Sermon Study Guide | Series: I Am | Sermon: With You in the Fire
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:7–9; Daniel 3:13–27; Mark 8:34–36  | Date: March 8, 2026

We’ve developed a daily devotional reading plan for this series on YouVersion

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If you’d like to dig deeper take a look at our Series Resource Page

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.

All of us know what it feels like to face pressure. Sometimes it’s external—expectations at work, cultural pressure, or relational conflict. Sometimes it’s internal—fear about the future, anxiety about decisions, or the quiet worry that things might fall apart. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego reminds us that following God doesn’t remove pressure or eliminate peril. Instead, it reveals something deeper: God’s presence meets us in the middle of it.

As you begin your conversation, think about a moment when you felt under pressure or faced a difficult situation. Looking back, were there ways you experienced God’s presence or peace even in the middle of uncertainty?  Share with your group

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.

Read Jeremiah 29:7–9, Daniel 3:13–27, and Mark 8:34–36 together and discuss:

• The message describes a movement from Pressure → Peril → Presence → Peace. Which part of that progression resonates most with your current season of life?
  
  
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego say, “Our God is able… but even if He does not… we will not bow.” What does this statement teach us about mature faith?
  
  
• In Babylon, the pressure to conform wasn’t necessarily to abandon faith entirely but to add other allegiances alongside it. Where do you see similar pressures in our culture today?
  
  
• Consider the idea that God doesn’t always remove the furnace—He joins us in it. How does that perspective change the way we view hardship or unanswered prayers?
  
  
• Jesus says in Mark 8:34–36 that following Him means denying ourselves and taking up our cross. What might surrender look like in a practical way in your daily life?
  
  
• The fire in Daniel ultimately burned away the men’s bonds but did not harm them. Can you think of a difficult season in your life where God used hardship to refine or strengthen your faith?

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.

• Identify one “furnace” you may be facing right now—a source of pressure, fear, or uncertainty. Spend time honestly naming it before God this week.
  
  
• Find space to practice the prayer from the message during moments of stress or anxiety:
  “I can be calm. I can be brave. Jesus is with me. And I am okay.”
  
  
• Reflect on where you might be tempted to “bow” to cultural pressures (success, approval, productivity, control). 
  
  • What is one small step you can take to align your allegiance more fully with Jesus?
    
    
• As Communion reminds us of Jesus entering our suffering, consider how you can extend God’s presence to someone else this week; through encouragement, prayer, or simply being present with them.

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.

God, thank You for being the kind of God who gets close. When we face pressure, uncertainty, or fear, remind us that You are not distant from our pain—you are present within it. Give us courage like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to trust You even when outcomes are unclear. Teach us to surrender our need for control and to follow Jesus with faith and humility. In every furnace we face, help us remember that Your presence is greater than our peril. Fill us with Your peace so that we can live with calm, courage, and hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have feedback on this guide or ideas that would help your group engage more deeply, we’d love to hear from you. Your insight helps us continue growing as a church that wrestles honestly and walks faithfully together. Contact msummers@menlo.church

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