Finding Purpose in Life's Unexpected Turns
Summary
In my sermon, I discussed the life of Joseph, a biblical figure whose life took many unexpected turns, or what we might call "off script" moments. I emphasized that even though we may not understand why certain things happen in our lives, God has a plan for each of us. I also highlighted the importance of not letting our past define our future, acknowledging that life is full of challenges and pitfalls, and the dangers of harboring bitterness, jealousy, and anger. I concluded by reminding everyone that God has a plan for their lives, even when it seems like everything is going wrong.
Key Takeaways:
- Our past does not have to define our future. We all have moments in our lives that seem "off script," but these do not have to dictate the rest of our lives. [ 34:19]
- Life is full of challenges and pitfalls. Even when we are following Jesus passionately, we will still encounter difficulties. [ 01:00:52]
- Bitterness, jealousy, and anger are non-biblical attitudes. These emotions can lead to poor decisions and should be avoided. [ 01:06:21]
- God has a plan for our lives. Even when it seems like everything is going wrong, God is still working in our lives. [ 01:11:42]
- The story of Joseph is a testament to God's ability to use even the most difficult circumstances for good. [ 36:21]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 37 [34:19]
2. Genesis 33 [54:11]
3. Genesis 35 [58:06]
Observation Questions:
1. What are the key events that happened in Joseph's life as described in Genesis 37?
2. How did Jacob's family react to Joseph's dreams in Genesis 37?
3. What was the significance of the order in which Jacob arranged his family in Genesis 33?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Joseph in Genesis 37 reflect the theme of God's sovereignty despite human actions?
2. What does the story of Jacob arranging his family in Genesis 33 reveal about the values and priorities of their family?
3. How does the death of Rachel in Genesis 35 impact the dynamics of Jacob's family and Joseph's life?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Joseph's story, when have you felt like your life was "off script"? How did you see God's hand in that situation?
2. Considering the favoritism shown to Joseph by Jacob, how can you ensure you are treating those around you with fairness and equality?
3. In what ways can you relate to Joseph's brothers' jealousy and anger? How can you address these feelings in a biblical way?
4. How can you apply the lesson of God's sovereignty in Joseph's life to your current circumstances?
5. What steps can you take this week to trust God's plan for your life, even when it seems "off script"?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Off-Script Life
Life often doesn't go as we plan, and we find ourselves in situations we never anticipated. This is what we call an "off-script" life. Joseph's life was filled with off-script moments, from being sold into slavery to being falsely accused and imprisoned. Yet, God used these off-script moments to shape Joseph and fulfill His divine plan. Embrace the off-script moments in your life, for they are often the times when God is working the most. [07:40]
Proverbs 16:9 - "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent off-script moment in your life. How did you see God working in that situation?
Day 2: The Power of Forgiveness
Bitterness, jealousy, and anger are non-biblical attitudes that can lead to destructive decisions. Joseph's brothers were consumed by these emotions, leading them to sell him into slavery. Yet, Joseph chose to forgive them, demonstrating the transformative power of forgiveness. Let go of any bitterness, jealousy, or anger you may be holding onto and choose forgiveness instead. [01:06:21]
Ephesians 4:31-32 - "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive? How can you take steps towards forgiveness today?
Day 3: God's Plan in the Pits
Life is full of pits - moments of hardship, pain, and despair. Yet, even in these pits, God has a plan. Joseph spent years in a pit, but God used this time to prepare him for a greater purpose. When you find yourself in a pit, remember that God has a plan and is working for your good. [58:16]
Psalm 40:1-3 - "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."
Reflection: Are you currently in a pit? How can you trust in God's plan during this time?
Day 4: The Impact of Favoritism
Favoritism can lead to division and resentment, as seen in Joseph's family. Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph caused his brothers to hate him, leading to a series of tragic events. As believers, we are called to love and value all people equally, avoiding favoritism. [39:48]
James 2:1 - "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism."
Reflection: Have you ever shown favoritism or experienced it? How did it impact your relationships?
Day 5: God's Plan for Your Life
Despite the twists and turns of life, God has a plan for you. Joseph's life was filled with hardship and pain, yet God used it all for His glory. No matter what you're going through, remember that God has a plan for your life and He is working all things for your good. [01:11:42]
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Reflection: How have you seen God's plan unfold in your life? How can you trust in His plan during uncertain times?
Quotes
1. "If you were to write a script for your life, most likely would not involve being born into a totally dysfunctional family, being hated by your brothers, being thrown into a pit, being sold into slavery, being falsely accused of rape, being thrown into prison and forgotten for some 13 years. Like you wouldn't write any of that into the script of your life. And that's kind of how we came up with this title for this whole series. As we were talking about it, we kept using that phrase. Like, man, Joseph's whole life was off script." - 33:29
2. "God had an incredible plan for his life even with all the twists and turns and dysfunctional family and all the things. And there must have been times when Joseph was like, what is going on here? What is happening to me? I'm in a far off land. I haven't seen my family like all this stuff. And I come back to Genesis 50-20 right at the end where Joseph says, all these things that you meant for evil against me, God ultimately used it for good." - 01:09:25
3. "God has a plan for your life. And that plan most likely to you will feel like you're off script a lot of the time. Just like Joseph, but there is a God in heaven who knows you, knows me, loves you, loves me, loves so much that he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sins." - 01:09:25
4. "Your past should never define who you are today, and I actually, I probably would have restated that, but I already had it in the notes. Of course, our past is going to have something with who we are today, I think the better way to say that would be though this, our past does not have to define our future, right?" - 58:16
5. "God has a plan for your life. I am not talking about health, wealth, prosperity and destiny. There is one destiny that you and I have and it's a person, his name is Jesus. That's our destiny. That's all we get promise. And if you have some health and wealth and prosperity along the way, God bless you. But listen, I am telling you there is one thing and one thing only that is important and it is, do you know Jesus and are you living your life for Jesus?" - 58:16
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?