Awkward Saints

Note: This is an archived version of the page from stthomaschurch.org.uk related to St Thomas Sheffield.

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Entity: St Thomas Sheffield

Source: stthomaschurch.org.uk

Source URL: http://www.stthomaschurch.org.uk/2sundayresource/september2001.shtml

Archive URL: http://web.archive.org/web/20020929135541/http://www.stthomaschurch.org.uk:80/2sundayresource/september2001.shtml

Archive Datetime: 2002-09-29T13:55:41

HOW TO USE THESE NOTES These notes are designed as a resource to help you further apply Mike’s teaching on Joseph to your Christian life and walk. They relate directly to the sermon Mike preached at the 2nd Sunday whole church celebration so you may find it helpful to get that tape as well (order via the Church Office). The notes are meant to be flexible for you to adapt and use as appropriate, but of course not as a substitute for the text itself. Some suggestions of how you can use them… 1. As an aid to personal Bible study 2. As leader’s notes as you prepare to lead a Bible study / discussion in your small group or cluster 3. As notes everyone has in the small group My own personal recommendation is 1. and / or 2. When it comes to the UP, IN and OUT section it might be best to use these questions in personal reflection as you prepare, but you might want to offer some or all of them for discussion within the group as well. Other questions are listed as ‘small group application’ to help stimulate accountable discussion within the group.
JOSEPH SERMON STUDY NOTES for SMALL GROUPS / CLUSTERS Mike Breen - September 2001 — WEEK ONE - Prosperity and Grace (Genesis 39 & 50) The life of Joseph is a story of the triumph of God’s grace over impossible odds. As the narrative unfolds, a dual theme emerges again and again · God’s blessing through adversity, and · God’s ability to turn everything to the good of those who love him Two key verses that articulate these themes very well are Gen 39:2 and Gen 50:20, 21 The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered. (Gen 39:2) ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured then and spoke kindly to them.’ (Gen 50:20, 21) Like many others in Scripture, Gen 39:2 teaches us that God’s blessing brings biblical prosperity; Gen 50: 20, 21 reveals that God is able to make all things work together for good. To understand the importance of these themes and the depth of their relevance we need to recognise the circumstances in which God worked them out. Joseph’s background Joseph had a passive father and persecuting brothers. Jacob’s passivity as a parent meant that he did not challenge or effectively discipline his children. This led to ungodly and unruly behaviour, and finally developed into a disaster for all of them as a family. Compare Jacob’s response to Simeon and Levi’s lawless behaviour in Gen 34:30 with his response to his sons’ hatred of Joseph. (Gen 37:11) Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, ‘You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.’ (Gen 34:30) His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (Gen 37:11) On the one hand he fails to discipline, and on the other he fails to do anything other than put Joseph in the way of trouble by sending him unprotected amongst potential persecutors. Added to this, Jacob reveals his utter folly as a parent by demonstrating favouritism towards Joseph, and a corresponding neglect of his other brothers. There is little explanation offered for Jacob’s passivity as a parent. Was he preoccupied with the affairs of an emerging nation ? Was he taken up with the concerns of having to manage multiple relationships among his wives ? Was he just self-centred and looking for an easy life ? Possibly all of these explanations give some insight into the situation. Whichever way we look at it, the seeds of disaster were being sown. The Bible, and particularly the teaching of Jesus, seems to indicate that passivity in relationships is not an option. We are called to be honest and open, challenging where necessary, and actively seeking the promotion of right relationships. The Scriptures abound with this teaching, but perhaps the life of Jesus itself speaks most clearly of the way we should conduct ourselves. Jesus never shrunk from honest words spoken in love, and taught honesty and directness in communication. · ‘If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ’every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’’ (Matt 18:15,16) · Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No’, no, or you will be condemned. (Jas 5:12) · Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love….speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Eph 4:2, 15) Application UP Pray for parents and families in the church IN Parenting issues: is our behaviour as parents passive, rather than active and challenging ? If so, what are we going to do about it ? Do we come from families like Joseph’s ? If so, encourage one another that God is able to turn your negative family experiences into a positive outcome. Permissive personal relationships: Do we leave behaviour unchallenged amongst our friends because we are afraid of the consequences, and the reactions of those that we challenge ? OUT Does our witness involve a testimony about God developing wholesome relationships and an active accountable community ? — WEEK TWO - Prejudice (Gen 37: 4, 8, 11, 28 - 35) An aspect of Joseph’s dysfunctional family background was the favouritism of Jacob towards certain of his children, and the consequent problems this caused. Joseph’s brothers hated him When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him…..His brothers said to him, ‘Do you intend to reign over us ? Will you actually rule us ?’ And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said….His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (Gen 37: 4, 8, 11) The brothers did not keep their feelings inside, but rather expressed them in action towards Joseph. First they planned to kill him, but through the influence of one of the more merciful brothers, finally sold him. They then lied to their father and allowed him to live with the grief of believing his favoured son was dead. So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, ‘The boy isn’t there ! Where can I turn now ? Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the ornamented robe back to their father and said, ‘We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.’ He recognised it and said, ‘It is my son’s robe ! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces. Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. ‘No,’ he said, ‘in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son.’ So his father wept for him. (Gen 37: 28-35) Although these circumstances are extreme, and the behaviour more cruel than what we might expect to experience today, the attitudes and issues at the heart of this family often emerge in our own experience. 1 Security The brothers’ security was undermined by the favouritism of the father, but rather than looking to God for their solace and strength, they cultivated this insecurity by hating their brother, and colluding with one another in their hatred. 2 Significance Joseph’s dream seemed to indicate that the brothers were of less importance than Joseph. Joseph’s prideful (and Jacob’s foolish) behaviour only added to these beliefs. The brothers’ feelings of insignificance were expressed by choosing to make Joseph smaller than them, rather than recognising that they were all on the same level. They chose the path of criticism, hatred and persecution so that they would feel bigger and better than Joseph, rather than the path of faith, positive thinking and a recognition of equality before God . 3 Selfish The brothers chose a self centred solution rather than a sacrificial approach. They did not excuse their brother for his youth and immaturity, but rather acted selfishly to remove him. In other words they saw Joseph as their problem, rather than themselves. Application To what extent do insecurity, insignificance and selfishness influence your relationships with others ? UP Pray for those who persecute you. Choose not to hate them. Bless them. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ (Rom 12:17-21) IN Trust in God for his security and for your significance Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.(Rom 8:14-16) 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. (Ps 40:2) OUT Choose a path of godliness in your relationships and conversations that does not collude with criticism, prejudice or persecution — WEEK THREE - Pride (Gen 41: 15-16; Gen 50:19-21) Joseph was a proud young man. His father’s favouritism towards him did not challenge this attitude, but fostered it. Nevertheless, like you and I, Joseph needed to carry the responsibility for his pride himself. Pride in Joseph led to… · Blindness. His visions, dreams, actions and attitude showed that Joseph saw himself as the centre of the universe. God had clearly given the revelation, but his interpretation and application was undoubtedly self-centred. Joseph could see only himself and no-one else. · Boasting. Joseph’s problem was not so much that he thought he was special - everyone is special - or that he thought he had a particular calling from God - everyone has a God given destiny. His problem was that he seemed to take credit for what God was going to do. His lack of humility in sharing his revelations seems to indicate that he thought there was something particularly special about him for which he could personally take credit. By the end of his life we see a man who gives all of the credit for his special life to the grace of God. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no-one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’ (Gen 41:15-16) But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God ? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Gen 50:19-21) The problem about pride is that God cannot use it and so therefore chooses to resist it Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourself with humility towards one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ (1 Pet 5: 5) Joseph found his path to destiny apparently blocked. · Blocked God wants us to be like him - self giving, not self serving, generously giving rather than greedily taking. He knows that if we take credit for his work ourselves then in the end this will lead us to futility and sin, and so he works against pride in our life, so as to produce humility, and in doing this a channel for his blessing. Application UP Notice how much praise is given to God when you read the Psalms. Do you give God credit for all of the blessings of your life ? IN To what extent does self-centredness spoil our relationships. Try not to talk about society as a whole, others in general. Try to be honest with yourself. OUT Is God blocking your progress in any area of your life so that he can make you a more effective witness by fashioning you into the person he wants you to be ? — WEEK FOUR - Prosperity and Power for Good (Gen 39:2 & Gen 50: 20, 21) The twin themes of Joseph’s story are :- 1 Prosperity: God’s blessing through adversity (Gen 39:2) 2 Power for good: God’s ability and desire to turn everything to the good of those who love him (Gen 50: 21, 22) 1 Prosperity Christians often find this word embarrassing or inappropriate, and yet the Bible makes it clear that God wants to prosper his people. · The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity - in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground - in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but will borrow from none. (Dt 28:11,12) · Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you. (Lk 6:38) · Peter said to him, ‘We have left everything to follow you !’ ‘I tell you the truth Jesus replied, no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.’ (Mk 10:28-30) God’s intention is to bless his children, first with all that they need, and second with all that would demonstrate to them his loving care and joyful desire to give to his children. God is a Father who loves to give. However, prosperity comes at a price - the rocky path of obedience. God will take us through difficulty and trial to make us people able to receive blessing. He will use experience to challenge our desire to grasp and control so that with open hands we can receive more and give more. · A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Prov 11:25) Power for good God’s grace is such that it will persevere through every twist and turn of life and through every hardship and hurt to fashion from our experience goodness. Though God is not responsible for evil and sin because he is sovereign he is able to turn every circumstance to be of benefit to us. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28) Application UP Have you tried praying for biblical prosperity, knowing that God may have to change you for you to receive it? Try the prayer of Jabez as a starting point. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request. (1 Chron 4:10) IN Are you jealous of others’ blessings, or do you celebrate the grace that others have received ? OUT Do you have a testimony of God prospering you, or turning your difficulties to blessings, pain to joy ?

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