Take Courage

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,

24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
- Matthew 14:22-26

Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! IT IS I. Don’t be afraid.”
- Matthew 14:27

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
** - Exodus 3:13-14**

“Take courage! I AM. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
- Matthew 14:28-33

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
- Matthew 14:31

“It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you.”
- Tim Keller

TAKE COURAGE. I AM. NO FEAR.

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Mixer

How will you celebrate the 4th of July this year? What are you looking forward to?

‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional

To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.

1. In the 6/21/21 entry, Why Church?, our church brother, Paul Leasum, reminds us that “Christianity is not a long distance relationship.” Of his list of reasons to come to church, are these flourishing or floundering in your current spiritual rhythm: encouragement, spiritual maturity, gifts, accountability, and perseverance?
2. In the 6/22/21 entry, Rearranging, our church sister, Aushiree Boynes, says the key to our transformation is our “[willingness] to change and accept the rearranging being done around you.” It’s hard to do on our own - so let’s get some help! Try praying her prayer this week and note what God does in you when the next unpredictable or unfamiliar moment presents itself.

Sermon Questions

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-26, 27, 28-33, 14:31; Exodus 3:13-14

1. How did you relate to Pastor Jay’s daughter approaching the treacherous ocean with confidence? What goes through your mind in your moments of uncertainty, and what helps you to step into it?
2. Read the Scriptures above: How is Jesus’ declaration of His Divine name “I AM” in Matthew’s account the last word over your storms?
3. Pastor Jay said: “Your doubt does not keep Jesus from rescuing you.” Can you put your trust in I AM and allow yourself to be rescued? (How do you define trust?)

1. Have you wrestled with the strength and the fragility of your faith? Why do you think Peter is the disciple who stepped out of the boat?
2. Pastor Jay left us with this takeaway: “TAKE COURAGE. I AM. NO FEAR.” Will you take God up on His offer to carry you this week? What could rest from anxieties and fears look like when you do?

Go Deeper - with Goodbook

Dr. Mark Strauss and Pastor Ken Ingold
Comparative World Religions
Week 5 || Session 5 || Islam

1. How and when did Islam begin? What is its relationship to Judaism and Christianity?
2. Who was Mohammed? What do we know about his life? What is the Quran?
3. What was the “Islamic Golden Age”?
4. What were the Crusades and how do Muslims view them today?
5. What does Islam believe about God? About Jesus?
6. What do Muslims believe about the Quran? About the Bible?
7. Can you name the five pillars of Islam?
8. What does “Jihad” mean and what are the two interpretations of it?
9. What are the origins of Sunnis and Shias?

*Are you joining the Goodbook Q&A Zoom on Tuesday evenings? Email ken@thechurchrb.org

Pray

Give thanks to God this week for the beautiful gift of liberty through Christ. May we thank Him for making us first citizens of heaven, and second, for giving us a land where our love for the cross can grow, and where we love others because of the cross. Happy Independance Day!

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