Sermon Recap
Pastor Justin Kendrick unpacked the concepts of doubt and faith from the account of Peter walking on water in Matthew chapter 14. He shared how expectations greatly influence our response to life's challenges and stressed that following Jesus is not an invitation to an easy life, but one that will involve hardship and struggle. Highlighting individuals throughout scriptures, he explored how doubt is a normal and even necessary part of the faith journey. From Peter’s interaction with Jesus, he then outlined five stages in the process of faith. He urged listeners to explore their doubts in community rather than hiding them, as this is how faith grows, both individually and as a body of Christ.
Ice Breaker Option: Go around the group and ask each person to answer a “would you rather” question. Here are some examples.
- Would you rather walk across a glass bridge high above the ground or swim in dark water where you can’t see what’s below?
- Would you rather know exactly what’s coming or be surprised?
- Would you rather step out first or wait until someone else goes before you?
HEAD: Read Matthew14:22-33
- Describe the context of this passage. What crowds were Jesus dismissing? Where did he send the disciples and where did Jesus go?
- What circumstance did the disciples find themselves in and what did they experience?
- What do we learn from Peter’s interaction with Jesus?
- What do we learn about who Jesus is from this text?
HEART
- How have you seen the church deal with doubt? How does our response to doubt hinder or strengthen our faith journey and life in community?
- How does knowing Jesus as ‘I am’ get to the deeper root of doubt in your life?
- We see Peter’s journey to a stronger faith in this text.
- How does this process of faith challenge you?
HANDS — Go Deeper Together (Choose one or two practices below)
1. Step Out of the Boat: Naming the Invitation
Peter’s faith journey begins when Jesus invites him to step out of the boat. The process of faith begins with an invitation — often uncomfortable, often unclear.
Group Discussion: Take a few quiet moments to reflect on Matthew 14:28–29.
- Where do you sense Jesus inviting you to step beyond comfort or control right now? Invite participants to share (as they feel comfortable) one word or phrase that describes the invitation they sense from God.
- What expectations, fears, or assumptions might be shaping how you respond to that invitation?
- What would it look like to say a simple, honest “yes” this week?
Personal Response
- Write a short prayer naming Jesus’ invitation and your honest reaction to it: “Jesus, if it is really You, You are inviting me to __________. This doesn’t feel ____________, but I want to trust You.”
Close in Prayer
- Ask group members to pair up and take a few moments to pray together for courage to respond—not perfectly, but faithfully.
2. Faith in the Storm: Bringing Doubt into the Light
Peter doesn’t begin to sink until the wind and waves feel bigger than Jesus. Doubt often grows in isolation but weakens in community.
Group Discussion:
- How have you learned to deal with doubt — hide it, fix it, ignore it, or share it?
- How might God be using doubt not to disqualify you, but to deepen your dependence on Him?
Reflect:
- Invite group members to spend a moment reflecting on the following questions:
- What “wind and waves” are most likely to overwhelm your faith right now?
- Identify one doubt, question, or struggle you’ve been carrying alone.
Group Practice: Reflective Listening
- In pairs or small clusters, invite participants to take turns completing this sentence: “One place where my faith feels fragile right now is __________.”
- When one person shares, the others practice reflective listening: Prayerfully listen without interrupting, fixing, debating, or correcting.
- After the person finishes, one listener briefly reflects back what they heard, beginning with a phrase like:
- “What I hear you saying is…”
- “It sounds like you’re feeling…”
- The listener clarifies or affirms what was reflected, without further explanation, advice or solutions.
- After reflecting, the listener then prays a short prayer of affirmation.
Close Together
- End by thanking God that we don’t have to carry doubt alone and that faith grows as we are seen, heard, and held together in Christ.
Action Step
- Continue your journey through doubt to deeper dependence on God this week—through prayer, journaling or conversation.
3. Held by Jesus: Moving from Self-Reliance to Trust
The story doesn’t end with Peter sinking—it ends with Jesus reaching out His hand. Faith becomes personal when we learn we are held, and let go of self-reliance.
Group Discussion: Read Matthew 14:31–33 together slowly.
- What stands out to you about how Jesus responds to Peter?
- Where have you been relying on your own strength instead of crying out to Jesus?
- How does knowing Jesus as “I AM” reshape your fears and doubts?
Personal Response
- Place your hands open on your lap as a physical reminder of surrender.
- Pray quietly: “Jesus, I can’t hold myself up here anymore. I trust You to hold me.”
Group Response:
- Respond in worship through singing together— reminding ourselves that we worship not because the storm stopped, but because He is present in it.
- Close by praying together, thanking Jesus that even weak faith reaches a strong Savior.
CLOSING PRAYER
Pray that we hear God’s invitation clearly and for courage to respond.
Pray for boldness to name our doubts, trusting that God meets us in there with grace.
Pray that we can deepen our bond as a community of faith, trusting, worshipping and following God together.