Walk on the Water

Sermon – Walking on the Water

Scripture - Matthew 14: 22-33

August 9, 2026

Reverend Betty Jo Sims

A liminal season is a time where we are in a place between what we knew was comfortable and familiar and it comes before we know what the next season will bring us. We have not yet arrived there but are still on our journey.

Remember with COVID, not being able to worship in our sanctuaries. Then little by little, restrictions were removed and finally we could worship together again.

We know that future worship could be like we worship now but may not actually be the same from week to week as we try some new things.

We want to welcome new people and what you like best and what they may like best may not be exactly alike. So we all try different parts of the worship experience to see what combination will be good, or even best. But we have to take it one step at a time.

Richard Forth is a computer expert. He says, “Some times we see a challenge so great ahead that it seems impossible. Let me give you a few examples.

How you walk all the way from the west coast to the east coast? You just take one step at a time. Eventually you will get there if you keep going in the right direction.

Another one is that you can drive over a thousand miles but you only need to see as far as your headlights shine.

Last one is how did they build the great Wall of China? One brick at a time.

In other words, do not be put off by the enormity of a task. Set mini goals and work at them and let them draw you to your larger goals.

The cool thing about the great Wall of China analogy is that they knew one man and one brick would take forever. Building the wall of course took many men, women and children, but each individual person still could only lay one brick at a time.

Another English saying is look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves. It all means the same thing. “Don't sweat the big goal. Sweat the small stuff that works towards them and the big goals will eventually be achieved.”

I believe this is how the disciples faced living and working with Jesus. They stayed together, often at Peter’s mother’s home. They traveled together as they went where Jesus led them. They left their families and friends and jobs. They were called upon to learn and do new things – many of which they felt ill-prepared to accomplish. They too had a liminal season.

Let’s look at today’s scripture. What happened in the disciples world before this? Jesus had healed the demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. He had taught them the meaning of Jonah’s three days in the belly of the whale.

Jesus had preached and explained many parables – the sower and the different kinds of soil, mustard seeds and yeast, the man with the hidden treasure, the pearl of great worth, the net with the fish – sorting out the good fish and the bad.

Then John the Baptist is beheaded. Jesus sets out in a boat for some time alone. The crowds follow, Jesus lands the boat, and he speaks to them and heals their sick. Then he calls on the disciples to feed them. We know this story well, about the boy’s lunch basket with five loaves and two fish.

Then today’s scripture follows as Jesus sends the disciples across the lake while he dismisses the crowd. Jesus went off by himself to pray while the disciples were buffeted by the wind as they crossed the lake. In the very early morning, Jesus sets out to join them, walking on the water.

When the disciples saw Jesus, they thought he was a ghost and were terrified. Would you have been terrified too? And Jesus says, “Take courage guys. It’s only me. Do not be afraid.” And they were amazed.

Peter – good ole Peter - says, “If it is really you, tell me to come and walk with you.” Jesus puts out his hand and says “Come!” And Peter did just that. He stepped out of the boat and walked on the water.

But Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and looked around at the waves and the wind kicking them up – and he began to sink.

Peter cries out to Jesus, “Save me.” How often have we cried out to Jesus for help? And Jesus caught Peter in his arm and saved him – just like he does for us.

Jesus does ask Peter this question, “Why did you doubt me? What happened to your faith?” Peter’s faith was strong when he was looking at Jesus but waivered when the world made him look away.

Is this not the same for us? It is easy to be a Christian in this place, surrounded by other believers. It is not so easy to be bold in our faith when the world is watching. How do we stand strong in this everyday world?

Matthew says, when Jesus and Peter “climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” ”

Can we do no less? Worship establishes and reinforces our need to focus on God.

Our spiritual disciplines – scripture reading and study, daily devotions, prayer, meditation, reading Christian works, spending time with Christian friends, having a spiritual mentor, taking Sabbath rest, fasting and silence – are all ways to develop a deeper spiritual relationship with Christ. These help us to stand strong in our faith in the everyday world. Then we can step into the water with determination and faith.

The Southern Gospel group, the Cathedrals, say it this way:

Step into the water, Wade out a little bit deeper.

