The Bridge Church
Jesus Encounters - The Storm
April 7, 2024
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
1. God has a sovereign purpose in life's storms
- Correcting Storms
- Perfecting Storms
- Perfecting Storms
2. Know that Jesus is praying for you
3. Focus on Jesus, not the storm
''How do you have such great faith?'' He said, ''I don't have much faith. I have a very little, imperfect faith but I've chosen to place it all in a great big God who's extraordinary.''
- Hudson Taylor
- Hudson Taylor
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
Dig Deeper:
1. As we begin our new series, Jesus Encounters, discuss some of your favorite Jesus encounters from the Bible. What makes them your favorite?
2. This week’s sermon is about walking with Jesus through the storms of life. What might a storm of life look like?
3. Were those walking with Jesus in the Bible exempt from storms? Are we exempt from storms? Why not?
4. Read Matthew 14:22. This is directly after feeding the 5,000 men (plus women and children) with five loaves and two fish. Jesus made them get into the boat and go ahead of Him. Why do you think He makes this decision at this moment?
5. What is the difference between a storm brought about by disobedience to God and a storm that is in the center of God’s will. How are they similar? How are they different?
6. Describe a time when God didn’t change your circumstances, but He did change you in your circumstances. Remembering that God is always a loving God, why doesn’t He change our circumstances?
7. Read John 16:33. What truths does God reveal in this passage? Is God ever surprised?
8. Read Matthew 14:23. Refer to question four. Why does Jesus go pray instead of going with the disciples?
9. Why do you think Jesus chose to pray alone and on a mountain?
10. Read Romans 8:34. What implication does it have in your life to know that Jesus is interceding for you?
11. Read Matthew 14:24. The original language says the waves “harassed, tormented, and tortured” the disciples. Discuss what the disciples must have felt in this moment. Describe a time when you felt “harassed, tormented, or tortured” during a storm in your own life.
12. Read Matthew 14:25. What did Jesus do in this moment? When did it happen? What is the significance of both?
13. Read Matthew 14:26. How did the disciple’s circumstances assist them in their inability to recognize Jesus? Have you ever been in a storm that made you lose sight of Jesus?
14. Read Matthew 14:27. Where does their courage come from? What is Jesus’s command?
15. Read Matthew 14:28-29. They are in the middle of a storm! Why is Peter’s reaction and request unique in this situation? What does it say about Peter? How can we respond in similar ways?
16. Read Matthew 14:30-31. Even though Peter is bold enough to step out into the water, he becomes afraid. What is Peter’s response in this moment? What happens?
17. Read Isaiah 41:10. Where is peace found?
18. Read Matthew 14:32-33. Why did the disciples have to endure that storm? What was the result of weathering the storm?
Live It Out:
What’s your boat? What are you tempted to put your trust in other than Jesus? That’s your boat; it’s whatever represents safety and security to you apart from God himself. This week, instead of staying in the boat, join Jesus on the waves by remembering that:
1. God has a sovereign purpose in life’s storms. Reread this truth one more time…or many times. Knowing that God has a sovereign purpose on all of life’s storms, determine what might be His purpose in a storm you are going through. Even if you cannot understand why, rest knowing that there is a purpose.
2. Jesus is praying for you. Reread this truth, too…as many times as needed for it to sink in! Jesus is praying for you! Share with Him what impact that has on your life and your circumstances. Follow the example of Jesus and go to your knees in prayer.
3. Focus on Jesus, not the storm. Why do we lose sight of Jesus in a storm? More importantly, how can we stay connected to Him during the storm? Reread Matthew 14:27-31 again. What did Jesus do? What did Peter do? List out ways you can stay focused on Jesus in your storm.
1. As we begin our new series, Jesus Encounters, discuss some of your favorite Jesus encounters from the Bible. What makes them your favorite?
2. This week’s sermon is about walking with Jesus through the storms of life. What might a storm of life look like?
3. Were those walking with Jesus in the Bible exempt from storms? Are we exempt from storms? Why not?
4. Read Matthew 14:22. This is directly after feeding the 5,000 men (plus women and children) with five loaves and two fish. Jesus made them get into the boat and go ahead of Him. Why do you think He makes this decision at this moment?
5. What is the difference between a storm brought about by disobedience to God and a storm that is in the center of God’s will. How are they similar? How are they different?
6. Describe a time when God didn’t change your circumstances, but He did change you in your circumstances. Remembering that God is always a loving God, why doesn’t He change our circumstances?
7. Read John 16:33. What truths does God reveal in this passage? Is God ever surprised?
8. Read Matthew 14:23. Refer to question four. Why does Jesus go pray instead of going with the disciples?
9. Why do you think Jesus chose to pray alone and on a mountain?
10. Read Romans 8:34. What implication does it have in your life to know that Jesus is interceding for you?
11. Read Matthew 14:24. The original language says the waves “harassed, tormented, and tortured” the disciples. Discuss what the disciples must have felt in this moment. Describe a time when you felt “harassed, tormented, or tortured” during a storm in your own life.
12. Read Matthew 14:25. What did Jesus do in this moment? When did it happen? What is the significance of both?
13. Read Matthew 14:26. How did the disciple’s circumstances assist them in their inability to recognize Jesus? Have you ever been in a storm that made you lose sight of Jesus?
14. Read Matthew 14:27. Where does their courage come from? What is Jesus’s command?
15. Read Matthew 14:28-29. They are in the middle of a storm! Why is Peter’s reaction and request unique in this situation? What does it say about Peter? How can we respond in similar ways?
16. Read Matthew 14:30-31. Even though Peter is bold enough to step out into the water, he becomes afraid. What is Peter’s response in this moment? What happens?
17. Read Isaiah 41:10. Where is peace found?
18. Read Matthew 14:32-33. Why did the disciples have to endure that storm? What was the result of weathering the storm?
Live It Out:
What’s your boat? What are you tempted to put your trust in other than Jesus? That’s your boat; it’s whatever represents safety and security to you apart from God himself. This week, instead of staying in the boat, join Jesus on the waves by remembering that:
1. God has a sovereign purpose in life’s storms. Reread this truth one more time…or many times. Knowing that God has a sovereign purpose on all of life’s storms, determine what might be His purpose in a storm you are going through. Even if you cannot understand why, rest knowing that there is a purpose.
2. Jesus is praying for you. Reread this truth, too…as many times as needed for it to sink in! Jesus is praying for you! Share with Him what impact that has on your life and your circumstances. Follow the example of Jesus and go to your knees in prayer.
3. Focus on Jesus, not the storm. Why do we lose sight of Jesus in a storm? More importantly, how can we stay connected to Him during the storm? Reread Matthew 14:27-31 again. What did Jesus do? What did Peter do? List out ways you can stay focused on Jesus in your storm.
Reading Plan:
Monday: Matthew 14:22-26
Tuesday: Matthew 14:27-30
Wednesday: Matthew 14:30-33
Thursday: John 16:33, Romans 8:34
Friday: Isaiah 41:5-10
Saturday: Hebrews 12:2, Romans 8:37-39
Monday: Matthew 14:22-26
Tuesday: Matthew 14:27-30
Wednesday: Matthew 14:30-33
Thursday: John 16:33, Romans 8:34
Friday: Isaiah 41:5-10
Saturday: Hebrews 12:2, Romans 8:37-39