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

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Sermon Series: The Gospel of Joseph
Sermon Text: Genesis 42
Sermon Title: Five Marks of Phony Repentance
Big Idea: True repentance is seen in how we have changed, not just what we say.
Sermon Points:
1. Need without Brokenness
2. Profession of Faith without the Action of Faith
3. Guilt without Self-Examination
4. Recognition without Ownership
5. Big Talk without Change

Daily Devotional Guide
Imagine a man in a car who has a blowout. It doesn’t take long for him to realize there is a problem so he pulls over on the side of the busy highway to put on a new tire. “This problem should be resolved in no time,” he tells himself confidently.

Before he exits the car, he calls his wife to tell her that he’ll be late. Once he gets out, someone asks what the problem is and if he needs help. “I’m good. It’s just a flat. I’ll have it changed in no time.” Overcome by the heat of the day, the man gets back into his air conditioned car where he posts for all of social media to know that he’s got a tire problem but he’s about to take care of it. 

The man then decides to recline in his seat before heading back out. He wakes up hours later to a tow truck driver knocking on his window. The tire never got changed.

For many people, repentance works like this. There is recognition of the need for change. There is talk about changing. Some of that talk is even quite bold. But nothing ever changes. Such was the case for Joseph’s brothers in this week’s passage. We’re a lot like them.

True repentance is a Holy Spirit initiated change of heart that is displayed through a Holy Spirit empowered change of action. Anything short of that is phony. As you read, listen, and pray this week, ask God to help you to be truly repentant and to love Jesus for who He is, not just what He can give you.

Monday - John 13
Tuesday - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Wednesday - 2 Corinthians 5
Thursday - Matthew 13:1-43
Friday - 1 John 5:1-5
Saturday - Genesis 43
Sunday - Genesis 44