Believers Who Overcome the Waves of the World

This passage deals with the scene in which Jesus comes walking on the sea when the boat carrying his disciples runs into a violent storm. Gripped by the rough waves and the terror before their eyes, the disciples forgot Jesus' power and salvation and trembled with fear. But Jesus saves them and calms the sea, showing that he is the Creator.

The sermon emphasizes that for believers to overcome the waves of the world, they must not only confess their faith in their heads but show it through their actions in life. Just as Peter saw the waves, became afraid, and began to sink, we need the perseverance and training to depend on Jesus alone without being shaken by human weakness and emotions. We must also grow our faith not like a small boat but like a warship, and have a mature faith that quietly devotes itself and saves souls, like a deep river.

The sermon asks whether believers are keeping from spiritual sleep through laziness or idleness, and are being faithful unto death and showing the actions of faith. It also asks how they should prepare through perseverance, humility, and prayer to become a deep river and believers whom Jesus cherishes.