Sermon Recap
No Camping on the Beach
November 1, 2026
Scripture referenced
- Psalm 77:16-20
This message, preached on Tribe’s tenth birthday, used Psalm 77 and the story of Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea to speak to anyone who feels trapped with no visible way forward. The preacher drew a direct line between Israel pinned on a beach with Pharaoh’s army closing in and Tribe’s own season of not yet knowing where its next permanent home will be. The central point was simple: the way you cannot see is already known to the God you can trust.
What was said
Before getting to the main message, the preacher brought the congregation up to date on a situation developing at Foundations for Nations, a church on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Riverton, Wyoming. What began with protests during a Fourth of July weekend message had continued, and that past Sunday a county road easement to the church property was threatened, effectively putting the church at risk of being cut off. The preacher noted that what the press had not covered was everything Foundations for Nations does for its community: a food pantry moving thousands of pounds of food per month, a clothing pantry, a homeless outreach, and a thriving student ministry. He asked the congregation to keep praying for the church and floated the idea of loading up the Tribe bus and driving over to show support before Togwotee Pass gets too snowy.
The sermon proper opened at Psalm 77:16-20, specifically verse 19: “Your road led through the sea. Your pathway through the mighty waters. A pathway no one knew was there.” The preacher used a Google map of the Sinai Peninsula to ground the Exodus story geographically, pointing out the Gulf of Aqaba, the Saudi Arabian coastline opposite Egypt, and a sandy beach delta called Nuweiba that he identified as a likely site for the crossing.
He then walked through the moment Israel arrived at that beach: steep cliffs to the south, an Egyptian garrison to the north, the ocean straight ahead, and Pharaoh’s army barreling down the canyon behind them. The pillar of fire slid around behind Israel and got between them and the army, but the people were still trapped. The preacher had stood at that shore himself and shared a short video he filmed there, describing it as the place where Israel crossed into freedom on their way to covenant with God.
From Israel’s beach, he turned to Tribe’s own. He walked the congregation through ten years of locations, from Shepherd of the Mountains to Snow King Conference Center, through COVID-era Zoom calls and a living-room fire, to outdoor services at the base of the Snow King lift, then the TMC, and now First Baptist Jackson, where Tribe has been meeting since September. Two years have been offered there, possibly more. The question he sat with openly was: we don’t know where we’re going next, and that is okay.
The argument from Psalm 77 is that God had a path through the seafloor before Israel ever arrived at the water’s edge. The path was always there; Israel simply could not see it. The preacher applied this directly: God already knows Tribe’s next home, and God already knows the way through whatever impossible situation anyone in the room is facing, whether that is loneliness, debt, or an old habit that keeps pulling. Being on a beach is not a punishment; sometimes God leads people into dead ends so he can show up in a way that could not happen any other way. The one thing that is not acceptable is to set up permanent camp there.
The service closed with communion. The preacher framed it as the tangible reminder Jesus left that he has not abandoned anyone on the beach. He connected Jesus’ words in the upper room to the same faithfulness shown at the Red Sea, noting that as God the Father did not leave his Son in the grave, he will not leave his people stranded. Communion was served, open to anyone who follows Jesus, and the congregation was invited to take care of any unconfessed sin or unforgiveness before coming to the table.
Touch points
- Pray specifically for Jason, Sarah, and Foundations for Nations Church in Riverton as they face ongoing pressure and opposition.
- If you can get away, watch for word about a Tribe bus trip over to Riverton to visit Foundations for Nations and help stock their food pantry.
- If you are 18 or older, research the candidates on the ballot for Jackson and Teton County and vote for those who most closely reflect your biblical values.
- If you find yourself feeling stuck with no way forward, bring that specific situation to God in prayer this week and ask Him to open a way you cannot yet see.
- Leave a birthday card for Tribe at the table on your way out.
Doing a Bible study?
- The preacher described Foundations for Nations Church facing boycotts, protests, and now the threat of losing road access, all while quietly serving their community through food pantries, clothing drives, and homeless outreach. When have you seen a community or person doing genuine good get attacked in a way that never made the news?
- Psalm 77:19 describes a path through the sea that ‘no one knew was there.’ Looking back at your own life, where have you seen God open a way that you could not have predicted or planned for?
- The preacher traced Tribe through Shepherd of the Mountains, Snow King, the TMC, the Virginian, Powderhorn Park, living rooms, and now First Baptist, and said being on the beach is not a punishment but sometimes the place where God chooses to show off. How do you personally tell the difference between a dead end that God has led you into and one you wandered into on your own?
- The message closed with the line: ‘The way you can’t see is known to the God you can trust.’ What makes it hard for you, practically and honestly, to trust that when you are in a season where the next step is not visible?
- Communion was described as a tangible reminder that God has not abandoned us on the beach, pointing forward to Jesus drinking the cup anew in his coming kingdom. What role does regularly remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection play in how you face uncertainty in your day-to-day life?
Resumen en español
Esta noche marcó el décimo aniversario de Tribe, y el mensaje combinó la celebración con una reflexión seria sobre la fidelidad de Dios en los momentos de incertidumbre. Antes de entrar en la Palabra, el predicador pidió a la congregación que orara por la iglesia Foundations for Nations en Riverton, Wyoming, que ministra en la Reservación Indígena Wind River y que ha enfrentado protestas, boicots y presión pública. El domingo pasado, las autoridades del condado amenazaron con cortar el acceso al terreno de esa iglesia, una iglesia que da miles de libras de comida al mes, ropa, y atención a personas sin hogar.
El pasaje central fue el Salmo 77, versículos 16 al 20, que describe cómo Dios abrió un camino a través del Mar Rojo para Israel. El predicador llevó a la congregación de regreso a ese momento: Israel atrapado en una playa, con el ejército de Faraón a sus espaldas, el océano al frente, acantilados a un lado y un puesto militar al otro. No había salida visible. Pero Dios ya tenía preparado un camino que nadie conocía, un camino trazado desde la creación misma. Esa imagen se aplicó directamente a Tribe, que ha pasado por múltiples ubicaciones en diez años y ahora se reúne en First Baptist Jackson sin saber aún cuál será su próximo hogar permanente.
La conclusión fue sencilla pero directa: estar en la playa no es un castigo, pero tampoco es el destino final. Dios conoce el camino aunque nosotros no lo veamos. “El camino que no puedes ver es conocido por el Dios en quien puedes confiar.” La noche terminó con la celebración de la Comunión como recordatorio tangible de que Dios no abandona a su pueblo en la playa, y con la exhortación a votar en las elecciones próximas eligiendo candidatos que reflejen valores bíblicos.
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Pasajes bíblicos utilizados:
- Salmos 77:16-20
- Juan 14 (referencia a “voy a prepararos un lugar”)
- 1 Corintios 11 (las palabras de Pablo sobre la Comunión)
- Los relatos del Éxodo (mencionados narrativamente, no citados versículo por versículo)
Topics
Church Anniversary Communion Meaning Faith In Uncertainty Red Sea Crossing Stuck With No Way Out