Foundry Community Church
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost - Year A
  • Jesus Calls Us

      • Psalm 105:1–6ESV

      • Psalm 105:16–22ESV

      • Psalm 105:45ESV

      • Romans 10:5–15ESV

  • O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
  • Matthew 14:22–33 ESV
    22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
    This is the Gospel of our Lord!
    All: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!

    WHEN FAITH MEETS THE STORM

    Matthew 14:22–33

    Introduction — Everybody Has a Storm

    There are moments in life when everything seems to be going exactly as it should.
    The boat is moving.
    The weather is good.
    The bills are paid.
    The family is healthy.
    The future seems predictable.
    And then suddenly—
    the wind changes.
    The waves rise.
    The boat starts taking on water.
    And you realize you are in a storm you did not expect.
    That's what makes storms so difficult.
    We don't schedule them.
    We don't invite them.
    We don't prepare for them.
    They simply come.
    Sometimes the storm is financial.
    Sometimes it is relational.
    Sometimes it is disappointment.
    Sometimes it is grief.
    Sometimes it is uncertainty about the future.
    And sometimes the storm is simply the realization that something you thought you could control is completely beyond your control.
    The disciples understood storms.
    They were experienced fishermen.
    They knew the lake.
    They knew the weather.
    They knew boats.
    But knowing about storms did not make them immune from storms.
    And there is an important lesson here:
    Following Jesus does not exempt us from storms.
    In fact, notice something very important in Matthew 14.
    The disciples didn't get into the boat because they were running from Jesus.
    They got into the boat because Jesus told them to go.
    They were exactly where Jesus had told them to be—
    and they still encountered a storm.
    Sometimes we think:
    “If I'm obeying God, everything should become easier.”
    But Scripture never makes that promise.
    Sometimes obedience puts us in the boat.
    Sometimes obedience puts us directly in the storm.
    But here's the promise:
    Jesus does not abandon His people in the storm.

    JESUS MAY SEND YOU INTO THE STORM, BUT HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU THERE

    Matthew tells us that Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him.
    Then He went up the mountain to pray.
    The disciples are out on the water.
    Jesus is physically somewhere else.
    And the storm comes.
    From the disciples' perspective, Jesus seems absent.
    But He isn't absent.
    He's watching.
    He's praying.
    And He's coming.
    This is important because sometimes our greatest spiritual struggle isn't believing that God exists.
    It's believing that God is present when we cannot see Him.
    There are seasons when heaven seems silent.
    You pray.
    Nothing changes.
    You ask God for direction.
    The answer doesn't come.
    You cry out.
    The storm continues.
    And you begin to wonder:
    “Where is God?”
    Matthew gives us an answer.
    Jesus was not absent.
    Jesus was on His way.

    Illustration — The Lighthouse

    Imagine a ship caught in a storm at night.
    The waves are crashing.
    The rain is coming down.
    The visibility is almost nothing.
    The crew may not be able to see the harbor.
    They may not be able to see land.
    But somewhere ahead there is a lighthouse.
    The lighthouse doesn't make the storm disappear.
    It doesn't stop the waves.
    It doesn't calm the wind.
    But it tells the sailors:
    There is something solid ahead.
    That's what faith does.
    Faith doesn't always remove the storm.
    Sometimes faith simply gives us enough light to keep moving.

    Application

    Maybe you're in a storm today.
    Don't interpret God's silence as God's absence.
    Don't interpret the waves as proof that God has forgotten you.
    Don't assume that because you cannot see Jesus, Jesus cannot see you.
    He sees you.
    He knows where you are.
    And He is coming toward you.

