08/12/2026
In case you missed it, here is the sermon from Sunday August 9th:
Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
When I first moved to Burnett County, I really was a wet behind the ear, foolish, young adult. I was living and fully supporting myself as I began my career in law enforcement. I would spend money as soon as I earned it and did not do a budget at all. I bought a small boat and spent almost every day off, in it during the summers fishing. As far as I was concerned, the only responsibility I had to manage was keeping track of my work schedule.
On my days off during the rest of the year, I would do whatever I felt like doing that day. I did not attend church when I was off on Sundays.
I became very lax in my faith.
When I thought about going to church, I would honestly become afraid and embarrassed of going to church. I had not gone for so long. Would I even be welcomed if I came back to worship?
Unfortunately, I admit that in my 20’s I never attended a single worship service on Sundays. (Long Pause)
Let that sink in for a moment.
That is a whole decade of separation and distance from my true home.
That is a decade of not gathering in fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
That is a decade of not worshiping God and giving him thanks for all the blessings, care, and grace that He has provided me.
A decade of failed relationships, living in fear, and feeling like I was lost and adrift in this world. (Long Pause)
Many times, more than I can count, I felt that I never had any faith. I wondered if I could call on God in prayer. Was he still there for me? Did he abandoned me? (Long Pause)
Perhaps, you also experienced what I just related, maybe and hopefully not to that extreme. Maybe it was a brief period. Maybe you never fell away from the church and God, but other fears weigh on you.
Maybe you have been burdened with the fear of whether your faith is weak and not strong enough.
Perhaps you’ve even questioned whether you should, can, or need to pray to God.
Whether there is a point to it or if He even hears you.
Maybe you feel overwhelmed and confused about being at church. Maybe you are at a loss during worship.
Whether we have wandered far from Christ or simply found ourselves weighed down by fear, every Christian knows what it is like to struggle to trust God’s promises.
In last week’s Gospel message, the feeding of the five thousand took place, it was late in the evening, and Jesus refused to dismiss the crowds, despite the disciples wanting him to. Jesus now compels, forces the disciples to go on ahead. St. Jerome on his commentary on Matthew says that was because of the love that the disciples have for Jesus that they were loath to be separated from him. After this, Jesus now dismisses the crowds because he wants to. Jesus goes and prays on the mountain. Matthew then describes the disciples in a boat on the water. This situation is different than the earlier recount of Jesus with the disciples in the middle of a storm.
The problem here is not a storm or danger, but the identity of Jesus. Jesus is walking on the water, and the disciples see this and are troubled, believe it is a ghost, and are afraid. Jesus responds to the disciples in kind and tells them to be courageous. Jesus tells them it is I which is similar to “I am” declarations like those in the Old Testament when God is telling His name. Jesus tells the disciples to stop being afraid.
Peter still doubts and tells Jesus that if it is truly Him to call him onto the water and to go to Jesus. The foolishness of Peter becomes clear. Peter walks onto the water and has no problems until he takes his eyes off of Jesus and looks onto the water. Peter begins to sink and calls out “Lord, save me.” Jesus meets Peter’s need immediately. Jesus rebukes Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
While Peter’s foolishness is clear, the grace and mercy of Jesus comes through even clearer.
Matthew is not merely telling us about Peter’s failure. He is showing us what happens whenever faith looks away from Christ and toward circumstances. After they all enter the boat, the wind calms, and those in the boat worship Jesus saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Notice that Matthew does not leave us focused on the miracle of walking on water. He brings us to a confession.
The storm was not the point. The point was the identity of Jesus. Matthew has been leading us to this confession all along: “Truly, you are the Son of God.” Once the disciples recognize who Jesus is, fear gives way to worship because they know that Jesus standing before them is the Son of God.
While the passage today begins with separation and distance, it ends with proximity and worship. Jesus always saves all who call upon him and rely on him. Jesus loved us so much that he suffered, died, was buried, and rose from death, all for us. Through Christ, we are forgiven when we doubt Him, when we are afraid, when we feel as though our faith in Him is not strong enough. Christ does not assure us with words alone. He gives us His saving gifts in Holy Communion. There He comes to us with His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Strengthening the very faith that clings to Him. The disciples confessed, “Truly you are the Son of God.” We make the same confession today, not because we have mastered every doubt, but because the Son of God still comes to us in His Word and in His Supper.
Having a “little faith” is not the same as unbelief. We can always trust in Christ and rely steadfastly on the faith that has been given to us. Jesus always keeps his promises. For me, the greatest problem during those ten years was not simply that I had stopped attending church. It was that I had lost sight of who Jesus is. Like Peter, I had taken my eyes off Christ and fixed them on my circumstances, my guilt, and my fears instead of to Christ, the One who comes to save. As it says in Hebrews “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (12:2). When you find yourself overwhelmed by guilt. Jesus says, “take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid” (14:27b). When your faith feels tiny, remember that Jesus did not save Peter because of Peter’s great faith, Jesus saved Peter because Jesus is gracious. When you begin to sink under fear or doubt, pray “Lord, save me,” Jesus always answers. From Isaiah, “Fear not…. when you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (43:1-3).
When we see one of our neighbors struggle in their life, we can remind one another of God’s promises.
We can invite those who have drifted away back into worship.
We can pray with one another.
We remember when we partake of Holy Communion that we are not just in communion with those present here, but with the communion of saints.
We can forgive each other as Christ forgives us. We become the community where no one sinks alone, because the Son of God never abandons those who cry out, “Lord, save me.” St. Paul tells us the same in Romans, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (10:13). Amen.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Vicar Josh Henry
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS)
Webster, WI
