Key Scriptures: Matthew 14:22–33, Matthew 16:13–18, 1 Corinthians 3:10–11, Titus 2:15 I. Lord Over the (Matthew 14) Following into the Storm: Listening to Jesus and stepping out in obedience doesn't guarantee smooth sailing; sometimes it puts us directly into rough waters. Mastery Over Chaos: The wind and waves are zero threat to Jesus. He steps directly onto the chaos to show us who He is. The Impossible Made Possible: When Peter steps out of the boat, he experiences doing what Jesus is doing—leaving safety to join Him on the water. II. The Unshakable (Matthew 16) Light in Dark Places: At Caesarea Philippi—a place marked by pagan worship and spiritual darkness—Jesus asks: "Who do you say I am?" Bedrock Reality: Peter is called Petros (a small stone), but Jesus promises to build His church on Petra (massive bedrock—the confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God). Unstoppable Mission: Facilities, finances, and programs are not the foundation; Jesus is. Because of who He is, the powers of hell cannot conquer His church. III. How We Move Forward as Gracepoint How We Build (1 Cor 3 & Titus 2): Jesus must be our foundation and North Star—not politics, power dynamics, or personal preferences. We don't lower the bar to keep everyone comfortable; we expect to be challenged, held accountable, and shaped for His mission. How We Manage Our : Peter sank when he let the lies of fear (the wind, gravity, drowning) become more credible to him than Jesus. Pragmatism becomes dangerous when we assume something isn't worth doing unless success is guaranteed, or when we withhold costly ministry to stay comfortable. What We : The goal isn't just keeping the church safe—it's joining Jesus on His mission to seek and save the lost. Even when our trust fails and we sink, Jesus never loses sight of us; He reaches down to pull us back up. Revised 10 Reflection & Discussion Questions The Boat Analogy: Looking at the boat crashing through 3-meter waves in Cox Bay, which perspective best describes where your heart is right now—the weary worker, the terrified survivor, the oblivious thrill-seeker, or the focused rescuer? Naming Current Waves: Your sermon names several cultural, societal, and congregational fears (aging demographics, cultural shifts, financial pressures). Which wave feels most overwhelming to you personally? Obedience in the Storm: The disciples were in a life-threatening storm because they obeyed Jesus' instruction to cross the lake. When has a step of obedience led you into an unexpected storm rather than immediate peace? Who is Jesus to You? Jesus asked His disciples at Caesarea Philippi, "Who do you say I am?" How does your daily life and decision-making reflect your answer to that question? Bedrock vs. Small Stones: How does recognizing Jesus as the Petra (bedrock foundation) relieve the pressure on us as Petros (small stones) when thinking about the future of Gracepoint? Comfort vs. Direction: Reflecting on the quote, “Everyone is welcome on the bus, but only Jesus gets a say about where the bus is heading”—what are some ways we are tempted to prioritize keeping everyone happy over following Jesus' direction? Stewardship vs. Fear-Based Pragmatism: How can we distinguish between faithful stewardship (wise budgeting and risk evaluation) and the kind of pragmatism that holds back from stepping out in faith because success isn't guaranteed? Managing Lies of Fear: Peter started sinking when the physical reality of the waves felt more real to him than the word of Jesus. What lie is fear currently telling you about your circumstances or Gracepoint’s future? Rescued in Failure: Peter’s story shows that when his faith faltered, Jesus immediately reached out to pull him up. How does this encourage you to take bold steps for Jesus, even if you fear failing? The Drake Prayer: In Sir Francis Drake's prayer, he asks God to "disturb us when we have arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore." Where is God inviting you—or our church—to leave the shore and head into deeper waters this week?