    FAITH REQUIRES US TO KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS

    So, here we are…
    In the midst of the storm.
    Jesus, out on the sea in the middle of it all…
    Peter does something remarkable.
    He gets out of the boat.
    Jesus says one word:
    “Come.”
    And Peter goes.
    Think about that.
    Peter walks on water.
    But Peter doesn't sink because the water suddenly becomes dangerous.
    The water was already dangerous…
    Peter sinks when his attention shifts.
    Matthew says that when Peter noticed the strong wind, he became afraid.
    His eyes moved from Jesus to the storm.
    And fear took over.
    Here's the danger:
    What we focus on often becomes bigger in our minds.
    When we focus on the problem, the problem gets bigger.
    When we focus on our limitations, our limitations get bigger.
    When we focus on what might go wrong, fear gets bigger.
    But when we focus on Jesus, we remember that our circumstances are not greater than our Savior.
    Peter's problem wasn't that he stepped out of the boat.
    His problem was that he stopped looking at Jesus.

    Practical Question

    What has your attention right now?
    Is it the diagnosis?
    The bank account?
    The relationship?
    The election?
    The economy?
    The future?
    The mistake you made?
    The thing you cannot change?
    The person who hurt you?
    The possibility that everything could fall apart?
    Those things may be real.
    But they are not Lord.
    Jesus is Lord.
    Your storm may be real.
    But your storm is not sovereign.
    Your fear may be real.
    But your fear is not your master.
    Your circumstances may be powerful.
    But they are not more powerful than Jesus.

    Personal Application

    This week, when anxiety begins to rise, stop and pray:
    “Jesus, help me look at You instead of the waves.”
    When fear begins to take over:
    “Jesus, help me look at You instead of the waves.”
    When you don't know what tomorrow holds:
    “Jesus, help me look at You instead of the waves.”
    Because faith isn't pretending the storm isn't there.
    Faith is remembering that Jesus is greater than the storm.

    WHEN YOUR FAITH FAILS, JESUS' GRACE DOESN'T

    This may be my favorite part of the entire story.
    Peter sinks.
    He doesn't sink gracefully.
    He doesn't sink while quoting Scripture.
    He doesn't sink while maintaining perfect confidence.
    He sinks.
    And he cries out:
    “Lord, save me!”
    And Matthew says:
    “…Jesus immediately reached out his hand.”
    Immediately.
    Not eventually.
    Not after Peter proved himself worthy.
    Not after Peter gave Jesus an explanation.
    Not after Peter promised he would never doubt again.
    Immediately.
    Jesus reached for him.
    Peter's faith failed.
    Jesus' faithfulness didn't.
    Peter's courage disappeared.
    Jesus' compassion didn't.
    Peter sank.
    Jesus saved him.
    And that is good news for every imperfect disciple in this room.
    Because some of us think Christianity is about having enough faith.
    We think:
    “If I could just believe more, trust more, pray more, doubt less, then maybe God would be pleased with me.”
    But the Gospel isn't ultimately about the strength of your faith.
    It's about the faithfulness of Jesus.
    Even weak faith can reach for a strong Savior.

    The Joseph Connection

    Joseph is thrown into a pit.
    Peter falls into the water.
    Neither one can rescue himself.
    Joseph's brothers sell him.
    Peter's fear overwhelms him.
    But in both stories, God is still at work.
    Joseph couldn't see the future from the pit.
    Peter couldn't see the shore from the water.
    But neither story ended where the crisis began.
    The pit wasn't Joseph's destination.
    The water wasn't Peter's grave.
    And your storm isn't necessarily the end of your story.

    Illustration — The Child in the Deep End

    Picture a child learning to swim.
    The parent is standing nearby.
    The child gets nervous and begins to struggle.
    The child doesn't need to understand swimming technique in that moment.
    The child simply needs to reach for the parent.
    And the parent reaches back.
    That's what Peter does.
    “Lord, save me!”
    And Jesus reaches.
    Sometimes that's the greatest prayer we can pray.
    Not a sophisticated prayer.
    Not a long prayer.
    Not a perfect prayer.
    Just:
    “Lord, save me.”
    And Jesus is still reaching.

