COVID-19 (2): I Choose Faith

Hey Everybody,

My name is Parker and I’m the pastor of Pinewood Church. Thank you for joining us today.

I’m so grateful that you would take a pause in your day to spend time with us. Even though we are physically located in Boulder, Colorado, we recognize that many of you are watching this message from all around the world. No matter where you’re watching, I want you to know that you are a part of what God is doing through Pinewood Church. I also want you to know that we don’t believe you are here by accident. I believe God has a word for you today.

Our mission at Pinewood is to meet people where they are and point them to Jesus, and we’re so glad today that we get to meet you where you are.

RIGHT NOW: We’re all in a unique season of history right now. I know many of you that are drastically affected by what’s happening around the world. For some of you the change may be minimal this first week, but I think I can speak for all of us when I say “It’s been a little rough!” We’re learning new ways to communicate, new rhythms of life, and new challenges to overcome.

We want you to know that we love you, we see you, we want to pray for you, and we want to serve you! You are now a part of this family called Pinewood.

Passage: Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Theme: I Choose Faith

There is a step that I want to encourage you to take today and that is a step of faith!

What we see from the text is…

1. Faith is your first step
   1. 29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.

   2. The water was not a firm foundation, but his faith made any circumstance a firm foundation

      1. Peter was a wild man. He was a faithful disciple of Jesus, but I can imagine that Peter was the ultimate hype man. He was radical. Can you relate to Peter?
      2. Peter put his faith not in the water, but in the power of Jesus.
      3. Logic tells us not to walk on water right?! But faith goes further than reason. Faith goes further than logic. It doesn’t ignore reason and logic, it just believes in more!

      4. Story: Generosity in challenging times

         1. Kelli at Basta
         2. Faith in the power and character of God says that I believe that God has me, I believe that He is in control, I believe that He has called me toward generosity!
            3. In every circumstance we can choose to follow our feelings or our faith

      5. Dependent on Feelings (unstable) or Faith (solid)

      6. I’m not enough / He’s given me everything I need
      7. I’m afraid / He’s my strength when I am weak
      8. I’m alone / You are never alone, I am with you

      9. I’m frustrated / He’s giving me a peace & purpose

         4. Faith in Christ alone

      10. Our faith is not a new vaccine, although we pray for a vaccine to be created.

      11. Our faith is not in quarantine, although we are taking responsible actions for social distancing.

      12. Our faith is in Christ alone. He alone is our foundation! He alone is our hope! He alone is our salvation!

          5. I CHOOSE FAITH (EVERYBODY SAY THIS AGAIN)
          6. When faith is your foundation then the best is always yet to come.
          7. Faith will cause you to innovate not isolate

      13. Faith will cause you to look around and see that God is doing something bigger than we can imagine

      14. Faith causes you to see purpose in every season

      15. Faith is your next step

          1. “But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
          2. When he saw the strength of the wind…

      16. Stop looking at the wind. Stop worrying about the waves.

      17. Just because you are sinking it down not mean that you are downing

      18. God has not left you, He has not abandoned you, He is working something in you! He is doing a new thing in your life!

          3. Fix your focus

      19. He took his eyes off of Jesus, He took his focus off his faith, and he became overwhelmed by the circumstances around him

      20. So often we fix our focus on what we can’t control, instead of the one who is in control

      21. Story: walking into the grocery store

          1. I Choose Faith - God’s got me! God’s got this situation. God’s doing something bigger than what I can see.

Walking Points:

1. Next step for followers of Christ

   1. Discipline your life

      1. Let’s have this season, be our best season. Let’s not fall back into old habits and old rhythms.

         2. FaceTime God

      2. Fix your focus on God through spending time in His Word and in prayer.

      3. Just because you are sinking it does not mean that you are drowning. God is with you!

         3. Join a faith community

      4. Don’t have to take the first or next step alone. You have a family of people that want to walk this journey with you.

      5. First step for non-followers of Christ

         1. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior

      6. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23

      7. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23

         2. Believe that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the grace

      8. “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8

      9. If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” - Romans 10:9-10

         3. Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord of your life

      10. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9

      11. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:13

          4. Prayer of Salvation

      12. Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

      13. I confess that I have sinned against you
      14. I believe that God raised you from the dead
      15. And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”
      16. Thank you for forgiving me
      17. By your grace I am saved
      18. And by your power I am set free

Pray

We love you. We’re praying for you. And we’re here for you.