THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. Evangelism is an essential part of the life of a Jesus follower. Join us next weekend for SHARING YOUR FAITH on September 28th. This 90-minute workshop will equip you with several simple tools to share the gospel confidently in everyday interactions. Register now.
GROUP VALUES. This September, we’re focusing on the value of an invitation. For many of us, our relationship with God began with an invitation from someone. Take time this week to share key moments of INVITATION from your story. Praise God for the ways he has used others in your relationship with him!
GROW AS A LEADER. This week’s sermon addressed the reality of family dysfunction and painful detours in life. As leaders, it is essential to create space within our groups for people to share difficult things. The first step to creating that environment is doing the work ourselves. Consider adding THE EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY LEADER PODCAST to your toolkit. Pastor Pete Scazzero explores the paradigms and practices leaders need to maintain emotional well-being while serving their church community.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to the third week of our sermon series, EPIC. This week, we follow the story of Joseph and discover how God can transform even our most awful and painful circumstances.
ICEBREAKER
Share about a time when you had an unexpected “detour” in life (a job change, move, relationship change, etc.). Looking back, can you see any good that came from that detour?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read Genesis 50:15-21 aloud.
What stands out to you about the encounter between Joseph and his brothers?
How does Joseph respond to his brothers’ fear and request for forgiveness?
What does Joseph’s response teach us about God?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Jeff Manion continued our EPIC sermon series by sharing Joseph’s story as an important reminder of God’s sovereign faithfulness in unimaginable circumstances. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
Family is often the place where we experience both love and acceptance, as well as betrayal and rejection. How does this realistic understanding of family help us navigate difficult family relationships?
Joseph’s story serves as a reminder that even in the waiting, God is at work. How does this truth challenge our typical response to unwanted experiences or setbacks?
Joseph could’ve checked out while he was in prison. Instead, he chose to remain present to the Lord and the situation. How do you tend to check out during difficult seasons? Why is it more difficult to remain present?
By the end of the story, Joseph names his sons to reflect both his pain and God’s blessing. How can we acknowledge our pain while still recognizing God’s work in our lives?
Through Joseph, God offers undeserved, radical forgiveness to Joseph’s brothers. How does God’s desire to reconcile shape your understanding of forgiveness?
God can use the awful, disastrous moments in our lives to bring about good we cannot see or predict. Can you think of an example from your life when something painful was later used for good?
What’s one specific situation in your life that you need to trust God to do something beautiful when it feels awful or disappointing?
WRAP UP
Joseph’s story of redemption through tragedy points to the greatest redemption story of all: Jesus’s resurrection from the dead. Like Joseph, Jesus was rejected, sold for silver, and later raised up. How does seeing Jesus in Joseph’s story deepen your understanding of God’s redemptive work through Jesus?