AfterThoughts: September 8, 2019
September 8, 2019
SERMON SERIES: Genesis: Act III
SERMON TITLE: “God’s Redemption Of Our Scars”
This week, Pastor David concluded the sermon series, "Genesis: Act III" with a look at how God uses our scars.
- Think of a scar (physical or emotional) you still notice, even though the injury was years ago. Would you say that God has redeemed that wound? Why or why not?
- We live in a culture that tells us we can know everything, and if we don’t, we feel slighted. How do you buy in to this “illusion”?
- Joseph’s story teaches us that we can trust God even when we don’t know the “why”? In what places in your life have you had “…to walk by faith and not by sight…” when you didn’t understand the why behind your circumstances?
- Pastor David said God is still in control and we can trust Him even when evil strikes. We can trust God in betrayal, disappointment, and doubts. How can Romans 8:37-39 comfort you in the scarred and wounded places in your life?
To watch this week's sermon, visit dawsonchurch.org/GenesisAct3.
Find more personal stories of redemption at dawsonchurch.org/MyStory.
ADDITIONAL DISCOVERY:
Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt…" And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.
~Genesis 45:1-8; 15
When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many peopleshould be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus,he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
~Genesis 50:15-21
And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
~Genesis 45:4-5
And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.
~Genesis 45:7-8
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
~Genesis 50:20
That God causes all things to work together for good for those who love him and our called according to his purpose.
~Romans 8:28
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
~Acts 2:22-23
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
~Romans 8:37-39