A few years ago a number of us here this morning went to Greece together.  For the most part it was a wonderful trip, but there was one particular part we could all have done without.  Those of you who went know what I’m talking about.  The trip was billed as “Walking In The Footsteps of Paul,” and since Paul did some traveling on the Mediterranean Sea, part of our trip involved taking a cruise.  The so-called “cruise liner” was small, without ballasts, the sea was rough, and most of us got seasick.  I gained a whole new appreciation for the intestinal fortitude of the Apostle Paul. 

 You don’t have to be out on the water to experience that kind of unsettled feeling in your stomach, however. Every one of us has felt restless and unsettled, perhaps a bit queasy in the stomach when it had nothing to do with the high seas.  Usually those are feelings that come from a sense of fear, regret, or insecurity.  They’re an internal storm, rooted in remorse over the past, or fear of the future. When I’ve experienced those feelings, the only thing I know that restores peace to my heart and calm to my mind is my faith that God knows me better than I know myself, and loves me still.  As a Christian, I pray in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, and peace returns from knowing that Jesus is walking right there beside me, calming the storm.

In this morning’s scripture we read, “the disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.”  The story goes on to say:  “It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.”  You can almost feel the storm clouds gathering.  And, sure enough:  “The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.”  Alone, far out to sea, in far over their heads, they are afraid.  And then they see Jesus, coming to them, walking on the water.  “’It is I;’ he says, “’do not be afraid.’” 

 Jesus walking on water doesn't even begin to square with a literal understanding of the ways things work.  But, there's a deeper meaning to the story. The message is not about a literal miracle that Jesus did 2000 years ago.  It’s about the miracles that we, through faith in Christ, are able to do today. The disciples were sailing on some pretty uncertain seas, but then, so are we!  We all have plenty of reasons to be concerned about getting in over our heads! That’s just part of the human condition.  We’re all in the same boat.

Then Jesus came, walking in faith across the water, and just as soon as they invited him into the boat the seas became calm once again. This is a teaching about presence, about prayer, and about the faith that calms our fears. It's a story for each of us to take to heart in our own lives. It’s also a story for us collectively to take into the heart of our church.

There's a slight variation in Matthew's version of this story. Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you on the water."  Jesus bids him come.  Peter steps out upon the water in faith and then, immediately, an entirely rational, completely understandable, instinctive fear-based response, sort of like “buyer’s remorse” kicks in. "Oh, my God," he thinks to himself. "Now what have I done? I can't do this." And he begins to sink. Can you identify with that? I certainly can. So Jesus reaches out, takes him by the hand and lifts him up.

We are like the disciples.  We are like Peter. We find ourselves somewhere between a very practical insecurity and a faith that can seem downright irrational. This story illustrates the inner storm that accompanies change of any kind. The point is that we need the presence and the saving power of Christ. If we're setting out on uncertain seas, we need to make very sure he's in the boat with us. If we're talking about stepping out in faith, we need to make sure that Jesus is the one bidding us come and that he's there to take our hand and to lift us up in those moments when faith and our own navigational skills inevitably falter.

So, the question is, what does it mean to walk in faith? We’re all in the same boat, that’s just part of the human condition.  The question is, do we have Christ in the boat with us? If Christ is with us, if Christ is truly calling us, then we have his words, spoken to our hearts, "Do Not Fear. I am with you."

I read an illustration in an article entitled Discovering the Laws of Life. (1) The basic thesis is that our beliefs create our reality and the author tells about how hopping fleas are trained. They're put into a glass jar and as they try and jump in the air, the lid knocks them back down. Eventually they learn that they can only jump so high and then, when the lid is removed, they continue to stay within that space. His point is that we all live in glass jars. We may long to take a leap of faith, but if we don’t believe it's possible to go beyond the limits we've experienced in the past, we just stay where we are.

This works in our personal lives, because each of us has to make our own decisions about what God is calling us to do, to seek guidance, and then trust the Spirit’s leading.  But it also works collectively, on the level of the church.  The boat has been a symbol of the church since the time of Noah.  The church is our boat, as well as our glass jar.  So we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, as part of the Body of Christ, also have to ask in prayer, and we have to listen carefully for the discernment of the Holy Spirit - is Jesus with us?  Is Jesus calling us?  Is Jesus taking the lid off AND asking us to take a leap of faith?

Finally, if you suspect there may be a thinly veiled message about our building program in this sermon, I suspect you’re right.  I personally feel very certain that Jesus is calling us to build for the future and I’ll give you one very simple reason.  I believe he is in the boat with us, and I think his feet are getting wet!  Unless we repair our boat, we’re simply not going to stay afloat.  It is nothing short of a modern day miracle that we haven’t had more people jump ship.  It’s even more of a miracle that we have somehow, by the grace of God, continued to attract folks like so many of you, committed members who have caught a vision for the future. 

I do trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I trust that you do too. I do believe in prayer, and I believe that you do too. And I know you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to be a people of practical discernment and spiritual good will. We are a faith-filled community of disciples following in the footsteps of Christ, and God has great things in store for us as we share the Good News of the Gospel. Praise God, and thank you!  May Christ be your shalom, Amen.

 (1) John Marks Templeton, Discovering the Laws of Life, Continuum, 1995, p. 242, , ibid.