October 19, 2014 Overcome Betrayal Scripture Passages: Genesis 37:19-27, 39:1-2 What are some biblical stories of overcoming betrayal? How do Joseph s trials compare to Job s? In one word, how do you feel when you hear about Joseph s betrayal by this brothers? How do you respond when you are betrayed by people close to you? Review: Joseph grew up in an imperfect family. Jacob/Israel had twelve sons by different women. Rachel was Jacob s favorite wife, and Joseph was his favorite son. Joseph is seen by many to be a prototype, or early echo of a coming and needed. Preview: Let s look at Joseph s betrayal to recognize God is at work in our circumstances. His brothers were jealous of Joseph and him for his richly ornamented robe and that Israel loved him more (37:4). Joseph was born to Israel s favorite wife, Rachel, in his old age after Rachel has been for a while (29:31, 30:22) History of : in chapter 34, Simeon and Levi kill all the males after Shechem violated their sister, Dinah. History of : Rebekah told Jacob how to steal Esau s blessing, Jacob telling Isaac that he was Esau, and the sons of Jacob told Shechem they would allow Dinah to marry him before they killed all the males. Joseph was 17 years old when he has these dreams where he is lifted up above his family. His brothers were (v 11). Reuben, the firstborn son, tried to save Joseph by suggesting throwing him in the pit instead of killing him. He appears more concerned for his than jealous of Joseph. Was it coincidence that at the exact moment after they threw Joseph in the pit and the brothers sat down to eat, that a shows up? Was Judah protecting Joseph or feeling guilty? Where was Reuben? The passage and life of Joseph is summarized in 39:2, The Lord was with Joseph. Summary: Since God is always at work, what is our responsibility when we cannot see what He s doing? Keep trusting God, spend time in the Word and prayer, reflect on God s work in your life and people like Joseph, and continue faithfully to walk with God despite challenging life circumstances. do? Is there a relationship that needs reconciliation? Does forgiveness need to be sought? What trying circumstances are you walking through where you need to seek God s presence and help? Blanks: four, Savior, hated, barren, violence, lying, jealous, father, caravan
October 26, 2014 Overcome Temptation Scripture Passage: Genesis 39:3-12 What emotions do you recall when you have yielded to temptation or overcome temptation? Agree or disagree: It s easier to resist temptation when you know what s at stake. Why or why not? Read 1 Cor. 10:13. Ask: (1) How can we know when we need to run from temptation? (2) If resisting temptation sometimes brings trouble (such as being asked to do something wrong at work), when why is it important to resist? Review: Joseph grew up in an imperfect family. Despite challenging circumstances, jealousy, hatred, and betrayal, Joseph served God faithfully. God expects us to live beyond our circumstances. Preview: Joseph has been taken to Egypt, sold to Potiphar, where God is with him (mentioned times in our passage). Temptation is coming, but Joseph understands what is at stake. Potiphar saw the Lord was with Joseph found (vv. 3-4). His actions revealed his character. He was trustworthy, did what he was told, and more. Vv. 3-4 reveal a progressive recognition of Joseph s trustworthiness and release of. Placing a new servant in charge of all the other household servants (v. 5) without conflict or problem indicates their for Joseph and his treatment of them. This was due to the Lord s blessing. Is it possible for God to use an to carry out His will? (v. 5) Why was Potiphar s food not in Joseph s authority? Was it Egyptian separation, fear of poisoning, or responsibility of another servant? Scripture does not elaborate. Joseph s description as well-built and handsome (v. 6) are nearly identical words describing his mother, Rachel. Responsibility gives us a place to and we can either let others see the Lord or think we deserve the attention and perks. Joseph responds to Potiphar s wife with a profession response: (1) Potiphar me; (2) it would be evil against him; (3) it would be sin against God. She was persistent. He was consistent. Summary: Despite challenging circumstances, including an imperfect family, betrayal, and temptation, Joseph served God faithfully. do? How have you practiced James 4:7, Therefore submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Thank God for the ways of escape (1 Cor. 10:13) he has provided. Blanks: four, favor, authority, respect, unbeliever, ritual, shine, trusts
