Series Name: This Changes Everything
Message Title: When Faith Gets Foggy
Short Summary: Sometimes following Jesus feels like driving through thick fog, you can't see the full picture, just the next step ahead. This message explores how the disciples navigated uncertainty during Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, learning to trust God's plan even when it didn't make sense. Through the powerful image of Peter walking on water and Jesus riding a donkey, we discover that God calls us to follow before we fully understand, obey before our eyes are opened, and give Him control rather than just consideration. When faith gets foggy, we must trust the Master, not our master plan.
Icebreaker Question
If you could have a complete roadmap for one area of your life (career, relationships, finances, health, etc.), which would you choose and why? What do you think you'd gain, or lose, by having that complete clarity?
Review of the Previous Week's "I Will" Statement
Last week's commitment was: "I will stop disqualifying myself and start engaging in God's mission."
Reflection Questions:
- Did you notice any moments this week where you started to disqualify yourself from something God was calling you to do? What happened?
- Share one way you engaged in God's mission this week, even if it felt small or imperfect. How did it feel to step into that rather than sitting on the sidelines?
Discussion Questions
Question 1: Reflecting on the Message
Read John 12:12-16 together.
The disciples didn't understand what was happening during Jesus's triumphant entry until after His resurrection. When have you experienced a season where God's plan didn't make sense in the moment, but looking back, you can now see His purpose more clearly? What did that season teach you about trusting God?
Context: The message emphasized that even Jesus's closest followers, those who spent three years with Him, still experienced foggy faith. They witnessed the miracles, heard the teachings, and yet didn't fully grasp what was unfolding.
Application Guidance: Encourage participants to be honest about current areas of confusion or past seasons of uncertainty. Help the group recognize that not understanding God's plan doesn't mean we're failing in our faith, even the disciples experienced this. The goal is to build trust muscles for current and future foggy seasons.
Question 2: Following Before Understanding
The message used the acronym FOG:
- Follow before you understand
- Obedience opens your eyes
- Give Him control not just consideration.
Which of these three is hardest for you personally, and why? Share a specific situation where you're currently struggling with one of these.
Context: Jesus told His disciples to go borrow a donkey, an instruction that made no sense for a conquering king. Yet they obeyed before they understood. Pastor Jared shared his story of repeatedly ignoring God's nudge to stop and talk to a homeless man.
Application Guidance: This question invites vulnerability about where participants are currently stuck. Create space for people to admit their struggles without shame. Remind the group that Peter, Matthew, and the other disciples also struggled with these same tensions. The goal isn't perfection but honest acknowledgment of where we need growth.
Question 3: The Clarity vs. Compliance Tension
Read Proverbs 3:5-6 together.
The message highlighted the tension between wanting clarity (the full master plan) and God calling us to compliance (trusting Him). What's one area of your life right now where you're waiting for complete clarity before you obey? What fears or concerns are holding you back from taking that next step?
Context: We want God to give us the complete roadmap before we move. But God often asks us to take the next step in obedience, and then He reveals the step after that. Like the disciples going to get the donkey, we're called to trust the Master, not demand the master plan.
Application Guidance: Help participants identify the difference between wise discernment and fear-based paralysis. Sometimes we disguise our lack of trust as "waiting for clarity." Encourage honest sharing about what's really underneath the hesitation, fear of failure, fear of looking foolish, fear of loss, or simply wanting to maintain control.
Question 4: When the Storm Comes
The message showed a clip from The Chosen, when Peter walked on water, keeping his eyes on Jesus, until he looked at the wind and waves and began to sink. Describe a time when you were walking in faith but then shifted your focus to the problems around you. What caused you to lose focus, and how did Jesus meet you in that moment?
Context: It's one thing to trust God when faith is just a little foggy. It's another when we're in the middle of a storm—when chaos, pain, or overwhelming circumstances crash around us. Peter gives us both an example of bold faith and a warning about losing focus.
Application Guidance: This question acknowledges that we all have "sinking" moments. The beauty of Peter's story is that Jesus was right there to rescue him—He didn't leave, didn't shame him, just reached down and pulled him up. Encourage participants to share both their sinking moments and how they experienced (or are currently seeking) Jesus's rescue.
Question 5: Taking Your Next Step
Pastor Jarred shared several possible next steps: baptism, inviting someone to Easter, letting go of something, stepping into something new, or having a hard conversation. As you listened to the message, what specific next step did God put on your heart? What would it look like to trust Jesus with that step this week, even without having the full picture?
Context: The message ended with practical examples of next steps people might take. For some, it's a public declaration like baptism. For others, it's a private act of obedience like releasing a grudge or starting a difficult conversation. The key is identifying what God is specifically asking of you.
Application Guidance: This is where the rubber meets the road. Encourage specific, concrete commitments rather than vague intentions. Help participants articulate not just what they'll do, but when and how. Consider having group members share their commitments so others can follow up and provide accountability and encouragement.
This Week's "I Will" Statement
"I will trust Jesus with my next step, even when it's foggy."
Even when I don't fully understand. Even when it's not clear or obvious. Even when I can't see the full picture. I will take the next step God is calling me to take, trusting the Master rather than demanding a master plan.
Prayer Prompts
Prompt 1: Open Sharing Leader asks: "What prayer requests do you have this week? Where do you need God's help, healing, or intervention?"
Prompt 2: Praying for Foggy Faith "Let's pray for anyone in the group who is in a foggy season right now, where God's direction isn't clear, where the next step feels uncertain, or where you're struggling to trust without seeing the full picture. Let's ask God to give courage to take the next step and faith to trust Him in the unknown."
Prompt 3: Praying for Bold Obedience "Let's pray specifically for the next steps each person shared in Question 5. Pray that God would give each person the courage to follow through this week, that He would open eyes to see His faithfulness, and that He would be glorified through our obedience even when we don't have all the answers."
Rewatch the Message
Want to revisit this message or share it with someone else? Watch it here:
Remember: The goal of a small group isn't to have all the answers—it's to create a safe space where we can honestly wrestle with questions, share our struggles, and encourage one another to take the next step of faith together.