Sermon Notes

Sermon Notes

Godfidence - Week 3

  • Sermon Notes
  • 5 Small Group Questions
  • Day 1: Waiting for the Word
  • Day 2: The Battle of the Gaze
  • Day 3: Immediately Close


    • Sermon Notes

    I. The Sanity of the Boat

    Staying in the boat makes complete sense to the world, but GODFIDENCE always looks like insanity to people who are addicted to safety.

    Matthew 14:22–27 ESV

    The disciples weren't fighting a light breeze; the boat was being TORTURED (Basanizomenon) by the environment.

    Cautious faith likes the view from the dry boat, but Godfidence is a bold, active trust that moves when Jesus speaks.

    IF JESUS CALLS, I STEP.

    II. The Anatomy of the Invitation

    Matthew 14:28–29 ESV

    Stupidity steps out based on an impulse; Godfidence steps out based on a command.

    Peter didn't test his ability to float; he tested Jesus’ AUTHORITY to sustain him.

    If you wait for PERFECT CONDITIONS, you will die in the boat.

    III. The Wind and the Weight

    Matthew 14:30 ESV

    The storm didn't change its intensity; Peter changed his FOCUS.

    When Peter looked at JESUS, he walked on waves. When he looked at the WIND, he sank.

    Fear grows when your focus shifts from the CALLER to the PROBLEM.

    IV. The Wet Resume

    Matthew 14:31–33 ESV

    Failure is not FINAL when Jesus is near.

    Peter is the only disciple in the boat with a WET RESUME.

    True success is not "never sinking"; it is being close enough to Jesus that He can CATCH YOU when you do.

    V. What Is Your Boat?

    Your "boat" is anything that provides you with a FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY apart from Jesus.

    Security isn't a location; it is a PERSON.

    5 Small Group Questions

    1. The Logical Boat: In the sermon, we discussed how staying in the boat was actually the most logical choice for the eleven disciples. Why does choosing "Godfidence" over safety often make us look crazy to the people around us? What does your personal "boat" of safety look like right now?
    2. Impulse vs. Command: Read Matthew 14:28–29 . Peter waits for a specific command ("Come") before stepping over the edge. How can we practically discern the difference between a reckless personal impulse (stupidity) and a genuine call from Jesus (Godfidence)?
    3. The Focus Shift: Read Matthew 14:30 . The text implies the wind was howling the entire time, but Peter only sank when he focused on it. What are the specific "winds and waves" (finances, cultural chaos, family anxieties) that most easily distract you from looking at Jesus?
    4. The Wet Resume: Read Matthew 14:31–33 . We often brand Peter as a failure for sinking, but he is the only one who actually experienced walking on water with Christ. How does redefining success as "faithfulness to step out" rather than "perfection" change your fear of making mistakes?
    5. Stepping Out: Jesus is out in the uncomfortable, unknown spaces of our lives calling us to "Come." What is one practical, bold step of obedience Jesus is inviting you to take this week that requires you to let go of your false security?

    3-Day Devotional

    Day 1: Waiting for the Word

    Read: Matthew 14:22–29

    Reflect: It’s easy to get ahead of God when we are excited, or stay far behind Him when we are scared. Peter gives us the perfect blueprint for bold faith: he demands a command. He says, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come." True Godfidence isn't blind optimism or reckless behavior; it is anchored in the active voice of Jesus. If He hasn't spoken, we wait in the boat. But the moment He says "Come," staying in the boat becomes an act of disobedience.

    Pray: Lord, give me the clarity to recognize Your voice above the roar of my current circumstances. Deliver me from reckless impulses that are born out of my own ego, but give me radical courage when You issue a clear command. When You say move, help me move. Amen.

    Day 2: The Battle of the Gaze

    Read: Matthew 14:30

    Reflect: The environment didn't get worse; Peter's focus just got divided. The exact same waves that were under his feet became the very things that overwhelmed his heart the moment he looked away from Jesus. We sink in life when we spend all our time studying our problems and only giving a passing glance to our Savior. If you stare at the cultural winds, the bad news, or your past failures, anxiety will drag you under. If you lock eyes with the Caller, the storm loses its power over your stride.

    Pray: Father, I confess that I spend too much time staring at the wind and waves of my life. Forgive me for measuring Your power by my problems. Fix my eyes on Jesus today. Help me to look at Him so clearly that the chaos around me becomes nothing more than a pathway to walk closer to You. Amen.

    Day 3: Immediately Close

    Read: Matthew 14:31–33

    Reflect: Do not miss the most beautiful word in this passage: Immediately. Jesus didn't stand on top of the water with His arms crossed, watching Peter drown while lecturing him on his lack of faith. He reached down immediately and caught him. We often stay in the comfort of the boat because we are terrified of failing. But this story proves that sinking next to Jesus is infinitely safer than staying dry without Him. If you step out and stumble, His hand is already extended to catch you.

    Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You that my security is not based on the perfection of my faith, but on the perfection of Your grip. Give me the freedom to take holy risks for Your Kingdom, knowing that You are close enough to rescue me if I falter. I'm stepping out of the boat today. Amen.


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