Podcast Summary: Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin Episode: Trusting Jesus in the Storm - Matthew S3E2 (March 30, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pastor Joby Martin, joined by members of the Church of Eleven22 teaching team, explores Matthew 8:18-27, focusing on what it means to truly trust Jesus in life's storms. The discussion moves from the “cost of following Jesus” to the story of Jesus calming the storm, unpacking how faith, fear, and the posture of our hearts intersect in discipleship and daily living. Practically and theologically rich, the episode invites listeners to evaluate motives, perseverance, and how to seek peace through Christ no matter their circumstances, especially as they prepare for Easter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Cost of Discipleship (Matthew 8:18-22)

• Bible Heading vs. Actual Text
  • The group notes that Bible headings are added by translators, not part of the text, and can shape interpretation (00:22).
• Jesus’ Call Isn't Seeker-Sensitive
  • Pastor Joby: “Jesus, he doesn’t do the seeker sensitive thing very well. He just said, all right, it’s going to cost you everything. And I’m homeless. I got nothing.” (01:14)
  • Following Jesus means full surrender—there’s no conditional or partial commitment.
• Motivations Matter
  • The scribe’s “but first” (wanting to bury his father first) reveals a divided heart. If there’s a "but first," Jesus isn’t truly first (02:16).
  • Cultural tendency is to make Jesus an add-on, but the call is to complete awe and lordship.
  • Quote: “If you’re trying to use him to get what you want, then what you want is actually your God. He is not a means to an end. He is the end.” (07:54)

2. Wrong Motives and Contemporary Examples

• Prosperity Gospel vs. True Discipleship
  • Pastor Joby warns against coming to Jesus mainly for personal benefit, comfort, or prosperity (“the heresy of the prosperity gospel”) (07:22).
  • Even good motives (wanting to raise a family in church) can become self-serving if God is a tool for another end.

3. The Chaos of the Storm: Historical, Literary, and Personal Contexts

• Sea as Symbol of Chaos
  • In first-century Judaism, sea and storm represented chaos and disorder—God brings order (08:56).
  • Superstitions surrounded the Sea of Galilee, magnifying the disciples’ fear.
• Overestimating Our Own Competence
  • Even seasoned fishermen faced situations beyond their abilities—reminding listeners not to trust in their own competence but to turn to Jesus (11:00).
  • Quote: “It is not until your need exceeds your ego that you will be on your knee to Jesus.” (11:49)

4. Biblical Interpretation: Literal vs. Figurative Storms

• When Are Metaphors Appropriate?
  • The storm is both a literal event and a legitimate figure for personal crises.
  • Framework for Bible Study:
    • What happened? (Literal event)
    • So what? (Meaning and implications)
    • Now what? (Personal application) (12:55)
  • Avoid starting with feelings; begin with the author’s intent (14:13).

5. The Nature of Faith, Doubt, and Fear

• Faith is Not the Absence of Doubt—It’s the Opposite of Fear
  • Action is the fruit of faith; fear paralyzes.
  • Pastor Joby: “The opposite of faith isn’t doubt... The opposite of faith is fear, because faith always produces action and fear paralyzes.” (19:55)
• Scared vs. Paralyzed
  • Being scared is normal; courage is acting in faith despite fear (20:00).

6. Storms: Internal and External

• Internal Peace vs. External Circumstances
  • Some endure severe external chaos with internal peace—rooted in trust in the Lord.
• Jesus’ Sleep as Model of Trust
  • Jesus’ peace while sleeping in the storm shows complete trust in God (17:09).
  • Quote: “The peace that you experience is directly related to how much you trust God.” (18:30)

7. Prayer, Worry, and the Practice of Peace

• Worry is 'Misplaced Prayer'
  • Prayer brings problems to God, while worry keeps us in control and anxious (24:55).
  • Philippians 4: Use anxiety as a prompt to pray, trusting God for peace that “transcends understanding.”
  • If peace is absent despite prayer, dig deeper—perhaps surrender is needed, not just comfort (27:11, 27:47).

