Sermon Study Guide | Series: Foreign Faith | Sermon: Lost and Stuck Scripture: Exodus 14:3, Hebrews 11:29, Hebrews 3:5,6; Exodus 13:17,18
Date: July 27, 2025

CONNECT - “A Personal Reflection”

This section is designed to help you relate personally to the theme of the sermon. It encourages you to reflect on your own life experiences and how they connect to the message.

We’ve all experienced moments that felt like dead ends—emotionally, spiritually, or even physically. Think back to a time when you felt completely stuck, unsure of the next step. How did that season shape your relationship with God? Were there ways that God showed up that you couldn’t see at the time? Share with your group: what helped you keep going—or what you learned in hindsight.

ENGAGE - “Exploring the Scripture”

This section invites you to dive into the biblical passage, discuss its meaning, and apply it to your life through thoughtful questions.

• Israel’s path out of Egypt wasn’t direct—God intentionally led them into what looked like a trap. 
  
  • What does that say about how God works?
  • How does that challenge our desire for clarity and control?
    
    
• Consider the phrase “trading Freedom for Familiarity”. 
  
  • How does this idea show up in the Exodus narrative?
  • Where in your own life might you be settling for comfort over calling?
    
    
• The sermon pointed out modern “cultural gods” (busyness, upgrades, image). Which one do you find most tempting and why?
  
  
• “Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” Hebrews 3:5–6 ESV
  
  • What does it mean that Moses was “faithful as a servant” while Christ is “faithful as a Son”?
    
    
  • “We are His house…” What does it look like to live like you belong to God’s household today—not just in theory, but practically?
    
    
  • What does holding fast mean for you right now? Where do you feel your grip slipping—and why?
    
    
  • What would it look like to be known as someone who boasts—not in yourself—but in the hope of Jesus?
    
    
  • How does understanding this passage give you confidence when you feel stuck, uncertain, or spiritually tired?

APPLY - “Putting the Scriptures into Action”

This section challenges us to take what we’ve learned and implement it in practical ways in our daily lives.

• Where am I trading freedom for familiarity? 
  
  • What has had a hold on your focus, your time, your effort? Where are you “stuck”?
  • Write it down
    
    
• What cultural “god” might God be trying to dethrone in your life right now? 
  
  • Ex. The gods of busyness (hustle), upgrades (lifestyle), image (trends)
  • Where can you allow God to work, this week, in letting go of it?
    
    • Ex. Praying before work, fasting from unnecessary expenses, limiting influences, etc.
      
• Identify one area in your personal life where you feel stuck. What have you done to try and “free” yourself?
  
  • What might it look like to invite God into that space with trust rather than fear?
  • Try practicing one form of active trust this week—
    
    • Rest when you feel pressure to hustle
    • Say “no” to something that’s good but not God’s best
    • Ask someone for prayer or accountability

PRAY - “Seeking God’s Guidance”

This section offers a short prayer to help us center our hearts and invite God to work in our lives through his scripture.

Father, thank you that you never stop working, even when we feel stuck. Help us trust that you are still moving, even when the path feels unclear. Teach us to surrender our plans and expectations so we can walk the long road of faith you’ve prepared. Reveal the cultural idols we’ve unknowingly bowed to, and give us the courage to follow you through the Red Sea moments of life. We believe you are just getting started. Amen.

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