DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Sermon Series: The Gospel of Joseph
Sermon Text: Genesis 45-46
Sermon Title: A Field Guide for When Life Gets Difficult
Big Idea: God is good, not evil. God is sovereign, not passive.
Sermon Points:
1. No matter how bad it gets, God is always working for the good of His people.
2. Faith is only as good as its object.
3. God cares about families.
4. Forgiveness isn’t just said, it’s shown.

Daily Devotional Guide
Some time ago, a friend gave me a little book called The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook. The authors weren’t playing around on that “worst case scenario” phrase. If you ever find yourself about to get electrocuted while running from Iranian alligators, this is the book for you.

This week’s passage sort of functions like that book. No, there are no step-by-step guides for strangely specific tragedies we might find ourselves in. Rather, this passage tells us a lot about the character of God. When the road gets difficult, it’s not always enough to know what to do. You have to know who to look to and why. That’s what this week’s passage helps us with. 

God is not evil. He is not passive. He is more holy, powerful, and loving than we can imagine. Nothing demonstrates that quite like his ability to bring a Perfect Savior from a broken family.

Monday - Isaiah 55:1-13
Tuesday - Ephesians 4:1-32
Wednesday - Ephesians 5:1-33
Thursday - Colossians 3:1-17
Friday - Colossians 3:18-25
Saturday - Romans 13:1-14
Sunday - Hebrews 11:1-40

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE


Sermon Series: The Gospel of Joseph

Sermon Text: Genesis 43-44

Sermon Title: Good News for the Unqualified

Big Idea: An imperfect son points to a perfect Savior. 

Sermon Points:

1. The Unqualified Man Who Finally Stepped Up

2. The Unqualified Man Who Kept His Word

3. The Unqualified Man Who Took On the Burdens of Others


Daily Devotional Guide

Shame is one of the most powerful tools of the Enemy. Satan knows that he has no say on God's people but that doesn't mean that he leaves us alone. Knowing that our future is secure in Christ, Satan will often use our past to distract us. 


Some modern psychologists will say that our biggest problem isn't sin but rather the fact that we think we sin. Just stop feeling bad about what you do, they preach, and most of your problems will be resolved. This clearly doesn't align with scripture. We really do have a sin problem and God really does hate sin. But thankfully, God also really loves His people. 


There is not a Christian on earth with a perfect past. You may or may not have had moments in your life that mirror Judah's evil. Whether you ran with gangs or were a church kid, you are far more like Judah than you think you are. Somewhere in your past, there is shame. That's true of all Christians. So is this. We have a shameful past but a sovereign Savior. 


We are not saved by our works but rather by God's grace. And God's grace doesn't stop once we get saved. The same God who saved us by His grace continues to work through us by His grace. If it were up to our perfect record to qualify us for entrance into God's kingdom and to be used by Him, we would all be in trouble. Christ's perfection, not ours, is our qualification. 


Are you unqualified? 


By your own merit, of course you are!


But take heart in the good news of the gospel. 


Christ died for the unqualified. 


If God can renew and work through Judah, imagine what he can do for you. 


Monday - John 14:1-31

Tuesday - John 15:1-27

Wednesday - Acts 26:1-32

Thursday - Ephesians 1:1-14

Friday - Ephesians 2:1-10

Saturday - Ephesians 4:1-32

Sunday - Ephesians 5:1-21