8. Building Resilience: Exposure and Spiritual Focus

• Facing, Not Avoiding, What is Hard
  • Avoidance leads to fragility, not strength. Mental and spiritual resilience are built through facing “storms” with Jesus (35:12).
• Spiritual 'Looking': Four Directions
  • Look up (to Jesus), look around (to faith community), look ahead (to God’s promises), look back (to God’s faithfulness)—never inward as the primary source (37:22; 41:09).

9. Testimony, Community, and Remembering God’s Faithfulness

• Testimony Stirs Corporate Faith
  • Sharing stories of God’s work is “borrowing faith” and counters isolation (39:39).
• Look Back as the Antidote to Anxiety
  • Psalm 77: Remembering God’s works in times of distress (42:00–43:39).
  • Quote: “Gratitude and anxiety cannot coexist.” (43:39)

10. Suffering, Peace, and the Glory to Come

• Suffering is Not Meaningless
  • God uses hardship to prepare us for “an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17) (45:25).
  • Heaven’s perspective turns even the heaviest trials into “light and momentary” in light of eternity (47:18).

11. Application for Easter Preparation

• Posture of Desperation
  • Approach Easter (and daily faith) with humility and a deep sense of need for Jesus (49:32).
• If the Tomb is Empty, Anything is Possible
  • The resurrection is the foundation for hope and bold expectation (50:43).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “If you’ve got a ‘but first’ in your life, then Jesus is not first.” – Pastor Joby (02:16)
• “He is not a means to an end. He is the end.” – Pastor Joby on motivations for following Jesus (07:54)
• “It is not until your need exceeds your ego that you will be on your knee to Jesus.” – Pastor Joby (11:49)
• “The peace that you experience is directly related to how much you trust God.” – Pastor Joby (18:30)
• “The opposite of faith isn’t doubt... The opposite of faith is fear, because faith always produces action and fear paralyzes.” – Pastor Joby (19:55)
• “Scared is a feeling; no problem. Just do it scared. And by faith, do what Jesus says.” – Pastor Joby (20:00)
• “If you pray, why worry? If you worry, why pray?” – Pastor Joby’s seminary pastor (24:55)
• “Look up, look around, look ahead, look back—but never look inward.” – Paraphrased from multiple guests (37:22, 41:34)
• “Gratitude and anxiety cannot coexist. This is where things like a gratitude list can be very, very helpful.” – Pastor Joby (43:39)
• “It’s virtually impossible to simultaneously feel stressed and blessed.” – Pastor Joby (43:39)
• “None of the suffering that you are enduring is meaningless…he is preparing for you an eternal weight of glory.” – Pastor Joby (45:25)
• “In the modern individualistic, it’s all about me and my personal relationship with Jesus kind of thing…we’ve lost the strength of testimony.” – Pastor Joby (43:39)
• “If the tomb is empty, anything is possible.” – Pastor Joby (50:43)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• The Cost of Discipleship – 01:14–06:26
• Wrong Motives and ‘But First’ – 06:26–08:06
• Chaos, the Sea, and Literary Themes – 08:28–11:49
• Personal Storms and Spiritual Competence – 11:49–14:13
• Faith, Fear, and Action – 19:55–21:00
• Jesus Sleeping in the Storm – 17:09–18:38
• Prayer vs. Worry, Peace in Hardship – 24:55–28:11
• Community, Testimony, and ‘Looking’ – 37:22–42:00
• Psalm 77: Remembering God’s Deeds – 42:00–43:39
• Glory, Suffering, Perspective – 45:25–47:18
• Easter Preparation and the Resurrection – 49:32–51:10

Conclusion & Call to Action

As Holy Week approaches, Pastor Joby and team call listeners to evaluate where their trust lies—whether in their competence or Christ—and to prize being desperate for the Savior. They encourage reflecting on the resurrection as the foundation for hope and action, practicing prayer in place of worry, participating in community, and looking outside oneself for true peace. The ultimate message: Jesus is in the boat, the storm is not the end, and if the tomb is empty, anything is possible.

Resource: For a free chapter of Pastor Joby Martin’s book or to support the ministry, visit JobyMartin.com or coe22.com/donate.

“Father in heaven, Lord, I pray specifically. Right now, there are some folks that are going through a storm, and you know it. You’re not surprised by it. It actually passed through your sovereign hand… Lord, I pray that through Christ, these folks could experience your peace.” – Closing prayer, Pastor Joby (51:10)