In the journey of faith, teenagers often face various storms and challenges that can shake their beliefs. The story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33 offers valuable lessons on how to trust God and grow in faith, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. This passage teaches us about the power of Jesus, the importance of trusting Him, and the invitation to step out in faith. By exploring this story, teenagers can find inspiration and guidance to navigate their own storms and deepen their relationship with God.
Bible Reading: Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV)
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
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.
But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’
‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’
‘Come,’ he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.'”
Explanation
- Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him while He dismissed the crowd.
- The boat was buffeted by waves and wind, causing fear and uncertainty among the disciples.
- Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water, and assured them not to be afraid.
- Peter, displaying a moment of bold faith, asked Jesus to invite him to walk on the water too.
- As long as Peter focused on Jesus, he was able to walk on water, but when he looked at the wind, fear took over, and he began to sink.
- Jesus rescued Peter and questioned his doubt, reminding him of the importance of faith.
- When Jesus and Peter got back into the boat, the storm subsided, leading the disciples to worship Jesus and acknowledge Him as the Son of God.
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever faced a situation that felt like a storm in your life? How did it affect your faith?
- What do you think made Peter step out in faith and walk on water?
- Why do you think Peter started to sink when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the wind?
- How does this story encourage you to trust God in the midst of challenges and uncertainties?
- What are some practical ways you can keep your focus on Jesus during difficult times?
Youth Group Game: “Walking on Water Challenge”
Materials Needed:
- Tarp or large plastic sheet
- Water hose or buckets of water
Instructions:
- Set up the tarp or plastic sheet on a flat surface and secure its edges.
- Create a water-filled path using the water hose or buckets.
- Divide the youth group into pairs.
- One person from each pair will attempt to walk on the water-filled path while their partner sprays water to create ripples and distractions.
- The objective is for the person walking to maintain focus and balance, reaching the other end of the path without stepping off the tarp.
This game serves as a fun and interactive way to illustrate the challenges of keeping our focus on Jesus amidst distractions and storms, similar to Peter’s experience.
Closing Prayer
“Dear God, thank You for the valuable lessons we can learn from the story of Jesus walking on water. Help us to trust You and keep our focus on Jesus, especially during the storms of life. Strengthen our faith and lead us to grow closer to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Note: The content in this Sunday school lesson is fictional and created by using AI language model. It’s important to further develop and tailor the lesson according to your specific church’s beliefs and practices.