TEXTS: “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.” —John 14:12

“‘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.” —Matthew 14:28–29

INTRODUCTION - There is a new idol in America. It’s not one of the usual suspects—sex, drugs, or materialism. This new idol is so powerful and pervasive that it can dominate your decisions and determine your destiny. People who succumb to it see their dreams discarded, their hearts shrunken, their faith diminished, and their growth stunted. Its victims live with shriveled souls.

What is this idol?The idol of safety.
Americans have grown up obeying signs posted everywhere: Safety First! A pastor named Scott Dudley noted in a sermon how, over the last thirty years, we have created the most risk-averse society in history. We are the most seat-belted, bike-helmeted, air-bagged, kneepad-wearing, private-schooled, gluten-freed, hand-sanitized, peanut-avoiding, sunscreen-slathering, hyper-insured, massively medicated, password-protected, valet-parked, security-systemed, inoculated generation in history—and all it has done is make everyone more afraid of everything. I’m not talking about taking risks for risk’s sake, but I believe this new safety idol is destroying our faith.
Most Christians don’t serve.
Why? It might not be safe!
Most Christians don’t dream great dreams.
Why? It might not be safe!
Most Christians don’t share their faith or take a stand.
Why? It might not be safe!
Most Christians don’t tithe or give sacrificially.
Why? It might not be safe!
Most Christians don’t break habits, take risks, build relationships, or have adventures . . .
Why? All for one reason: It might not be safe!

FOUR PRICE TAGS OF PLAYING IT SAFE
Let’s take a look at four price tags of playing it safe, and then we’ll learn five steps to dismantling the “safety first” idol.

1. PLAYING IT SAFE LIMITS OUR IMPACT
Playing it safe will limit your impact, and it will also send you down the road to stagnation, unrealized potential, and unfulfilled dreams.
2. PLAYING IT SAFE SHRINKS OUR FAITH
VIDEO: Francis Chan Balance Beam Routine

3. PLAYING IT SAFE STUNTS OUR GROWTH
Playing it safe stunts your growth so your faith doesn’t deepen and you don’t fall any deeper in love with God. In the Movie: Risen, Clavius stopped playing it safe, and it brought him closer to Jesus—even when he didn’t know what to say . . .

Video Clip Week 2

4. PLAYING IT SAFE SHRIVELS OUR HEARTS
If you are a Christ follower (and are listening for His voice), Jesus is going to challenge your faith by asking you to do what seems impossible . . .

FIVE STEPS TO BREAKING FREE FROM THE IDOL OF SAFETY
One night Jesus took Peter on a real adventure. He put the disciples in a boat and sent them ahead of Him to cross a five-mile-wide lake, the Sea of Galilee. Then the storm hit. Late at night, hours into the dangerous deluge, they were still laboring to get to the other side. That’s when they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water. Matthew recorded Peter’s response:
“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. (Matthew 14:28–29)

Here are five steps to dismantle the idol of safety.

1. STOP SAYING NO TO EVERYTHING JUST BECAUSE IT’S SCARY
Fear is the darkroom where negatives develop. Fear will cause you to miss the best thing God wants to do with you. Acts, chapter 18. I read these words: “The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid’” (verse 9).

2. PRAY SOME DANGEROUS PRAYERS We’re not used to praying dangerous prayers. We focus our attention on idols instead.

3. GET OUT YOUR WALLET
Gratitude is one of the healthiest human emotions. Maybe that’s why the apostle Paul said, “God loves a cheerful giver” Somehow joy and giving are connected.
The first church was barely up and running when it was described this way: “They began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need” Generosity is risky but also far more fulfilling.

4. STOP WATCHING—TRY LIVING!

5. REALIZE WHAT’S AT STAKE
The four most depressing words in the English language are these: It’s just too late.
God said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward” ( God said not to stand still or move sideways but to go forward. He said, “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground” (Exodus 14:16).
Moses’s best moments in life began when he finally said yes to God. In other words . . . The minute Moses said yes to God, he experienced the unlikely but commanding performance before Pharaoh.
After he said yes, two million people were freed from hundreds of years of slavery. After he said yes, he watched the Red Sea part and two million people escape on dry land. After he said yes, he received the Ten Commandments, wrote the first five books of the Bible, and experienced the miracles of the manna, Mount Sinai, the Promised Land, the glory of God . . .
The best years of Moses’s life happened only after saying yes!

G. K. Chesterton wrote of our need for “a new kind of prophet, not like the prophets of old who reminded people that they were going to die, but one who reminded them that they are not dead yet.”

COMMITMENTS and PRAYER