CONVERSATION STARTERS

1. Read Genesis 50:1–21.

2. Joseph endured betrayal, slavery, and prison before seeing God’s purpose unfold. Can you recall a time when your circumstances made you question God’s presence? What was that experience like for you?

3. Joseph forgave his brothers and saw God’s hand in their betrayal. What does forgiveness look like when the pain is fresh? How can you imagine God using that hurt for something good?

4. Joseph didn’t know the end of his story while he was living it. While Genesis–Revelation helps us see the “whole story,” there are still times where doubt of God’s plan can creep in. Are there practical reminders that have helped you stay grounded in times of suffering and confusion?

5. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph says to his brothers "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done ..." Can you look back on your life and see a time that was meant for harm, but God has used it to grow you, protect you, or bless others? What did you learn about God through that experience?

6. Joseph’s story reminds us that God’s purpose isn’t always visible. How can Joseph's story and his faithfulness through hard situations be an encouragement to you this week? How can you use this to encourage others?

Title: Joseph
Reference: Genesis 37:1-8
Speaker: Jacob Nannie, JacobN@cckc.church

I’ve done a lot of thinking about fear. For me, the crucial question is not how to climb without fear—that’s impossible— but how to deal with it when it creeps into your nerve endings. - Honnold Quote

– Only God Can Take It All And Make It Good

We should not overlook the importance of grasping truths in the right order. So it is important to know that nothing that happens, not even the most horrendous events, are outside God’s wise purposes and control, and that he promises to overrule and weave even the worst circumstances into a plan for ultimate good. - Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering

– Even if God seems silent, he is with you.

– Life With God Empowers Your Monday World

– God Is the One in Control of Your Story

You are looking at an absolute beauty, but because you cannot fit it into your own limited understanding, you are in danger of walking away from God. Don’t do it. Do what Jesus did—trust God. Do what Joseph did —trust God even in the dungeon. It takes the entire Bible to help us understand all the reasons that Jesus’ death on the cross was not just a failure and a tragedy // but was consummate wisdom. It takes a major part of Genesis to help us understand God’s purposes in Joseph’s tribulations. Sometimes we may wish that God would send us our book—a full explanation! But even though we cannot know all the particular reasons for our crosses, we can look at the cross and know God is working things out. - Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering