Week of August 7th, 2011

1. Read Matthew 14:22-33.
2. Of all your adventures in life, which was your most daring? What risk was involved?
3. Why did Jesus dismiss the disciples so abruptly? Why didn't He want the disciples there? Why do you think Jesus wanted to pray alone?
4. Do you think Jesus was tempted at all by His mounting popularity and the crowd's clamour for a king? How does this temptation and Jesus' response to it resemble His temptations in Matthew 4:3-10?
5. Meanwhile, what happens out on the lake to rock the disciples boat? To stir up their fear? To encourage their faith?
6. What do Peter's actions reveal about his character?
7. Why do you think Jesus told Peter to come? What do you learn about Jesus' hopes for you in this passage? When did Peter begin to sink? Why then and not earlier?
8. What do the disciples conclude about Jesus as a result of this faith-stretching experience?
9. Would you be more likely to stay in the boat or step out of it? Why?
10. Is there anything in your life that parallels Peter's attempt to walk on water?
11. Pray for one another....