November 2, 2014 Overcome Being Forgotten Scripture Passages: Genesis 39:21-23, 40:5-8,20-23 Share about a time when you agreed to meet someone, and one of you forgot. How did you feel? Tell about a time when someone forgot a promise. How did you move forward in that relationship? Review: Despite challenging life circumstances, including an imperfect family, betrayal, and temptation, Joseph served God faithfully. God expects us to live beyond our circumstances. Preview: Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt. There the Lord blessed, and Potiphar trusted Joseph and gave him authority. Joseph was tempted by Potiphar s wife. When he resisted, she accused Joseph who was imprisoned. There in prison, again we note that the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and the warden granted Joseph favor (v. 21). God had not Joseph. Like Potiphar previously, the did not bother with anything under Joseph s authority (v. 23). The cupbearer and baker were placed in Joseph s care by the captain of the guard Potiphar (v. 4). You would want someone you could to care for Pharaoh s servants. There was a strong belief in Egyptian and Hebrew cultures that dreams had, often revealing a glimpse of the future. You would be bothered by dreams if you did not understand the meaning (vv. 5-8). Loss of access to was a problem for them in prison. Joseph s question (v. 8) expected a answer. He gives God credit for interpretation and offers his service. Following interpretation of the cupbearer s dream, Joseph asks him to mention him to Pharaoh (40:14), but the cupbearer his promise (40:23) until Pharaoh s need for an interpreter comes up later. Summary: Despite being mistreated by family, tempted by the boss s wife, and forgotten by the cupbearer, Joseph continued to serve God faithfully even in prison. And the Lord blessed what he did. do? How have you served faithfully even when no one noticed? How have you continued to treat people well, even when they have mistreated you? How has God blessed you even when you don t deserve it? Blanks: forgotten, warden, trust, meaning, interpreters, positive, forgot
November 9, 2014 Overcome Hard Times Scripture Passage: Genesis 41:28-36,46-49 Share how God helped you through hard times or difficult circumstances. (Or ask pairs to share this.) How can we prepare for unexpected hard times or difficult circumstances? Review: Despite challenging circumstances, including an imperfect family, betrayal, temptation, and being forgotten, Joseph served God faithfully. God expects us to live beyond our circumstances. Preview: In prison, Joseph gave Pharaoh s cupbearer an interpretation of his dream, but the cupbearer forgot to speak a word about Joseph to Pharaoh until Pharaoh had a similar need. In 41:16, Joseph points to God as the source of dream interpretation for Pharaoh. How often do we take for an ability that was given to us by God? Pharaoh s dreams were of seven lean cows eating seven fat cows and seven thin heads of grain swallowing up seven full heads. The dreams told of abundance followed by severe. Keep in mind that Joseph is in the very where severe famine is coming. Joseph speaks boldly about enlisting a discerning and wise man (v. 33): one with, understanding, and an ability to lead constructively. A of the harvest was necessary because of the severity of the coming famine. Storing grain in the cities (v. 35) will make it, easier to gather, and easier to disburse when and where needed. Pharaoh recognized that God had made this known to Joseph and made him administrator at age 30, after Joseph had been in slavery and prison in Egypt for years. Summary: God did not expect Joseph to walk through the trials or the coming hard times alone. God walked with Joseph guiding him and blessing him, Egypt, and others including his own family. do? Thank God for seeing you through hard times in the past. Ask for presence through the present. Blanks: credit, famine, country, insight, fifth, protected, 13
November 16, 2014 Overcome Bitterness Scripture Passage: Genesis 45:3-11 How has God helped you restore a strained or bitter relationship? (Could be on an index card.) Have you ever held a grudge against someone? How did it make you feel? When someone has wronged you, what did you do to restore the relationship? Review: Despite challenging circumstances, including an imperfect family, betrayal, temptation, and hard times, Joseph served God faithfully. God expects us to live beyond our circumstances. Preview: God provided Joseph an interpretation for Pharaoh s dreams that gave warning of a severe famine. Pharaoh made Joseph chief administrator to help Egypt (and his own family) through the hard times. Reflecting back, it is easy to see this was God s plan all along in order to save His people. Joseph sternly tests his brothers about their (gold in sacks) and (to Jacob and Benjamin) in prior verses. The brothers pass the tests. 44:30-31a gives Judah s response: So if I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us he will die. Joseph reveals himself (vv. 3-4). Joseph likely looked and acted Egyptian. Saying, the one you sold into Egypt would have been positive that he was Joseph. No one else (even Benjamin) would know that fact. Don t be worried or angry: Joseph reassured them but quickly points to plan in it all (v. 5). It was not you who sent me here, but God (v. 6). God uses our circumstances for his purposes. Joseph did not say, I told you so related to his early. Instead he points to God s way through hard times. God will assure Jacob in a dream (46:2-4), but likely all remembered those early dreams of Joseph. Settle in the land of Goshen: great land for flocks and herds. There are family members (46:26) who will multiply into a huge nation while in Egypt. Become destitute (v. 11): instead of becoming poor and starving, they will treated like. Summary: Despite challenging circumstances, including an imperfect family, betrayal, and temptation, hard times, and potential for bitterness, Joseph served God faithfully. do? What can you do to avoid bitterness? What relationships need God s help as you work through bitterness? Blanks: honesty, loyalty, proof, God s, dreams, 66, royalty
