Be a Water Walker!

2006.07.30 Charlotte South Korean Prebysterian Church

Bible Verses: Matthews 14:25-32

Title: Be a Water Walker!(Youth Group Sunday School Sermon)

I think none of you have walked on water without any help. Is that true? Certainly! There are only two people in the Bible who had walked on water. Do you know who they are? They are Jesus and Peter, a disciple.

There were some people in the Bible who crossed the Red Sea or the Jordan River on foot. However, they could walk across the Sea and the River because God divided them and stopped flowing temporarily. It is only Peter who had walked on water except Jesus, Son of God.

Let's take a more detailed look at this incident. Peter and his friends rode on a little boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. According to the Bible, Jesus didn't go with them at that moment. Peter and some others in the boat had been familiar with fishing on the Sea of Galilee so that they didn't ride on the boat without the Lord.

However, they faced a huge storm in which the boat was almost capsized by the waves. They were very upset and worried about the situation. Then one of the disciples noticed a shadow moving toward them on the water. When they see it, they thought it was a ghost so they were terrified and cried out in fear. We know it was not a ghost but Jesus, our Savior. Jesus spoke to them and said "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

There were twelve disciples sitting in the boat on that night. But one of them, Peter, asked Jesus to command him to come to Jesus on the water. Peter had a very strong faith on Jesus even to get out of the boat and walk on the stormy water.

Hey, Guys! Do you have the courage to get out of the boat and walk on stormy water when you meet Jesus on Sea, like Peter? Or Do you want to stay in the boat safely without risking your life for going to Jesus? I want all of you to take a risk to walk on water to come to Jesus, our Savior.

Do you know why? There are two reasons!

First, there is no guarantee that life in the boat is going to be any safer. Larry Laudan, a philosopher of science, said "everything is risky." You can stay home in bed-but that may make you one of the half-million Americans who require emergency room treatment each year for injuries sustained while falling out of bed. "Wow!" Do not be afraid of taking a risk! The greatest hitters of the baseball game in the world fail two times out of three. There is danger in getting out of the boat. But there is danger in staying in it as well.

Second, failure gives people an opportunity to grow and to find Jesus's help. As a result of seeing the wind and giving in to fear, Peter began to sink into the water. It war very scarry thing, wasn't it? However, you know the rest of the story. Who was over there, in the stormy water? Jesus was there. He has the power to control all creation including you and me, even the Sea and the storm. Peter knew that when he sank, Jesus would be wholly adequate to save him.

When I was young and learned how to ride on a bicycle, my brother stood behind the bicycle holding its end. I was confident that I couldn't fall down on the ground because I trusted on my brother. Some of you might have heard of Edison's story about inventing a light bulb. He failed 5,000 times but never gave up trying one more time. He finally succeeded in inventing it. Somebody asked him, "How did it feel to fail 5,000 times?" "I never failed 5,000 times in my life," Edison replied. "I just discovered 5,000 ways how not to light a bulb."

Here are some instructions from this story of the Bible.

1) If you want to be used greatly by God, you have to get out of your boat someday in your life. You will meet a situation in which you have to take a choice whether you follow Jesus or not. In that situation, remember Peter's story and get out of your boat to come to Jesus.

2) When you get out of your boat, do not take your eyes off Jesus, our Savior. Do not be afraid of winds and waves because Jesus walks with you.

3) If you worry about your failure or fear and sink into the water, cry out to the Lord, "Jesus, my Lord! Help me!" Then, Jesus will immediately come to you and save you.

4) Unless he comes to you shortly, wait him to come to you and endure as long as you can. Even thought you failed completely, you will find new strength inside you if you still hope for Jesus, our Lord.

Let's pray together!Dear Lord; Thank you for this beautiful Sunday and these good friends in the church. We want to live a life to glorify You and to please you. We ask you to give us the courage to take a risk for coming close to You and to save us from all danger and fear. We always thank You for everything. In Jesus' name, Amen.