Using AMI Travel company and their vast 30 years of experience in the Holy Lands, we will see and experience the most Holy of Biblical locations, walk the very ground that Jesus walked and let the Bible stories come alive in us in a whole new way!

Approximate cost for everything except spending money is $3490. Single room supplement is $598.00. Contact: cburton@springfieldfirst.org,

Openers

-Tell us one of the craziest, most risky things you have ever done? Why did you do it?

-Have you ever said, “That person walks on water”? Maybe someone has said that about you. What does that phrase mean?

Digging Deeper

After Jesus feeds the five thousand, he needs some time to himself to pray. So he sends his disciples ahead on a boat.

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. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. 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 14:22-33 (NIV)

-When the disciples are in the boat, the waves were high and the wind was against them. They were doing their best to keep from capsizing. Not long before dawn, they see Jesus walking on the water. What was their first reaction, relief or fear?

In groups of 3, ask people to talk about an experience when God came close to them. Was it comforting or terrifying? After the initial reaction, what did they do? Did the experience lead them to take any action?

-At first glance, Peter’s attempt to walk on water seems impulsive and reckless. But a closer look reveals Peter’s desire to be with Jesus and a direct request: “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Only after Jesus gives a direct command, “Come,” does Peter step out of the boat. Peter knew there was no way he could do that on his own.

First in groups of 3 and then in the large group, invite people to talk about a time when they sensed a leading or a calling from God to do something, go somewhere, or talk to someone. Ask these questions: “Was it scary? Did you want to do it at first? How did you overcome your fear? As you were carrying out God’s leading or after the fact, how did you feel?”

Now What?

-One of the unavoidable truths of a commitment to follow Jesus is the constant recurrence of fear. Pastor and author John Ortberg talks about a consistent pattern in Scripture.

1. There is always a call. God leads us where we have not been before.
2. There is always fear. The thought of this new challenge is scary.
3. There is always reassurance. God says, “Do not be afraid.”
4. There is always a decision. It could be “yes” or it could be “no.”
5. There is always a changed life.  Whatever decision is made, it changes the person’s life from that point forward.

In groups of 3 or in the larger group, invite people to answer:

In what ways is the Lord telling you, as he did Peter, “Come”?

Since fear is unavoidable, we need prayer to help us overcome it. Invite people to write on a piece of paper their biggest fear (anonymously). Put the fears in a bowl in the middle of the group, make a circle around it and invite each person to say in turn: Lord, by your perfect love, drive out these fears.