The return of Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to buy more food represents not simply a physical return but a time of repentance. It is obvious that Judah has learned something life-changing since that fateful day when Joseph was sold into Egypt.

Now in these circumstances Joseph is threatening to keep Benjamin in Egypt and send the other brothers home, but Judah realizes that their dear father cannot possibly survive such a catastrophe, so in repentance Judah offers his life in exchange for Benjamin’s life.

In this story we witness Judah demonstrating a completely different attitude toward Joseph and Benjamin than when the brothers stood looking at the well into which they would put their brother Joseph. This new attitude is the result of repentance.

We see this same attitude of repentance in the story of the prodigal son. In the prodigal son’s return to the father we see four stages of repentance: regret, confession, abandonment of former behavior, and resolve. These are the necessary steps of repentance.

What do we need to abandon to find victory?

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This sermon is to encourage Dads to do well and to encourage children to have good relationships with their parents. Proverbs 17:6 shows us three generations, grandparents, parents and grandchildren, a picture of what God would like to see in families.

Even in the beginning of time we see broken relationships between fathers and sons; Adam and Cain, Isaac and Jacob, David and Solomon. God is interested in restoring relationships. God made a way to restore our relationship with Him through his Son, Jesus, and between people.

Some responsibilities of fathers: be a provider, be consistent, love the children’s mother, be unselfish, be a lifegiver instead of a taker, be a good example, be quick to apologize when you have done wrong and many more.

Fathers should be protectors. They should have a vision for their children and help guide them. Create safe boundaries. Have an open relationship with them. Is your heart turned toward your children?

Children also have a responsibility to their parents which is obedience and honor.

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Just as academic tests reveal hidden facts about our knowledge, tests of the heart reveal the often-hidden state of our heart – whether we love God with all our heart.

Three kings gave three tests of the heart. David was faced with conflicting accounts about Mephibosheth, but when he gave half of Mephibosheth’s land to Ziba, Mephibosheth responded in gratitude and devotion to David (II Samuel 9, 16 & 19).

Solomon was faced with two mothers arguing over a baby, but when he proposed cutting the baby in half, the loving heart of the true mother was revealed (I Kings 3:16-28).

Jesus was faced with a rich, young man who wanted eternal life, but when the man was asked to give away his wealth, the true object of his affections became apparent (Matthew 19:16-22). Jesus also told of some who failed a test of the heart in the Parable of the Great Supper (Luke 14:15-33).

Three lessons can be taken from these stories:

May we all pass the test of the heart.

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Ephesians 3 and 4 both contain passages that talk about growing into the “fullness” of God.

Ephesians 4:2,3 names elements that are important for that growth to happen — lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering.

When lowliness is missing, our service becomes contaminated, we treat people roughly, we don’t listen well, and we don’t respond to correction.

When gentleness is missing, we’re too hard on people and assign motives when we shouldn’t.

Long-suffering needs to be loving, not resentful. When long-suffering is missing, we resent people, are quickly offended, and don’t give people time to grow.

All three of these elements are an important part of the endeavor to “keep the unity.”

Jesus is the ultimate example of gentle discipleship, long-suffering, and humility.

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The title for this sermon is taken from Christ’s response to John the Baptist’s disciples who followed Jesus. Jesus asked them, “What do you seek?” and they asked, “Where are you staying?” and they followed Jesus and stayed with him the rest of the day.

In these three accounts of Jesus’ encounters with people (Nicodemus, John the Baptist’s disciples, and the woman at the well), Jesus focused on the actual needs of their hearts and spiritual realities they did not understand. In these encounters, Jesus invites people into a “born again” relationship with Him.

According to Jesus, this is an experience that requires a supernatural work of God. Jesus is always pursuing us and inviting us to respond to his pursuit.

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The New Testament was written to people who lived in the pagan Roman Empire, in which government leaders didn’t care who you worshipped as long as you respected and paid homage to Caesar. The story of Peter going to visit Cornelius demonstrates that Christianity is a worldwide movement that is not bound to any earthly government.

What relationship should believers have with the civil government? According to Phil. 3:20, 21 and Heb. 11:13-26, the believer’s primary citizenship is in heaven. We are ambassadors, which means we are foreigners and represent our home country. Our mission is to win people for the heavenly kingdom. In fact, we have more in common with other ambassadors than with unbelieving citizens around us.

We tend to have a lot of thoughts and opinions about events and decisions that affect us. That probably can’t be avoided, but do we care more about the effect of such things on our pocketbook and freedoms than on our true mission in the world? Our responsibility is to be a witness for Christ and to respect and obey the government unless it violates Scripture.

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The question is, how does the faith counted for righteousness relate to the fruit of faith?

For 500 years, Mennonites have connected faith and its fruit in a way that makes the fruit of faith the foundation of faith, and for 500 years, Protestants have separated faith and its fruit in a way that makes the fruit of faith completely unrelated to faith.

The story of Abraham in Genesis 12-17 and Romans 4 demonstrates that Abraham’s faith was counted for righteousness prior to circumcision, which was the fruit of faith.

According to Paul, Abraham is the spiritual father of all Jews who trust God even though they are circumcised and all Gentiles who trust God without being circumcised (Romans 4:11-18).

While the fruit of faith is not the foundation of faith, the same faith that is counted for righteousness bears fruit. Cooperation with God’s grace (human effort) that is motivated by God’s grace is not opposed to God’s grace.

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Proverbs 3 emphasizes the need to trust God and be faithful to Him. Solomon talks about three areas in which we need to trust God “above” something else: our understanding, our possessions, and our circumstances.

To trust God over our own understanding is to consider who God is and what He may want from us in a given situation. Saul exemplified leaning on his own understanding when he chose not to wait for Samuel; Jonathan exemplified acknowledging God by being willing to attack the Philistine garrison when it was only himself and his armor bearer.

To trust God over our possessions is to be willing to give them in honor of God. True worship always results in giving.

To trust God in our circumstances is to believe in His loving care even in times of testing. If we only trust God in good times, it can mean we trust the times more than God.

“What does God have to offer?” can be a helpful challenge for ourselves. This passage reminds us of what God gives us through Jesus—healing, peace, and eternal life. All the truly good and enduring things come from God.

Hindrances to trusting God as we should are forgetfulness, fear, and pride. We should confess these failures to God and keep trying to trust Him more.

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Good leaders are focused on the welfare of the people they lead, take responsibility for their poor decisions, are under authority, speak truth with love, and lead but don’t push.

In the story of the prodigal son, the father didn’t go after the lost son, didn’t berate him, but instead longed and waited and prayed for him. When the son returned, the father forgave him, but forgiveness did not restore the son’s inheritance.

During Jesus’ discussion with the mother of James and John and afterward with them and the rest of the disciples, Jesus said that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over their subjects, but this is not how it will be among my followers. In Jesus’ Kingdom, those who lead will be servants, and those who desire to be first will be slaves, just as the Son of Man came to serve and not to be served.

Both men and women have the opportunity to show leadership. The question is, how do we serve the people we lead?

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The Corinthian believers were not recognizing the Creator’s design and purpose for their bodies. Paul addresses their problem with sexual immorality by making several points:

THEREFORE, honor God with your bodies.

God created man to bear His image and to fellowship with Him. God’s presence was with man in the Garden of Eden, in the tabernacle, and in the temple. Man desecrated each of these places and brought separation between him and his Creator. However, through the presence of Jesus on earth and His spirit in us, we can have unhindered fellowship with our Creator.

We can honor our Creator with our bodies in several ways:

When we follow His design for our bodies, our bodies portray His image in His creation and allow us to experience unhindered fellowship in His presence.

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