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• Discussing the name of Jesus |
• Children's discussion about what makes them happy (scoring a goal in soccer, playing outside) |
• Introduction to learning about Joseph and his characteristics |
• Big idea: God is with us even when things don't look good |
• Prayer time led by an elder, Dave |
• Congregation prayer and thanksgiving for various aspects of church life and community |
• Prayers for a congregation member diagnosed with breast cancer and her family |
• Prayers for students, including those studying elsewhere, for academic success and contribution to Christian community |
• Prayers for shut-ins and those unable to attend church due to physical limitations |
• Prayers for recovery from flooding and heavy rain damage |
• Prayers for troubled war zones around the world, particularly in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine |
• Reading of Genesis 37:12-35, a story about Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers |
• The sovereignty of God and its implications on human experience |
• The tension between God's sovereignty and human suffering |
• The concept of "God hints" in biblical narratives to reveal God's presence amidst difficulties |
• The story of Joseph as a case study for finding God in times of trial and hardship |
• The idea that God's hiddenness can be a challenge to faith, but not necessarily incompatible with His sovereignty |
• The importance of focusing on God's promises and vision for a brighter tomorrow |
• The impact of what we choose to focus our minds on in enduring suffering and thriving in trial |
• The concept of "meanwhile" from verse 36 of the text, which highlights the idea that something else is happening alongside Joseph's story |
• The parallel between Jacob's experience and the reminder that even in darkness, God is sovereign over all creation |
• The nature of God's rule and reign in the world |
• The challenge of seeing or understanding how God is working, but knowing that he always is |
• The idea that the absence of evidence does not mean God is absent |
• An analogy to complex math being unknowable to an individual, but still complete and perfect |
• A caution against assuming God's absence due to lack of visibility or understanding |
• The role of the deceiver, tempter, or Satan in challenging faith |
• Joseph's story as an example of external challenges to faith |
• External challenges come from people like Joseph's brothers who mock and try to undermine one's faith |
• Internal challenges come from within oneself and can manifest as doubts and questions about God's presence and work |
• Examples of external voices that challenge faith, such as Job's wife trying to get him to give up hope and curse God |
• The existence of people who are hopeless and only feel better about their hopelessness, implying a broader societal context of despair. |
• Desire for community is perverted and corrupted by sin |
• We bring others into our corruption and project hopelessness and nihilism onto them |
• We can perpetuate this cycle without external influence, including Satan |
• We are capable of being our own challenge to remembering God's promises |
• External and internal temptations and forces contribute to forgetting God's promises |
• In times of pain and suffering, it is easy to forget God's promises and feel abandoned or unlovable |
• The speaker discusses the idea that people often feel a sense of abandonment by God when they need him most |
• The speaker describes this as a disquieting symptom and suggests that it may be a sign of spiritual danger rather than a lack of faith in God |
• The speaker notes that people who have experienced great happiness or prosperity can become complacent and forget to seek God's presence |
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with gospel visions and promises of God, especially during times of trouble or chaos |
• The speaker also highlights the need to wrestle with the concept of God's sovereignty in relation to human suffering |
• The importance of remembering and focusing on God beyond current circumstances |
• The concept of "meantime" or "meanwhile", referring to the activity of a sovereign God beyond present time and circumstance |
• Reference to the story of Joseph as an example of this concept |
• Introduction to biblical history, specifically the story of Abraham, to answer questions about the Ishmaelites and Midianites |
• Keturah and the Ishmaelites are descendants of Abraham through Hagar |
• The forefathers of this group are half-brothers and therefore uncles to Jacob |
• This group is second or third cousins to Joseph and his brothers |
• God uses these people for His purposes despite their involvement in questionable activities |
• Ishmael's birth was a result of Sarah trying to take control of God's promise |
• Ishmael would have been considered a secondary heir, but Isaac's birth changes his status |
• Ishmael and Hagar are eventually rejected by Abraham and cast out |
• Genesis 21 story of Abraham and Isaac |
• God's election and ordination of Isaac as the chosen one |
• Ishmael's role as an outsider, but still receiving a promise from God |
• God's common grace extending to all people, including Ishmael |
• Hagar and Ishmael's journey in the wilderness and their encounter with God |
• Connection between Abraham, Ishmael, and the family's relationship with Egypt |
• God's provision for Joseph and Israel during the famine is connected to events from earlier generations |
• God works on multiple levels and timelines simultaneously |
• God is not bound by time or circumstance in His actions and plans |
• Sovereignty means that God knows and ordains all things |
• Everything that happens is a result of God's active and passive will working together to accomplish his purposes |
• Time is not relevant to God, who stands above and apart from it |
• The past, present, and future are eternal and current to God's self |
• God's actions in the present moment may be preparing us for what He will do in the future |
• God's activity in grandparents' lives may have been for the benefit of grandkids |
• God works all things for the good of those who love him, according to Romans 8 |
• All things means past, present, and future events in one's life and the lives of others |
• The same principle is true of people leading up to and flowing out of one's life |
• Historical examples include Joseph's journey to Egypt and the Israelites' journey through Numbers |
• The Israelites are commanded by God to treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them |
• Gideon led the Israelites against the Midianites in a war that lasted seven years |
• Despite being enemies, God used the Midianites to accomplish the saving of his people |
• Jacob is suffering and mourning the loss of his son, refusing comfort from others |
• Jacob's experience of mourning and pain serves as a backdrop for the story of Joseph |
• The Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar in Egypt |
• God is placing Joseph in the right place to save his people when the famine comes |
• Joseph rises from Potiphar's house to Pharaoh's house and becomes second in command over all of Egypt |
• God uses Joseph for the saving of many lives |
• The story began with Abraham's children, Ishmael and Keturah |
• The sovereign God was before even time began |
• God's plan and sovereignty from before time began |
• God's active involvement in the present and past |
• Hope and assurance for the future through God's victory |
• The way to endure suffering with a changed perspective due to understanding of God's plan |
• Bible passage: 1 Peter (specifically, not specified) |
• The blood of Christ is precious and sinless |
• Jesus was chosen before the creation of the world to deal with human suffering and pain |
• God's plan to save humanity is through Jesus Christ, who became sin for us so we might become the righteousness of God |
• Through faith in Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we are raised to eternal life |
• The activity of God in the world is centered on Jesus Christ, who was determined before creation itself to be the ultimate means of redemption |
• God's sovereignty and goodness in all circumstances |
• Remembering God is always present and active, even if not seen or believed |
• Trusting in God's power to do something with one's current situation |
• Living as if God's presence and truth are real, regardless of understanding |
• The importance of worship and prayer in remembering God's presence |
• God's presence and protection in difficult times |
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