The Adventures of a Wet Water Walker

Matthew 14:22-33

5 Confessions of a wet water walker:

The adventure is fueled by private prayer (v. 22-23). The adventure is launched by the storms of life (v. 24). The adventure is tested in the dark of night (v. 25-26). The adventure is experienced by those who take a step of crazy faith (v. 27-29). The adventure is kept alive by keeping our eyes on Jesus in the midst of the storm (v. 30-33).

Today’s Big Idea: You become a wet water walker when you take a step of crazy faith when Jesus calls your name.

Action Steps (Applications):

Develop a daily private prayer life.

See storms as an opportunity in disguise.

When Jesus is calling you to do something extraordinary, take a crazy step of faith.

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, even when life hits you hard!

Let worship be your response every time God rescues you!

Why You Need a Church Family

Romans 12:3-13

What is it like to be part of a church family?

A church family stays united as we walk in humility (v. 3). A church family grows stronger as we use our spiritual gifts (v. 4-8). A church family shines brighter as we walk in authentic love (v. 9-13).

Practice the Golden Rule: Treat others how you would like to be treated.

Seek to serve others before you seek to be served.

Discover your spiritual gift(s) and get to work in the Lord’s Work in the world, starting in the local church.

Today’s Big Idea: Embrace your place in your forever family where you are loved, you are needed, and you are making an eternal difference in the lives of others!

You Shall Do Greater Things

Philippians 4:13 & John 14:12-21

Today’s Question: Is it possible to do greater things than Jesus did?

How can you do greater things than Jesus?

You can do greater things because believing in Jesus opens the door for doing greater things for Jesus (v. 12). You can do greater things through believing prayer (v. 13-14). You can do greater things by living for Jesus out of love (v. 15, 20-21). You can do greater things through the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you (v. 16-18). You can do greater things when you allow Jesus to live His life through you (v. 19).

Action Steps (Applications):

Expect Jesus to do greater things through your life.

Pray for greater things; live for greater things; abide in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Love Jesus by living for Jesus: Show your love for Jesus by obeying His commandments.

One of the greatest miracles you can experience: Leading someone to Christ. Each 1 Reach 1 in 2022. Let us know about your Gospel Conversations and email the church office as you share Jesus with others. [email protected].

Let’s Change the World, Part 6

What are you waiting for?

Acts 24:22-27

“What are you waiting for?”

The story of the Procrastinating Prosecutor:

Felix knew what to do but delayed making a decision about Paul’s case (v. 22-23). Felix knew the truth but didn’t want to give up his pet sins (v. 24-26). Felix waited until it was too late (v. 27).

Today’s Take-Away (The Big Idea): Don’t put off tomorrow what God is telling you to do today!

Action Steps (Applications):

Get right with God today…don’t wait until tomorrow.

Don’t sacrifice the eternal for the sake of a temporary pleasure.

Live with a tension of responsibility and expectancy—knowing that you will have to stand before God to give an account of your life and you will be rewarded for your works.

Preview for next week: A surprise…you don’t want to miss next Sunday!

Let’s Change the World, Part 5: What to do when everything’s going wrong!

Acts 23:23-24:21

What happened to Paul?

Paul was taken under the cover of night to Caesarea to stand trial before Governor Felix (23:23-24). Paul was innocent and had done nothing deserving of criminal punishment (v. 25-30). Paul was protected by God for his mission of testifying about Jesus: All the way from Jerusalem to Rome (v. 31-35). The Jewish religious leaders continued their disinformation campaign against Paul as they sought to silence the Christian movement (24:1-9).

How did Paul respond?

Paul was respectful even when he was being disrespected (v. 10). Power Principle: Respect the position even if you don’t respect the person in the position.

Paul was truthful even when others were lying about him (v. 11-13, 17-20). Paul stayed true to his faith even when it seemed like everything, and everyone was against him (v. 14-16, 21).

How should I respond when everything’s going wrong?

Speak the truth in love no matter what anyone else does.

Ask what part you played in any conflict.

Never waste any trial.

The Big Idea: When you live for an audience of One, you don’t have to fear anyone!

Let’s Change the World, Part 4

A Full Tank of Cheer!

Acts 23:11-22

How to stay positive in a negative world:

You can be of good cheer knowing that God is for you when others are against you (v. 11). You can be of good cheer knowing that nobody can take you out of this world before God’s timing (v. 12-15). You can be of good cheer knowing that God is presently working behind the scenes even when you can’t see it (v. 16-22).

Be of good cheer because Jesus is near!

Don’t quit until God tells you otherwise!

Live your life with purpose and for a greater purpose.

Get more Gospel Gritty.

Acts 22:30-23:10

Paul was on trial for his faith in Jesus Christ. Paul did his best to walk the talk with a clear conscience before God. Paul was mistreated by a top spiritual leader. Paul didn’t respond well in this weak moment in his life. Paul used his intellectually savvy to turn the table on his enemies.

⎫ Know thy audience: Before you communicate, understand who your audience is. “Men and brethren” (v. 1); “When Paul perceived that part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees” (v. 6).

⎫ Connect with thy audience: Capture their hearts before you try to change their minds. I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged” (v. 6).

Reframe thy situation so that it’s seen from a different perspective. “And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God” (v. 9).

Let there be no doubt-in your talk, in your walk and, and in your attitude-that you are indeed a follower of Jesus Christ!

⎫ Walk the talk. Live your life for Jesus where there will be no doubt about you being a Christian!

⎫ Practice forgiveness. Don’t allow the hurts of your past keep you from the promises of your future. Remember that the forgiven forgive. If you keep your eyes on Jesus, you won’t stay stuck in a hurt from the past. Learn how to navigate conflict in a healthy manner.

Born Free! 4 Truths that we can learn from Paul’s life:

Paul had to learn to how follow God’s call even when it didn’t always make sense. God’s call on Paul’s life often got him into trouble with those who didn’t like changes to their fixed way of thinking. Following God often got Paul into troubling situations. Paul used his natural assets to advance the Gospel.

Realize that God’s plan for your life is bigger than your present reality. Don’t drift from your calling when others come against you—because the enemy will send others to distract, discourage, and derail you from your destiny. Don’t be surprised when you suffer as a Christian for doing good. Live like you’re born free—because you are free in Christ.

Use your God-given gifts, talents, and abilities to advance the Gospel in the world. Don’t allow the crowd to confuse you in your calling. Your calling comes from God, not from the critics in the crowd. Get your calling from Christ, not from your critics! Live out your Christian freedom as way to serve others, not as a way to serve yourself!

Stay true to your calling when others around you are falling!

Let's Change The World, part 1: The Power of a Changed Life

Acts 21:37-22:16

3 Transformative Truths concerning a Changed Life:

1. Get ready to share your testimony because an opportunity will come at often inopportune times (21:37-22:2). Are you ready to share Jesus with others when the opportunity presents itself? Paul did his best to always make the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel with others.

2. Use Paul’s testimony as a template to share your testimony (22:1-16).The New Testament believer is one who has accepted Jesus into his or her life and has decided to go public with this decision with the ordinance of baptism. With the exception of the thief on the cross who accepted Christ just before his death, the New Testament speaks of all believers as those who have followed through with Baptism after their salvation experience. If you are a believer and have never been baptized, today is a call for you to do the next right step and go public with your decision. There will always be something missing in your faith journey if you skip first base which is believer’s baptism.

3. Willingly share the hope that you have with others (Acts 22). Notice that Paul was not only ready, but he was willing to share Christ with others. Paul went to Jerusalem knowing that his life would be a living testimony for the Good News about Jesus. Paul was warned that trouble awaiting him in Jerusalem, but he went anyway (Acts 21:1-14).

Your story is an epic one when Jesus is the hero of your life—this is the power of a changed life!

⎫ Take 15 minutes this week to write out your testimony using the example given:

1) My life before Jesus.

2) How I came to know Jesus as my Savior.

3) What my life has been like since I became a Christian.

⎫ Pray and ask God for an opportunity to share your story with someone this week that God places in your path or someone that you feel called to reach out to.

Let us know when you have a Gospel Conversation. Email the church office at [email protected] so that we can keep track of our Gospel efforts. Our goal for this year is 1,000 Gospel Conversations.

Acts 21:15-36

How to overcome being misunderstood: Don't let discouragement derail you from your destiny. Stay connected to Christian community even when you don't always fit in. Keep on declaring God's goodness even when you know trials and trouble await you. Don't be surprised when your good news is challenged with bad news. Be willing to meet people where they are so you can lead them where God wants them to be. Expect the unexpected when you are doing God's work in a fallen world.

Seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Seek to become better in more clearly communicating your thoughts with others. Seek to have better relational skills.

Knowing that God fully understands me gives me peace in a world that often misunderstands me.