Sermon: August 9, 2009

Listen to the sermon from August 9 below.

[audio:jacobswell_dberry_080909.mp3]

One of the most interesting and important lessons from the Joseph saga:

One of the most interesting and important lessons from the Joseph saga:

Genesis 50:20
20As 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.

Evil is a powerful force and hurtful reality; to ignore it or say that it doesn’t exist is folly, dangerous and in opposition to the clear teachings of Christ, the Bible, and the church. To say that evil is “on the way out” is to stick one’s head in the sand. No, evil is all too present in our world, in myriad forms, some even masquerading as good (an old trick!). But, evil is not ever going to prevail in the long run, because God is the Sovereign over all that is, and He is perfectly good and abhors evil.

There is no denying the fact that Joseph had been done a great evil by his brothers. But greater in power than their evil was the mercy he bestowed on them. Their evil was washed away and actually became a tool used by God to save his people from starvation.
Most of us can point to things that have happened to us that were certainly meant to do us harm, maybe even great harm. Our Torah principle this week is that this hard need not have power over us, for God can and will turn hurt and harm into mercy and life as we learn to trust in His providence over all our circumstances and relationships, a la Joseph.

Prayer gathering and Bible Study
7:00 Wednesday night at the church

Softball
Wed., Champion Fields, time TBA

Men’s Movie Night at “Ha-Ha-Ha-Harvey’s”
Sunday, ,August 16 @ 6:30
This time, it’ll be a comedy. Come for snacks and lots of laughs at Harvey’s house, 41 Stonebrook Court, Bloomington

Gals – It’s Time to Party!
Addison Ruth Kaufman is here and a shower and brunch to celebrate her arrival will be held on Saturday morning, August 8, 10:00 @ the church. Ask Becky or Sue Berry for details.

Next week:  “Holy Moses”
Many Bible scholars call the the Pentateuch – the first five books of the Bible – “The Books of Moses.” As a Hebrew baby spared from certain death, Moses rises to become, like Joseph, a Prince of Egypt… and the author of Torah, Torah, Torah. His story next week.

“Lie with me” (double entendre) or “Live like Me”: Joseph’s challenge, choice & cheers

“Lie with me” (double entendre) or “Live like Me”
Joseph’s challenge, choice & cheers

We live in a culture which increasingly diminishes the notion that we are to live with a sense of timeless truths, moral absolutes written both on our hearts and in God’s revealed Word.  Fact is, history until today is replete with tragic drama after tragic drama of people tempted to compromise their personal and public covenants and calling with “the right” for fleeting entrees into “the wrong.” And, because we do, in fact, live in a moral universe and we reap the repercussions of what we sow, there is a steep price to pay for violating the covenant call.

The great news is that we never have to give in to temptation; we never need let the baser instinct rule over the noble virtue of the high calling of Christ. For Christ lives in us just as He lived in Joseph. The story of Joseph is truly one of our most encouraging examples of winning the battle against temptation… and receiving the rewards of The Promise Keeper.

Stories are given to us so our own stories can be shaped with courage and conviction and crowned with the joy of Christ. Consider how Joseph dealt with betrayal, abandonment, favoritism, false accusations, sexual temptation, the potential of bitterness, overcoming fear, and the great temptation to both say “I told you so” and to repay evil for evil. Hmmm…  consider again how much Joseph is like Jesus. Hmmm again… consider how much God blessed Joseph for his humble obedience… and how that timeless God gives the same good gifts to all His obedient children.

Prayer gathering and Bible Study
7:00 Wednesday night at the church

Softball
9:00 Wed., Champion Fields

Gals – It’s Time to Party!
Addison Ruth Kaufman is here and a shower and brunch to celebrate her arrival will be held on Saturday morning, August 8, 10:00 @ the church. Ask Becky or Sue Berry for details.

Next week:  “Joe 3 — when bad is good.”
Thankfully, we have never known the power of famine.  But some of us have known the temptation to repay evil for evil. Joseph deals with both famine and the potential for retribution and WE WILL BE FOREVER BLESSED! Amazing character. Amazing salvation.