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Christian Life Church
April 12, 2026 at 9am & 11am
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3-4
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
THE BOOK OF ACTS APRIL 12, 2026
TRIALS & TREASURES
SCRIPTURE
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day (his father) had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
And they hated him all the more because of his dreams…
Then his father tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted.
The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served… Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph… so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.
“How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
“He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.”
But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Pharaoh’s chief cup bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 37-50 (selections)
Jonathan Edwards writes about God seeing through “two lenses”.
TREASURES
1/ Treasures are designed to strengthen my faith in God.
May I never forget the good things He does for me. Psalm 130:2
2/ Treasures are designed to reveal God’s care & concern for me. Page 1
“Your Father knows what you need.” Matthew 6:8
3/ Treasures are designed to keep eternity before me.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matt 13:44
IN TIMES OF TREASURE
1/ In times of treasure, I will welcome it.
2/ In times of treasure, I will bless other people.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2
May God be gracious to us and bless us… so that Your ways may be known on earth. Psalm 67:1-2
3/ In times of treasure, I will express thanks.
TRIALS
Trials don’t hide from us. Treasures do. And those treasures are often hiding in trials.
1/ Every trial is designed to test my faith.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 1 Peter 1:7
2/ Every trial is designed to teach me more about God.
“I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.” Job
“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.” Psalm 119:71
3/ Every trial is designed to make me strong and mature.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3-4
You can either go through it or you can grow through it! Page 2
IN TIMES OF TRIAL…
1/ In times of trial, I will welcome it.
Consider it pure joy… James 1:3
2/ In times of trial, I will lean into God.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
“I have learned to kiss the waves that toss me against the Rock of Ages.” CHS
3/ In times of trial, I will remember that God allowed it.
There is the pre-destined will of God.
There is the prescribed will of God.
There is the permissive will of God.
4/ In times of trial, I will not complain.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
5/ In times of trial, I will surround myself with spiritual community.
Bear one another’s burdens… Galatians 6:2
6/ In times of trial, I will let it finish its work.
7/ In times of trial, I will look for His purpose.
“He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Gen 50:20
TRIALS & TREASURES
SCRIPTURE
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day (his father) had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
And they hated him all the more because of his dreams…
Then his father tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted.
The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served… Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph… so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.
“How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
“He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.”
But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Pharaoh’s chief cup bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 37-50 (selections)
Jonathan Edwards writes about God seeing through “two lenses”.
TREASURES
1/ Treasures are designed to strengthen my faith in God.
May I never forget the good things He does for me. Psalm 130:2
2/ Treasures are designed to reveal God’s care & concern for me. Page 1
“Your Father knows what you need.” Matthew 6:8
3/ Treasures are designed to keep eternity before me.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matt 13:44
IN TIMES OF TREASURE
1/ In times of treasure, I will welcome it.
2/ In times of treasure, I will bless other people.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2
May God be gracious to us and bless us… so that Your ways may be known on earth. Psalm 67:1-2
3/ In times of treasure, I will express thanks.
TRIALS
Trials don’t hide from us. Treasures do. And those treasures are often hiding in trials.
1/ Every trial is designed to test my faith.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 1 Peter 1:7
2/ Every trial is designed to teach me more about God.
“I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.” Job
“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.” Psalm 119:71
3/ Every trial is designed to make me strong and mature.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3-4
You can either go through it or you can grow through it! Page 2
IN TIMES OF TRIAL…
1/ In times of trial, I will welcome it.
Consider it pure joy… James 1:3
2/ In times of trial, I will lean into God.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
“I have learned to kiss the waves that toss me against the Rock of Ages.” CHS
3/ In times of trial, I will remember that God allowed it.
There is the pre-destined will of God.
There is the prescribed will of God.
There is the permissive will of God.
4/ In times of trial, I will not complain.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
5/ In times of trial, I will surround myself with spiritual community.
Bear one another’s burdens… Galatians 6:2
6/ In times of trial, I will let it finish its work.
7/ In times of trial, I will look for His purpose.
“He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Gen 50:20