    CONCLUSION

    LOOK TO JESUS

    The disciples began this story terrified.
    They ended it worshiping.
    They began seeing Jesus as a frightening figure on the water.
    They ended by declaring:
    “Truly you are the Son of God.”
    The storm became the place where they saw Jesus more clearly.
    And perhaps that's something God wants to do in our lives.
    Maybe the storm isn't proof that God has left you.
    Maybe the storm will become the place where you discover how faithful He really is.
    Maybe you don't need to understand everything.
    Maybe you simply need to hear Jesus say:
    “Take heart.”
    “It is I.”
    “Do not be afraid.”
    So if you're in a storm today—
    don't give up.
    If you're afraid—
    don't run.
    If you're sinking—
    cry out.
    If you've lost your focus—
    look back to Jesus.
    And if your faith feels weak—
    remember that Jesus is strong.
    Because our hope isn't:
    “I will never sink.”
    Our hope is:
    “If I sink, Jesus will reach me.”

    FINAL CHALLENGE

    This week, remember three things:

    1. Jesus sees you.

    Even when you cannot see Him.

    2. Jesus is greater than your storm.

    Your circumstances do not have the final word.

    3. Jesus will reach for you.

    Even when your faith falters.
    Don't measure the size of your faith.
    Look at the greatness of your Savior.

    Communion Transistion

    There are moments when we need more than an explanation.
    We need a reminder.
    We need something tangible that tells us:
    Jesus is still here.
    That is part of the gift of Communion.
    At this table, we remember that Jesus did not remain distant from us.
    He came to us.
    He entered our broken world.
    He suffered for us.
    He gave His life for us.
    And He rose again for us.
    The same Jesus who walked toward frightened disciples on the water is the Jesus who comes to us with grace.
    So as we come to this table today, we don't come because our faith is perfect.
    We come because Jesus is faithful.
    We don't come because we have everything figured out.
    We come because we need Him.
    We don't come because we are strong.
    We come because He is strong.
    So come to the table.
    Come with your questions.
    Come with your fears.
    Come with your failures.
    Come with your faith—even if it feels small.
    And remember:
    The hand of Jesus is still reaching.

      • Matthew 14:22–33ESV

  • Leader: Brothers and sisters in Christ, we come now to the Lord’s Table—a place of grace, remembrance, and renewal. Here we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, proclaim His victory over sin and death, and celebrate the unity we share as His people.

    Invitation to the Table

    Leader: Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
    This table is not the table of any church, but the table of our Lord Jesus Christ. All who trust in Him, repent of their sins, and desire to follow Him are invited to share in this meal of grace.

    Prayer of Confession

    Leader: Before we receive these gifts, let us confess our sins before God.
    All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    Let us go before our Lord in Silent Confession…

    Assurance of Pardon

    Leader: Hear the good news: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
    In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.

    The Great Thanksgiving

    Leader: The Lord be with you.
    People: And also with you.
    Leader: Lift up your hearts.
    People: We lift them up to the Lord.
    Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
    People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
    Leader: Let us pray as our Lord taught us…

    The Lord’s Prayer

    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

    Words of Institution

    Leader: On the night He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread. After giving thanks, He broke it and said:
    "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
    In the same way, after supper He took the cup and said:
    "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
    For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

    Prayer of Consecration

    Leader: Let us pray.
    Gracious Father, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and cup. By Your Spirit, unite us with Christ and with one another, that we may be nourished in faith, strengthened in hope, and renewed in love. Make us faithful witnesses of Your kingdom until Christ comes again in glory. Through Him, with Him, and in Him, all honor and glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.

    Distribution

    Leader: The body of Christ, given for you. Amen.
    The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen.

    Prayer After Communion

    All: Gracious God, we thank You for feeding us with the spiritual food of the body and blood of Your Son. Strengthen us through this meal to love and serve You faithfully, to seek justice, to show mercy, and to walk humbly with You. Send us into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Christ's love. In His holy name we pray. Amen.

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–24ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–24ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–24ESV

  • Doxology
  • I Love To Tell The Story
  • Now Unto Him
Foundry Community Church
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