In this Sunday's passage the story of Joseph seems to be bizarrely interrupted by the sordid tale of Judah, Jacob's fourth son. It contains sexual immorality, deception, and injustice. Why is this account in the Bible? Ultimately it's a story of glorious hope for those caught up in shameful sin.
"God has a wonderful plan for your life." Has someone ever told you that? Is it true? I guess it depends on how you define "wonderful." What happens when God's plan for us doesn't seem very wonderful? We'll consider these questions as we begin the account of Joseph's life this Sunday.
*Source: Pastor Kevin DeYoung’s sermon on Genesis 37 at Christ Covenant Church
We begin our new spring/summer sermon series in the concluding portion of Genesis. We'll recap the overall message of Genesis as we prepare this season to hear and grow from God's word through the story of Joseph.
"Everything will be alright." Are you sure? This Sunday we come to the conclusion of the focus on Jacob's life in Genesis. You might think that this story would end well--Jacob is in the Promised Land, reconciled with his brother, and grown in his faith and character. Instead we find betrayal and death. We'll recap chapters 25-35 and consider the significance of this sad conclusion.
What is the purpose of your life? After a disastrous stay in Shechem, the Lord calls Jacob to finish his journey back home to Bethel. This is where God first revealed himself to Jacob and where Jacob first worshiped the Lord. We see in this passage at the end of Jacob's journey that worship is the ultimate goal of his life and our lives. What do we learn about how God calls us to worship him?
In our journey through Genesis, we come this Sunday to one of the darkest and most difficult passages in all of Scripture. It is here we see that the Lord knows the depth of our depravity and yet his purpose of grace runs even deeper. This passage is a warning but also a comfort that the Lord will save and heal his people no matter what.
We are all prone to self-reliance, especially when times get tough. In this Sunday's passage, Jacob comes to the climactic conflict of his life--facing his brother Esau. Yet it is Jacob's newfound weakness, not his strength, that enables him to find deliverance and reconciliation.
Brother Daniel leads us back into our sermon series in Genesis this Sunday. We'll consider through Jacob's wrestling with an angels, how we can persevere with the Lord when doubts or difficulties come.
The Christian life isn't always easy. We face doubts, temptations, the consequences of our own sin--as well as trials, opposition, and consequences of others' sin or just the broken world we live in. Sometimes it's hard to keep going. Our passage this Sunday is a reminder of the faithfulness of God to us as we walk with him—that He will keep his promise to save and preserve us, his people.
Who is responsible for our success? How does our work relate with God's work? This Sunday's sermon text might seem foreign to us. It's an ancient business deal involving herds, breeding, and a little superstition, too. And yet at the foundation we'll see two men not unlike us today who are striving for material success no matter the cost.
This Sunday's passage is another bizarre and incredibly sad one. We'll learn from Jacob's two wives--Leah and Rachel--who each experience an unfulfilled longing for their deepest desire. And we'll see how God can bless despite even the worst kind of mess.
Scripture is clear that the Lord leads his people into difficult circumstances to grow our faith in him. Do you remember a past faith-refining season in your own life? This Sunday's passage is a particularly bizarre and painful expression of that. We'll observe both the Lord's kind providence and his refining discipline in Jacob's life and apply it to our own lives.
Our passage this week finds Jacob in the consequences of his sin: alone, running for his life, and with an uncertain future. Perhaps you can relate to some or all these feelings in your own life. Yet it is in this dark, lonely place where God graciously meets Jacob--and delights to meet us--with his amazing grace.
Favoritism. Greed. Deception. Despair. Our passage is full of ugliness—all within one family, and the family of promise no less! God's blessing perseveres even in the midst of this mess, and our messes, too. This Sunday, Genesis 27 offers us a strong warning against sin and a consolation of God's undeterred plan of blessing for his people.
How do you persevere amid the ups and downs in life? God's word consistently points us to his presence with us. Often we may ask God to be with us, but what does this really mean? And how does his presence practically help us? In Sunday's passage, we'll learn the significance of God's presence with us as we learn from the ups and downs of Isaac's life.
We all have choices to make, but how do we make sure we make the right ones? This Sunday we begin a new sermon series in Genesis 25-35, following "the generations of Isaac." In this new section, we'll observe how the Lord preserves his redemption plan through his chosen family. We'll see God's grace in his own sovereign choice, while also the significance of our own choices to follow him.
This Sunday, we come to the end of the "Roots of Our Redemption" series. The account of Abraham's death includes opportunities to look back at what we have learned in Genesis and to look forward at God's plan for history. Abraham's death reminds us of our own fleeting moments on this earth. It causes us to wrestle with our own life's purpose. And it zooms us out to see our true place in history with a God's-eye view.
The end of Abraham and Sarah's lives will mark the conclusion to our series in Genesis. In this week's passage, Sarah dies first and Abraham grieves his beloved wife. You might think the message of this passage is how to grieve and cope with death, but it is not. There is a much greater message about the cost and commitment to truly believe God's promises, even when they are not yet fulfilled. Are we truly willing to give our entire lives for something--and someone--we haven't seen?
In our text this Sunday, Abraham faces the test of his life. How much does he really trust the Lord? Will he really put the Lord first, over even the dearest parts of his life--even his own beloved son? This passage raises numerous questions for us: Does God test us? If so, how can we prepare so we can pass the test like Abraham did? Join us as we explore the roots of our redemption in this infamous story.
Finally. In Genesis 21, the Lord finally fulfills his promise to Abraham and Sarah "at the very time [He] had promised." God keeps his promises! In this week's passage, the sovereign, faithful, loving-kindness of the Lord rings out--but not just for Abraham and Sarah, even for Hagar and Ishmael, too. On Sunday, we'll be encouraged by God's character and examine how can we grow in trusting his promises.
