Bold Like Peter: Stepping Out in Faith

Hey, carpool crew, whether you're strapping on your helmet, grabbing your backpack, or just waking up slow with breakfast. I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. Today is a big day at my house. It's my son's ninth birthday. If you've ever seen him on his BMX bike, you could take one look at him racing and know that this guy is bold, fearless, and ready to send it down the track. And that really got me thinking, because in the Bible, God uses people who are bold all the time, people who are willing to step out when others may stay back. Our verse today comes from Matthew chapter 14, verse 29. Here's what it says. He said, come. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. Now here's what was happening. Jesus had just finished feeding thousands of people. He told his friends the disciples to get in a boat and cross the lake while he went up to the mountainside to pray. Late that night, the wind picked up and the waves got rough, and they saw something wild. Jesus walking on top of the water toward them. At first they thought he was a ghost, but Jesus called out. Take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid. Peter, always the bold one, said, Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water. And Jesus said one word. Come. Peter stepped out of the boat in the middle of a storm and actually walked on water toward Jesus. But when he focused on the wind and the waves instead of Jesus, guess what happened? He started to sink. Jesus reached out and caught him, and they both got back in the boat. If Jesus were riding with you right now or sitting at the table before school, he would probably say, be bold when I call you. Keep your eyes on me. I made you who you are for a reason. See, being bold doesn't mean you're never scared. It means you trust God enough to take the step anyway. A big one or a small one. My son on race days, he has the focus. The start gate drops, all the other racers are around him, handlebar to handlebar, and to me, the jumps look huge. But when he locks in, when he keeps his eyes ahead, he rides his best. Peter was the same way. As long as he focused on Jesus, he did the impossible. Now, here's something really important. Not everyone is bold in the same way. Some of you are like Peter, ready to hop out of the boat. Full send. Let's go. I love that. Others are steady voices saying, we can do this. Or the helpers making sure everyone's ready. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 that the body of Christ, that's all of us who follow Jesus, is like a real body. You need eyes and ears and hands and feet. If we were all the same, we couldn't do anything God calls us to do. So if you're bold, be bold for God. If you are a great listener, listen for God's voice and for people who need encouragement. And if you're creative, use that for God's glory. We need all the gifts to work together. So on my son's ninth birthday, I just want to say, I'm proud of you. I love being your dad. I love your boldness, and I'm thankful God made you exactly how he wanted you. And I'm also thankful for every single one of you listening, because God made each and every one of you the way you are too. On purpose. For a purpose. Parents, when this episode's over, share with your kids what gift you see in them. Boldness, compassion, creativity, and encourage them to use those gifts for God. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Before you go, answer this question together. What's one gift God gave you, and how could you use it for him this week? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.