REVIEW: “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to the things you discussed last time.] "How did that go?”
Sermon Summary:
The miracle of Jesus walking on the water is a difficult one to understand. Other miracles more obviously reveal something about his message (ie. New Wine = The Holy Spirit, Feeding the 5000 = Provision for Needs etc.), but what does Jesus walking on water tell us about him? Genesis 1 gives us an image of the Spirit hovering over the dark chaotic waters and bringing form and purpose to the world. In the same way, Jesus is telling us that He (in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit in His baptism) is creating true order and purpose that is aligned with the Kingdom of heaven. Peter, also filled with the Spirit through his faith in Jesus, walks on water too conveying an even deeper message that we are restored to our original calling to steward creation unto God's original forms and purposes. The miracle is that God is recreating the world by giving His spirit to us through faith in Jesus.
READ: Matthew 14:22-33
Discussion Questions:
Truth: Read Genesis 1:1-2. What are the implications of the correlation that Matthew is making?
Repentance: Is it good news that Jesus is re-creating the world into it's original design? What would that cost you?
Faith: Why is faith in Jesus required to participate in his re-creation plan?
RESPOND. Ask God, how can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]
