by The WAY…

“What Happened?”

Scripture Memory Verse
Gen 50:26 “So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.”

Scripture
Gen 50:22-26
Gen 2:17
Gen 3:6

Questions
What is so heartbreaking about the way Genesis ends?

What happened?

What are the consequences of sin?

What is God’s response?

How far is God willing to go to restore our relationship with Him?

“The Call to Lead”

Scripture Memory Verse
Joshua 1:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them – to the Israelites.”
Scripture
Joshua 1:1-9

Questions
What is God’s role in this battle plan?

What promise does God make?

What does God expect of Joshua?

Why the emphasis on being strong and (very) courageous?

“Doulos”
Scripture: Romans 6:17-18
Ethan Hughes will bring our message on Sunday.

“But God”

Scripture Memory Verse
Gen 50:19 “But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?’”
Scripture
Gen 41:1-16
Gen 50:19-21
Rom 8:28

Questions
What is the implication of Gen 50:19 (“Am I in the place of God?”) versus Gen 3:5 (“You will be like God”)?
What can God do that Joseph cannot?
What is God’s intention?
What does God trump?
Quote
“When you first consider your life, it looks like nothing but a bunch of chicken tracks in the mud of a barnyard, going this way and that. But through the eyes of faith, we begin to discern pattern, meaning, and direction.” Augustine

“Trouble in Paradise”

Scripture Memory Verse
Gen 39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”
Scripture
Gen 37:1-4
Gen 39:1-23
Gen 39:14-15
Gen 39:23

Questions
How does Joseph respond to his difficult circumstances?
How does God respond to Joseph?
What is the message for you individually?
What is the message for our congregation?
NOTES:

“Between a Rock and a Hard Place”

Scripture Memory Verse
Gen 32:28 “Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with man and have overcome.’”
Scripture
Gen 32:22-32

Questions
Prior to Genesis 32, how is Jacob depicted?
Why does it seem that God is “between a rock and a hard place?”
What does God do?
Why does God do this?
Do you matter to God?

“Missions Update”

Scripture Memory Verse
Matt 28:18-19 “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’”

Chris and Donna Keeter will join us on Sunday to share pictures of the distribution of our Christmas boxes and to present other ways for our congregation to minister in Honduras, including specific actions for our summer mission team.

“not a fan”
Scripture Memory Verse
Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”
Scripture
Luke 9:22-25

Questions
In what ways are we tempted to “water down” the gospel?
What does Jesus mean when he says one must “deny himself”?
What does the cross symbolize?
What is the difference between being a fan of Jesus and being a follower of Jesus?
Are you shooting at the right target?
What changes do you need to make?

Join us on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm for a special candlight service and on Christmas Day at 10:00 am for worship.

Join us Sunday morning at 11:00 am for our Christmas Cantata: “Light Looked Down and the Word became flesh.” Join us Sunday evening at 6:00 pm for our Christmas play followed by refreshments.