Wet your feet in the water of his love

Oh, Step into the water, Wade out a little bit deeper, Come join angels singin' Praises to the Lamb of God

It's time we the people Stand up for what is right

It's time we squared our shoulders back

And raised our swords to fight. For the Bible is our weapon And the spirit is my shield, The church needs more of its members to be workers in the field.

There is victory for the Christian Who walks the narrow way. There has been a prize appointed

For the soul who does not stray. Oh I want to live for Jesus, Be all that I should be, So that I can rest with him forever, Live eternally

Step into the water, Wade out a little bit deeper.

Wet your feet in the water of his love.

Oh, Step into the water, Wade out a little bit deeper, Come join angels singin' Praises to the Lamb of God

With our recent rains, we probably saw and felt the waters rising all around us - literally. But we know we will - and we can - rise to the challenges of the storms of life. Today and each day we have taken the next step of faith and we will continue to do so – together.

We need to remind ourselves how much God loves us. And he gives us second chances – and thirds – and fourths – and so on.

Our task in the meantime is to persevere and to be a patient witness to God’s amazing grace.

When I worked at FeedMore, the Food Bank in Richmond, I was responsible for all our temporary labor. One time I needed a truck driver for some special Friday deliveries during the school year - for every Friday during this school year.

We needed a guarantee that the driver would be there every Friday of the project. I was working with a new temp agency in Richmond and they were thrilled to be on the project with us. About two weeks into the research, they assured me they had the driver. A man who worked Mon thru Thurs and had his Fridays off.

I asked to see a work history or resume and they assured me they would send it. Well, I did not get the document and on the day before the first Friday of these special deliveries, they called and said they could not find anyone to drive for us.

The day before the project was to start. I asked why they did not call on Monday instead of waiting until that Thursday and they had no answer. They had really not kept their focus on my company’s needs. They dropped the ball and did not deliver. I ended that Thursday with three other possible drivers from another temp agency that was glad to come thru for us.

So what does this have to do with our scripture for today? It is all about where the different persons in the scene had their focus. Let’s take a deeper look:

The disciples were all about rowing the boat in the windy weather and keeping the water out of the boat. It was hard to make progress against the wind and the waves – especially at night. And we assume there was some moonlight to see by.

Then there is Jesus- after the sermon on the hillside and feeding all the people, he surely was tired. He went up on the mountain to pray and sent the disciples across the lake by boat.

Then after his time in solitude with the Father, he walked out on the lake to join them. At first, they were afraid – and Jesus says “take courage. It is I . Do not be afraid.” and good ole’ Peter responded to Jesus. He responded in faith.

This was not a test for either Jesus or Peter.

Peter was impulsive – we see that over and over. Jesus said come and Peter stepped out of the boat and walked toward Jesus. You can just see Jesus with his arms stretched out to Peter as he says come on out here.

And Peter responded and walked on the water. Peter was fine as long as he kept his focus on Jesus. But he began to look around as he felt the wind and probably the spray of the water. Maybe his toes were getting wet. He may have thought, what have I done or what am I doing here.

Maybe he could not swim very well. We do not know. But we know he lost his concentration – lost his focus – and began to get wet. And sink. And Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter.

Jesus says to him “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” or “Peter you have plenty of faith, use it. Keep your focus on the task at hand, Don’t get caught up in the surroundings. Don’t worry about getting a little wet. Don’t worry that things might get a little messy.”

We all deal with tough situations. We can lean on our faith to see us thru difficult times and difficult circumstances. We often start out well and get discouraged when the going gets tough or things do not go the way we think they should. But seeing it through to the end is important.

We are not failing. We are seeing an end to this step in a very long journey. We are called to maintain our faith and not focus on our inadequacies. While we may not always feel as prepared as we would like to be to tackle a problem or minister to others,

God always equips us with what we need. Sometimes this may require us to be resourceful, creative, and innovative, which in itself is part of His plan.

But we never have to feel insecure or fearful of doing what He asks because we do not have the right tools. God does not call the equipped, he equips the called. You are equipped with all you need to fulfill God's purpose today.

Together we make a much better world than any one of us alone. And we exhibit God’s grace in all that we say and do.

We have our calling!!

May the peace of Christ be with you!

In the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen