Thinking outside the boat

Immediately after feeding the crowd with the five loaves and two fish, 22Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

28Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ 29He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

Introduction

10. I know it’s the summer holidays but it has been a really bad week for everyone…
    the financial situation looks grim – open pockets?
    it’s the middle of the summer holidays and it’s raining – put up a brolly
    today at least, we are all on a staycation!

Somebody somewhere will be saying we need to think out of the box.

(Put a box on my head)

Not sure what that means want to suggest another approach:

1Realising you’re in trouble

Jesus disciples didn’t know they were in trouble

They had seen Jesus feed the five thousand
He was sooo popular and so were they… what could go wrong.

Jesus packs them in a boat and sends them away

Then he sends the crowds home too.

Pretty amazing sending everyone home.

When it becomes about what everybody thinks we are getting into big trouble.

They needed to get out of where the trouble was
They needed to be reminded who was in charge.
They needed to be reminded that Jesus ways are not our ways.

When we start worrying too much about what everybody thinks we are getting in big trouble and usually we don’t know it.

10. I went away on holiday to get away from it all, but it all came with me!
    facebook and twitter and mobile e-mail means that everything and everyone is everywhere.

We come to church to get away from it all

I imagine the disciples got in the boat and relaxed…

Here at last was something they knew.

Except then the weather moved in.

They got away from it all and it all came and found them

 

The impression we get is that they had a real night of it.

10. Have you ever been in a storm that made you scared?
    Summer camp storms

2Having patience that Jesus will come to help.

How’s your colouring coming on?

10. Where would you put Jesus in the picture?
    If the boat was your life where would Jesus be?
    A dot on the horizon…

Surfing past…

I would want him in the boat… but he’s on the water.

They think he might be a ghost but he says: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

10. What are you scared of?

Jesus says don’t be afraid I am there with you in it.

The storm on this occasion doesn’t go away as far as we know but Jesus comes to them in it.

Jesus doesn’t always take away scary things but he is there with us in it.

3Recognising him in faith

Peter is not sure but says if it’s him can he come out to him

This sounds really weird: bad enough Jesus walking on water but Peter as well.

They have no problem about what Jesus can do, it’s me I’m worried about.

10. Archdeacon’s quote on the successor to Mother Theresa
    Sister Nirmala was interviewed on becoming Mother Theresa’s successor welcomed the challenge of maintaining the orders high profile.

“I am in dreamland right now, she said. Its a big responsibility. If you look at it from myself, I am afraid. But looking at God, and depending on prayer, I think I will be able to continue Gods work.”

 

But bless him he steps outside the boat.

Because it’s Jesus he gets out of the boat.

 

When we are facing difficulties we too need to get out of the boat – to have the faith to try the impossible.

We need to think outside of the boat because that is where Jesus is.

4Keep looking at Jesus

And he starts to sink

he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink

 

That’s what happens to us when we stop looking at Jesus

He had the faith to get out of the boat but not the faith to keep looking at Jesus

Conclusion

10. How’s your colouring going?
    have you managed to colour inside the lines

Very young children don’t bother sometimes we as adults have to loearn to colour outside the lines again.

These look like difficult and stormy times – some time we will feel like Jesus is not with us.

The temptation is to rely on people alone, to colour within the lines

Jesus sent them away the crowd – he coloured outside the lines

Sometimes we have to think outside of the safety of the boat, outside the safety of what we know to where Jesus is – walking on the water, outside the boat.

We need to keep looking at Jesus

Even when we are colouring outside the lines.

 

At the end of everything, whether we doubt or whether we step out in faith we have to turn to him in worship… as the disciples did

As we should…