Genesis 47:1-12 “Seasons of Life"

 Message:  Genesis 47:1-12 “Seasons of Life"

 After discovering that Joseph is alive and ruling under Pharoah in Egypt, Jacob moves the whole family to this foreign land to survive the famine. Little do they know this move will last 400yrs for his descendants.  But like other seasons of his life, this season also serves a purpose. We each have different seasons of life to go through, and each season serves a purpose. What are some of the seasons you’ve been through and how have they shaped you? What is the season you are in right now and how is God inviting you to grow in this time and place you find yourself?

 

Genesis 37:1-11 “Dreams and Where they Lead Us”

 Message:  Genesis 37:1-11 “Dreams and Where they Lead Us”

Joseph has his dream of his brothers and parents bowing down to him and they resent him. The fact that Joseph had a special coat given to him by his father means Jacob had big dreams for him. When Joseph receives the dream telling him that his disgruntled brothers will one day bow down to him, he is excited for the change. But the fulfillment of God’s vision for Joseph will not come easily or as expected. The path to ascension will begin with a descent. The process will transform Joseph. In the same way, God has a vision for our lives, and it is a plan to prosper us, not to harm us. But the path toward the fulfillment of that plan will be challenging and uncomfortable. Like Christ’s ascension through the Cross, we too will be humbled before we become all that God dreams for us.

 

Genesis 35:1-15 “Looking Back, Moving Forward”

Message: Genesis 35:1-15 “Looking Back, Moving Forward”

After Jacob returns home, he makes it a point to return to Bethel, where he first encountered God. There he looks back over his life journey and remembers how God has faithfully brought him through. This gives him the courage to move forward in the direction God is currently calling him.

  

Luke 15 (the Prodigal Son)

 

Scripture passage:  Luke 15 (the ProdigalSon)

 This Independence Day weekend, we will look at the story of two brothers… both of whom were more interested in the inheritance of the father more than a relationship with him.  Maybe you identify with the prodigal… the one who wandered off, the one who made bad choices, the one who knows he screwed up, the one who is filled with regret.  Or maybe you identify with the older brother… the one who always stayed home, always tried to keep your nose clean, the one who always took care of the family obligations, and yet somehow feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick. The interesting thing is that whichever brother we identify with, the problem is the same… both are far away from the heart of the father.  Both are lacking an intimate, loving relationship with him.  And both are invited home.    

 

Genesis 32:22-31 “Wrestles with God”

 Message: Genesis 32:22-31 “Wrestles with God”

In this passage, Jacob wrestles with a stranger through the darkness of the night. The struggle ends up being a blessing, though he’ll always walk with a limp. Our lives too can be characterized as a struggle through a dark night, but also a wrestling with God. To wrestle with God is to be forever changed.