November 23, 2014 Overcome an Earthly Mindset Scripture Passage: Genesis 50:15-21 What can you do to live life without regrets? What would an earthly mindset look like? On the board or tear sheet: Draw a line down the middle. Write earthly on the left and heavenly on the right. Brainstorm attitudes and actions for each of the mindsets. Write them in that column. Review: Despite challenging circumstances, including an imperfect family, betrayal, temptation, hard times, and potential for bitterness, Joseph served God faithfully. God expects the same of us. Preview: Jacob (Israel), his sons, family, possession, and livestock all moved to Egypt and settled into Goshen. After living 17 years (47:28), he calls Joseph and makes him swear to bury him in the Canaan family tomb. Before dying he blessed his sons. Then he died leading to concern by Joseph s brothers. After mourning and the funeral in Canaan, everyone returns to Egypt despite being years past the predicted end of the famine. The brothers recognize their sin and the fact that it is worth of punishment, despite Joseph s communication of forgiveness. They realize they are now with a very powerful man (v. 15). Sent a message (v. 16): Were they too afraid to appear in person? Or just responding to? Before he died (v. 17): Did Joseph or his brothers ever tell Israel how Joseph got to? Joseph wept (v. 17b): Joseph recognized their fear and earthly mindset. This is a test of Joseph s own. Brothers came, bowed down (v. 18): This echoes Joseph s teenage. In the place of God (v. 19): Joseph gives perspective. God can use intent and plans for good purposes (v. 20). Joseph reassures his brothers even of his care for their (v. 21). Summary: Despite challenging circumstances, including an imperfect family, betrayal, and temptation, hard times, potential for bitterness, and potential for an earthly mindset, Joseph served God faithfully. do? In what current circumstances is a shift to a heavenly mindset needed? Pray and ask God to help. Blanks: 12, alone, custom, Egypt, mindset, dreams, heavenly, evil, families
November 30, 2014 Ministry in the Face of Mental Illness Scripture Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:2-7 What is a Christian response to those who are suffering from depression and mental illness? Who is suffering from physical or mental illness and could benefit from your encouragement and comfort? Stop to pray for them now and make plans for action. When have you been comforted by God or others? Thank God for being our source of comfort and for the presence and encouragement of others. Review/preview: Paul founded the church in Corinth. His relationship was up and down. He made a painful visit then sent a letter. Afterwards he wrote 2 Corinthians in response to their repentance and to encourage continued healing and relationship restoration. Grace and peace (v. 2): common greeting for Paul s letters. Grace is unmerited favor of God granted to sinful mankind. Peace is more than freedom from, but removal of sin and hostility toward God achieved through grace and the atonement (at-one-ment). Mental illness can be a desperate longing for. Even with the help of medical treatment, the root of wholeness and the peace longed for can be found in a relationship with Christ. Father (v. 3): We can call God, Father, because of. Father of mercies (v. 3) : As opposed to idols and gods of other religions, God is caring and approachable. He offers mercy giving us what we don t. Comfort (v. 4): Paul uses the word comfort in various forms times. Affliction (v. 4): If anyone could share about afflictions and God s comfort, it would be. Sufferings of Christ overflow (v. 5): Our hope, help, and comfort come from Christ, knowing he took our place on the. Our physical or mental suffering will never be a match for the comfort extended to us by God. We are afflicted (v. 6): Paul offer s praise for God s comfort. Same sufferings (v. 6): The was possible because Paul suffered much. Share in sufferings, comfort (v. 7): God nothing, whether good, bad, or ugly. Summary: God desires to use our experiences to enable us to encourage and meet the needs of those who are struggling with physical and mental illness. do? How can you help someone experiencing physical or mental illness this week? Pray for the person and make plans to act. Blanks: strife, peace, Jesus, deserve, nine, Paul, cross, personal, church, wastes