Anchor Verses:

Matthew 14:22–33 |  Isaiah 56:7 | Matthew 21:12-13

Focus Statement:

God desires our presence, not our performance. Sunday gatherings aren’t shows — they are sacred spaces where we fix our eyes on Jesus and rely on His power, not our own effort.

A House of Prayer

  • Jesus was zealous for His Father’s house—not because of its structure, but because of its purpose.
  • In His day, the temple had turned into a marketplace—prayer had become secondary to profit and performance.
  • Jesus flipped the tables to remind us: His house is about communion with God, not religious transaction.
  • Worship isn’t something we buy, perform, or earn.
    It’s about coming honestly before God—just as we are.

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Faith and Doubt

  • Peter had enough faith to step out of the boat—but he began to sink when he focused on the wind and waves.
    Jesus didn’t let him drown. He immediately reached out.
  • Doubt is often not about lack of knowledge—but divided attention.
    We get distracted by:

    • Fear of others’ opinions

    • Shame over our sin

    • Pride or unmet expectations

  • Faith is keeping our eyes on Jesus, not the storm.

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Bring Your Offering — Bring Yourself

  • Psalm 69 reminds us: zeal for God’s house means coming vulnerably—even when mocked or misunderstood.
  • When Jesus cleared the temple, He wasn’t just flipping tables—He was restoring relationship.
  • God isn’t impressed with our masks. He wants our surrender, our repentance, our whole selves.
  • We don’t come to trade effort for blessing. We come to seek His presence above all else.

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Final Thought:

  • God’s house is not a stage—it’s a sanctuary.
  • He’s not looking for impressive people.
  • He’s looking for present people.

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Sermon Questions

  • What are the “waves” in your life that threaten to pull your focus away from Jesus, and how have you seen them affect your spiritual walk or time spent in God’s presence? Reflect on what distracts you — expectations, shame, pride, comparison — and consider how you can redirect your gaze to Christ in the middle of the storm.
  • How have you treated Sunday gatherings — as sacred spaces of communion with God, or as places of performance and pressure? Be honest: have you ever felt like you had to “look the part” to belong at church? What might it look like for you to come vulnerably, bringing yourself fully and authentically before God?
  • Jesus flipped the tables in the temple to restore it as a house of prayer. What tables might He be wanting to flip in your life — habits, mindsets, or expectations — that are keeping you from experiencing His presence more deeply? Think practically: is there a step of repentance, surrender, or boldness that He’s calling you into this week?

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