Sermons About Joseph
Doing Time (The Prison Test)
Sometimes we find ourselves in painful situations and trying conditions because of poor choices. But like Joseph, even when we do right, God will still often allow us to be tested severely and treated unfairly in order to build His character and perseverance in us. (adapted from Dream to Destiny)
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Blessing, Temptation, and Trust
Joseph is sold as a slave in Egypt. He earns the trust of his master and God's blesses others through Joseph. Joseph also overcomes sexual temptations and maintains integrity in his relationship with God and with others.
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Family Feud
We begin a new series looking at the life of Joseph. 17 year old Joseph is favored by his father, but despised by his 11 brothers. This leads to envy, hatred, and murderous thoughts. Joseph soon finds himself a slave in a foreign land, having been betrayed by his own brothers. And yet, we see that God's hand of providence works to fulfill God's plans despite the evil intentions of the brothers.
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Different Strokes for Different Folks
Sometimes people look at the situation of life that they find themselves in and see how it differs from someone else. Almost inevitably the response is to compare our lives with someone else. Interestingly, we rarely complain that our lives are not like the less fortunate. Few people say, “God, why could you not have made me a poor homeless person with cancer?” More often people say, “God, why could not you have give me a better paying job and fix my health problems?” This in itself is a commentary on the way that we view the gifts of God to us. Today, in the continuing story of Joseph, we see once again that God’s plan for people is different. In his sovereign rule over this world, he does not deal with everyone the same way. The challenge for us is to be content with what God is doing in our lives, knowing that he is bringing about his ultimate purpose, and recognizing that we must live in humble obedience to him.
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What Do You Do When The Bottom Falls Out?
Genesis 37 demonstrates how God worked in the life of Joseph in the midst of trying circumstances. God also works in our lives in ways we often cannot comprehend. Dr. Michael Boys teaches on the 5 ways that God works in our everyday lives. Dr. Michael Boys is the Senior Pastor - Teacher of Bethel Independent Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. Michael holds a Doctor of Ministry degree with an emphasis in preaching from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from The Master's Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministries from Baptist Bible College. He served as Senior Pastor of Bear Valley Church in Tehachapi, California from 1989 to 2002. He and his wife, Christy, joined the Bethel Staff in September of 2002. Michael and Christy have two grown sons: Ryan, married to Lindsay, and Blake married to Bekah.
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Going Strange Places
One of the enduring and encouraging truths in Scripture is that God never leaves us alone. He is always with his children, even though his plan for life may take us through some strange places. Today, in the life of Joseph, we see God taking Jacob to a strange place—Egypt. It is strange because it is taking him away from that land that God had promised him, and it is strange because it is a place that both his father had been told not to go to Egypt. But today we are reminded that God is working out his plan through the mess we call life, even when it takes us to some strange places. And when we are confident that God is working out his plan in our lives, we can live in strange places and wait to see the abundant provision of God.
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The Test of Change
Change is hard. In fact, it is so hard that most people never change, at least for the better. They simply do not want to do the hard work necessary to bring about lasting change. Yet we must understand that God’s purpose for our lives is change. He desires biblical change that comes from bringing our lives into subjection to the lordship of Christ in every area. But God is not interested in just any kind of change. He wants to take us from being self-centered people who live for their own satisfaction to the God-centered people who live for the glory of God. And that change will not come easy. It will be the result of many great works of God’s grace in your life that will bring difficulty and testing. Those tests that come from various people and places will be the opportunity to evaluate the change in your life. Only through testing can you see what has really taken place. Is the change just external, something that is easy to show in times of ease? Or will the change hold up under the stress of life?
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