in the morning…
Like between 3 & 6am…
Jesus came out to the disciples…
Not in a boat… but instead…
he was walking on the water.
And no biggy right.
And so Jesus is walking on the water…
And when the disciples see him…
we’re told that they are terrified!
and they think it’s a ghost…
and they’re so scared….
that they start screaming!
You see… at this time… it was believed…
that evil spirits… lived in the sea.
And so just to sum this all up…
at this point…
These men… having been paddling for hours…
And the waves are harassing them…
And they’re exhausted…
And they’re wet… and they’re cold.
And they’re beginning to fear… for their lives.
And if that’s not enough… they see a man…
that they think is a ghost…
Basically… these men… are terrified…
And they’re screaming…
And they’re scared…
And they are paralyzed by fear…
And I just picture them… clinging to this boat.
And once again… I just wanna ask… all of us…
have you ever been scared before…
And even more than that… I just wanna ask…
is there anything…
that you’re scared of right now?
Is there something that you’re afraid of today?
And maybe it’s a step of faith… that God is asking you to take.
To use a gift that you’ve been given
To pursue something that’s been on your heart for years…
Taking a step way outside of your comfort zone.
Being used by God for something great.
Maybe getting out of bed each day is hard...
And you’re paralyzed by fear… and anxiety.
Paralyzed by fear… of what others think about you.
Or you’re just worn out… from an addiction that you’re battling.
And you’re just scared…
Maybe you’re scared of the unknown.
What might happen.
What others might say.
You’re not really sure where you’re headed in life.
Going through a transition
And all the uncertainty is scary
Maybe it’s with someone’s health…
Maybe it’s finances…
and you’re scared of the future…
Trying to make a change.
You’ve just always been this person. And you’ve always done these things.
You wanna change… but you’re just scared.
Following Jesus…
You’ve never had a relationship with Jesus.
Never followed him with your whole life.
And you’re just scared… of being all in…
Again… is there something that you’re scared of right now?
Are you afraid of something…
Are you terrified of what might take place?
**Going back to our story though…
The guys are paddling… and they’re scared….
They’re worried for their lives…
They’re exhausted…
And they’re terrified… and screaming.
And they see Jesus… and they think He’s a ghost…
And yet listen to what Jesus says to them…
Verse 27…
Jesus… calls out… and says:
"Be encouraged! It's me. Don't be afraid."
I love that… Jesus is like:
Hey guys… it’s me.
It’s Jesus!
Be encouraged.
I’m the one who just fed 5,000 people.
Hey guys… it’s me…
Don’t be scared!
It’s not a ghost… it’s Jesus…
And these waves… and this wind…
I know it looks scary…
But it’s nothing to be afraid of…
I know they’re big….
and I know you’re tired…
but I’m here…
and I’m with you…
Again… be encouraged… it’s me… Jesus…
Don’t be afraid.
**And so Jesus says this…
And then listen to what Peter says in return…
and Peter is one of the disciples…
and he’s in the boat….
And Peter says… "Lord, if it's you….
Jesus if it’s you…
order me… and tell me… to come to you on the water.”
And Jesus said, "Come."
And then it tells us…
that Peter got out of the boat…
and he was walking on the water toward Jesus.
Again… Jesus, if it’s you…
Order me to come out on the water…
Jesus says come…
And in return Peter stepped out of the boat…
And he began to walk out on the water…
towards Jesus.
**And this week…
as I’ve just been reading these verses over and over again…
what I hear Peter saying…
is Jesus… I don’t want to stay here… any more…
I don’t wanna play it safe…
I don’t wanna stay in the boat… any longer…
I don’t want to be scared… anymore…
Instead… Jesus…
I wanna trust you….
I wanna faithfully follow…
I wanna step out of the boat…
and walk towards you…
And I also just gotta say Jesus…
that this walking on water thing is pretty cool…
and with you God… anything is possible Lord…
And so… Jesus… if it is in fact… you…
ask me to step out…
and walk on the water…
and Jesus… I will.
**And now coming back to us…
when it comes to the things that we’re scared of….
I just wonder… when we’ll get to this same place that Peter is…
ourselves…
I just wonder… when we’ll get to the place…
where it’s just like… Jesus…
I don’t wanna stay here anymore.
And so… when it comes to taking a step of faith…
Jesus… I wanna step out…
I wanna get out of the boat…
I wanna be used by you.
Jesus… please use me…
When it comes to getting out of bed each day…
I no longer wanna be
paralyzed by fear… and anxiety.
I no longer wanna be
paralyzed by fear… of what others think about me.
When it comes of the unknown.
What might happen.
What others might say.
And we’re maybe not really sure where we’re headed in life.
Or we’re going through a transition
Jesus I wanna follow you…
I wanna cling to you…
Maybe it’s with someone’s health…
Maybe it’s finances…
Jesus… I don’t understand… but I wanna trust you…
Jesus, you hold everything in your hands…
You’re in control of all things…
When it comes to making a change.
Jesus I no longer wanna be the same person anymore…
I no longer wanna keep doing the same things I’ve always done.
My ways… lead to brokenness… and yours lead to wholeness.
Jesus change me.
Following Jesus…
I’ve never had a relationship with you Jesus… but I wanna start one today…
I’ve never followed you… with my whole life.
But starting today… I wanna be all in…
And so Jesus… more than what I want…
I wanna know what you want.
