Matthew 14:22-31

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Can’t you just hear the disappointment

Once again Peter you’ve tried and you failed.

Much better to be those disciples who didn’t try at all. And the artwork around this…really reflects Peter’s failure.

But what if we read this differently. What if read this as Jesus helps Peter walk on water.

This series was originally preached at James’ church Wellspring Worship Centre - a diverse and Jesus loving community found in Toronto.

For the next few weeks we shall be focusing on some of the sub-headings in the bible - things that translators have added to help make the bible more accessible. But also take a closer look at how they can sometimes miss a lot of the story.

These sub-headings shape our reading of the text. If a sub- heading tells me about a prodigal son I’m not likely to pay as much attention to the other characters in the parable. Ultimately these subtitles were put there by people, often with very good intentions to help make the bible easier to read…but sometimes they miss the point. And sometimes scripture is just so rich that there is no way that a few words could sum it up.

So join us as we flip the script and dig deeper into the scripture that we love so much.

Here is the picture of the NIV translation team that we mentioned in the podcast

This series was originally preached at James’ church Wellspring Worship Centre - a diverse and Jesus loving community found in Toronto.

Summary

Pastor Brian Zahnd shares his spiritual journey from the Jesus movement to a more contemplative faith, emphasizing the importance of prayer, pilgrimage, and prophetic witness in today’s church. The discussion explores themes of deconstruction, renewal, and the transformative power of slow, intentional spiritual practices.

“I try to write what I cannot not write.”

Key Topics

Spiritual journey from the Jesus movement to contemplative faith

The role of prayer and prayer school in spiritual renewal

Pilgrimage as a spiritual discipline and renewal tool

The impact of cultural and political shifts on faith and church

This book looks even more beautiful in real life!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Brian Zahnd

02:51 Brian’s Journey and Transformation

05:43 Critique of American Christianity

08:32 The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Awakening

11:09 The Importance of Liturgy and Community

13:42 The Future of Brian’s Work and Writing

16:36 Pilgrimage and Spiritual Practices

24:09 The Camino de Santiago: A Journey of Transformation

28:33 Walking into Peace: The Impact of Pilgrimage

30:03 The Slow Pace of Life: Embracing Simplicity

33:36 Contemplative Leadership: A New Model for the Church

38:12 Navigating Conflict with Grace: The Cost of Compassion

43:16 Finding Wisdom in Stillness: A Prayer for Patience

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