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Anchored Week 6

SERIES TITLE

Anchored Week 6

series overview

Culture is shifting. We see it all around us. So, how do people of faith live and love well in a culture of compromise? How do we stand firm without alienating the very people who need the grace and love of Jesus? Join us for a brand new 5-part series from the book of Daniel, and let’s discover together how Daniel and his friends personified courageous faith in a spirit of love and truth.

sermon TITLE

Anchored For Good

The Story of Joseph

Sermon Summary

In this message from Genesis 45 & 50, Josh Whelchel emphasizes how we, like Joseph, can remain anchored through life’s challenges by understanding God’s providence. By examining Joseph’s journey, he illustrates that despite trauma and betrayal, God can use our past for His further his purposes. Josh outlines three key decisions to help us stay anchored: refusing to play God, recognizing God’s goodness, and reflecting His love for others. Ultimately, he encourages us to stay strong and know that God wants to use our experiences to shape and support us as well as others.

ice breaker

If you could go back in history, what family member or close friend do you wish you could give a preemptive message to about a decision they made that didn’t have to be?

DISCUSSion

Select 3-4 questions from the list below to guide your discussion time.

  1. Josh shared this definition of God’s providence: “Providence is when God cooperates with natural law to bring about a supernatural result.” How does God cooperate with the natural laws he set in place? Can you think of examples? Can you think of an example that brought about a “supernatural result” in your viewpoint?

  2. Genesis 50:18-21 emphasizes that Joseph looked at his painful experiences through the lens of God’s providence, seeing that God intended them for good. How did Joseph’s ability to recognize God’s goodness help him to forgive his brothers for their wrong actions? Have you ever had a difficult experience that, looking back, you can see how it might have led to something positive? How did that shape your faith?

  3. Josh discussed how Joseph, in Genesis 50:19 chose not to take revenge on his brothers and recognized that only God has the authority to judge. What does it mean to refuse to play God in your own life, and why is this important for staying anchored during tough times?

  4. Josh mentioned that Joseph chose to care for his brothers despite his past suffering and emotions in seeing them again, reflecting God’s love through his actions. Read 2 Corinthians 1:4. Can you identify a time when you’ve been able to show kindness to someone even when you were struggling? How did that impact you?
  5. Reflect on Romans 8:28. Josh concluded by encouraging us to ask, ‘God, how do you want to use this?’ regarding our own pain and struggles. Reflect on a personal struggle. How can you use that experience to help someone else who may be going through a similar situation?
 
WRAP UP & PRAYER

Please share any prayer requests you might have.

  • Ask for prayer requests from the group.
  • Pray for guidance to refuse to play God in difficult situations.
  • Ask God to help everyone recognize His goodness throughout the week.
  • Seek God’s help in reflecting His love in our interactions with others, especially those who have wronged us in some way.
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