Again… Jesus… if it is in fact… you…
ask me to step out…
and walk on the water…
and Jesus… I will.
It might still be scary… but I’ll do it.
**And also today… I’m just guessing that some of us are here…
And life is actually going pretty well…
And things are good…
And so when it comes to Jesus…
It’s like… hey Jesus…
I actually I’m good man…
And I kinda like the boat…
I kinda like my life…
And my life may not be perfect…
But atleast it’s safe… and it’s what I know…
And the waves aren’t that bad…
So I’m good… I think I’m going to stay right where I am.
Even in my walk with Jesus…
I’m not growing… but I’m also not dying or anything.
I’m getting like a solid C in my relationship with Jesus…
and c’s get degrees…and I’m great.
Again… thanks though Jesus.
And this is where we so often… live our lives isn’t it…
Just playing it safe…
Just staying where we are…
Even if we’re miserable… it’s like…
atleast I know what to expect…
And its just scary to think…
I mean… what if we step out of the boat and we fail.
What if we step out… and we look like a fool.
What if we step out… and we screw up again.
What if God can change everyone…
But He can’t change us…
And I can’t help but wonder…
about all the things… that we’ve missed out on…
I can’t help but wonder…
about all the different places…
that we’ve settled for… good enough.
And my life is miserable…
But I guess… this is just who I am…
And how I’m always going to be…
When Jesus… is saying trust me…
just take the first step out of the boat…
it might be scary… but it’s me Jesus…
there’s nothing to be afraid….
**Thankfully though… if we’re hearing this message….
It means that we’re still alive… and it’s not too late…
And I just wanna ask….
For all of us here today….
what is the one step… that we just know God is asking us to take?
Again… one of the one step…
Jesus is asking us to take…
Maybe… it’s taking a step of faith…
and using the gift we’ve been given.
Or it’s inviting someone to church…
Maybe… each morning…
Instead of being consumed with worry…
We’re going to wake up…
and thank God for 2 things that we’re thankful for.
Maybe it’s trusting God with the unknown.
Lord, I’m going to trust you with my job…
and my career.
I’m going to apply for a job and see what happens.
Making it’s making a change…
I’m living with my boyfriend and I just it’s not alright.
I’m going to ask someone to challenge me…
If they hear me gossiping.
When it comes to following Jesus…
Jesus today… I wanna invite you into my life.
Jesus… today… I wanna be all in.
I wanna go out of my way to serve others.
I’m gonna start tithing.
I wanna put my relationship with Jesus…
before anything else.
**Closing things up today….
I just wanna make sure that we didn’t miss it.
Listen to verse 29 once more…
It says… then Peter got out of the boat….
and he was walking on the water toward Jesus.
I mean… this isn’t normal…
It’s crazy!
Peter… is walking on water.
And here’s what I’ve come to see in my own life…
time and time again…
It’s amazing… what can happen… in and through our lives…
when we’re simply will to step out…
and trust Jesus.
when we choose faith… over fear…
Like it’s insane… how God can use us….
how He can change us…
how we can find peace…
when we should we scared
how He can use us…
when we simply take one step out…
and trust Him.
Growing up… I always thought that being a Christian… and following Jesus.
Meant that you had to live a boring… miserable life…
And it’s just the opposite.
Following Jesus… is an adventure….
You’re never sure where the road will lead.
You’re never sure what we take place…
There’s something crazy awesome…
About the moments… where it’s just like….
God if you don’t show up… we’re in trouble.
I actually feel bad for people who don’t follow Jesus…
Again… it’s crazy what can happen…
When we take our life… and we place it in His hands…
What can happen… when we just take one step out…
and trust Jesus.
**And so once more… Jesus… if it is in fact… you…
ask me to step out…
and walk on the water…
and Jesus… I will.
Let’s pray.
22 Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. 23 When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. 25 Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, "It's a ghost!" They were so frightened they screamed. 27 Just then Jesus spoke to them, "Be encouraged! It's me. Don't be afraid." 28 Peter replied, "Lord, if it's you, order me to come to you on the water." 29 And Jesus said, "Come." Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, "Lord, rescue me!" 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, "You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?" 32 When they got into the boat, the wind settled down. 33 Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, "You must be God's Son!"
Matthew 14
22 Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. 23 When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone.
24 Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land.
25 Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, "It's a ghost!" They were so frightened they screamed.
27 Just then Jesus spoke to them, "Be encouraged! It's me. Don't be afraid."
28 Peter replied, "Lord, if it's you, order me to come to you on the water." 29 And Jesus said, "Come." Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus.
Welcome.
#iamembrace
blank screen
Waves. graphic (no dates)
Key Phrase 1:
What are you scared of right now?
Key Phrase 2:
Jesus, I don’t want to stay here any more.
Key Phrase 3:
Jesus, I will.
Key Phrase 4:
What one step is God asking you to take?
Key Phrase 5:
We’re still alive. It’s not too late.
Title: Step Out.
Pad
CEB Matthew 14
22 Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. 23 When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. 25 Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, "It's a ghost!" They were so frightened they screamed. 27 Just then Jesus spoke to them, "Be encouraged! It's me. Don't be afraid." 28 Peter replied, "Lord, if it's you, order me to come to you on the water." 29 And Jesus said, "Come." Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, "Lord, rescue me!" 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, "You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?" 32 When they got into the boat, the wind settled down. 33 Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, "You must be God's Son!"
NIV Matthew 14
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. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But 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. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
