Title: Joseph: From Ruin to Ruler

Text: Genesis 39:1-5

I. DON’T BE SURPRISED BY FIERY TRIALS (1 Peter 4:12)

- Trials are not always connected with wrongdoing in our lives

- Trials come to prepare us for some better thing

- Ask, “What am I doing that is unhelpful and what is God doing that is

helpful?”

II. CONDUCT YOURSELF FOR PROMOTION NOT DEMOTION (Genesis 39:9,

20-23)

- Trouble presents opportunities for promotion and demotion

- Serve the house you find yourself in-your steps are ordered of the Lord

- Faithfulness, Integrity, and Skill bring favor from man and God

- Don’t eat the Apple!

- Are you faithful to the house you are in? Where will your conduct lead?

III. KEEP STANDING IN GOD’S GRACE (Romans 5:1,2)

- Stand in God’s Grace; in the house, in the prison, in the Palace

- The entrance and supply of grace come from Christ’s finished work and

our faith relationship with Him

- Nurture a rich relationship with Christ, stand on the Word, Claim your

calling, React Righteously and Conduct yourself with Honor

IV. TRUST GOD’S PROVIDENCE (Genesis 50:20-21)

- What is meant for our evil is often meant by God for our good

- Trust God’s providence

- Quickly Forgive, Don’t let Bitterness control you!

- Hold steady; what God brings you to He is able to pull you through

Title: Faithful Witnesses: Dads Make a Difference

Text: Job 1:8

Main Point: Godly Dad’s give their children the best chance to live a life blessed by God

I. Spiritually Involved in His Family (Job 1:5)

- Stood in the Gap

- Pointed them to God (Job 1:20-21)

II. Consistently Modeled Faith and Trust In God (Job 1:20, 19:25)

- In the Middle of great Trials; To Family, Friends and Spiritual Enemy

- A Good Father whose faith provided security, courage, and a way forward (Romans 8:15)

III. Guarded His Integrity (Job 2:3-4)

- Loss of Health, Wealth, and Betrayal

- He did not Exploit, sin with his Lips or Sexually Sin (Job 2:10 and 31:1)

IV. Reaped God’s Restoration and Increase (Job 42:10 and 12)

- God vindicated Job and Rewarded him for his unyielding trust in God

Title: Pentecost - God involves us in His plan of salvation for this world

Text: Acts 1:4-8 (Promise, Baptism, Witness)

1. The Promise of the Father (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:16; 16:7-15)

2. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7)

What are tongues for? (1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 22; Romans 8:26-27)

3. Witness of the Lord Jesus to everyone (Acts 2:22-24, 3:15, 4:10, 12, 13:28-31, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:23, 2:2, 15:3-5; Romans 3:23-25, 4:25, 5:8-9)

Title: High Potency Witnesses

Text: Luke 24:46-49

Main Idea – God’s Spirit Transforms us to be High Potency Witnesses

I. Salt and Light Witnesses Are Heard (Mt. 5:13-14)

- Transformation

- Reliable

- Authentic- Not Weird and Not ashamed of the gospel

- Live like you mean it-Your good works will Glorify God

II. Empowered Witnesses (Jn 16:7-8. Acts 1:8)

- Jesus Promise to Go With Us and Draw people

- Convincing Power of the Spirit

- Clothed with God’s Power to be His Witnesses

Title: A Faithful Witness Leaves a Lasting Legacy

Text: Joshua 4:4-7, 14 & 19

Main Idea- Memorials were important landmarks declaring God’s intervention, God’s ownership and showing the way for future generations

I. God’s Plan For You Includes a Lasting Legacy

- Blessing, Victory, Protection, Relationship with a loving God

- His Promises are to a thousand generations Psalm 105:8

- Memorials show the way

- You can pass on a legacy that will bless, protect and bring God’s help

II. Obedience Builds a Memorial

- Obedience-God commanded Joshua to build the memorial after they crossed the Jordan

- God brings us to our Jordan as a Push-Point

- Crossing Jordan by faith brings us Into God’s Promise land!

III. Memorials Witness to God’s Miraculous Help in our lives

- You can’t cross Jordan in your own strength and resources

- Joshua 3:5 Consecration-a specific act and intent to place your life under God’s love and care

Title: Witnesses: God's Plan

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2 (NIV)

Main Idea: Your purpose is found in God's plan

What Is God's Plan For You:

I. To Be Restored (5:16-18)

II. To Be His Voice (5:19-6:2)

Title: Witnesses Make a Difference

Text: John 4:1-39

Main Point- because People Matter to God they become Investments with Eternal Dividends!

I. How Did Jesus Witness to the Woman at the Well? (Jn. 4:39,41-42)

- Adventure on God’s Mission

- Jesus was willing to bridge a cultural divide

- Jesus offered “Living Water” to her.

- She became a contagious follower of Jesus

II. Our Purpose (Jn 4:34-38)

- Urgency

- Fulfillment is Our Food and Strength

- Determines What we See

- Guaranteed fruit

- Rekindles our first love

III. Costs and Benefits (Mt 6:31-33)

- Be willing to invest in eternal things vs. just temporal things

- Risks and Rewards

- Willingness to be Stretched to Grow

Title: Witnesses – People Matter to God

Text: Luke 24:44-49

Main Point- Because people matter to God, Jesus sends us out to be His witnesses and Proclaim the Gospel.

After the Resurrection; Now what?

How to live a life of contagious Christianity

I. People Matter to God (Jn 3:16, Gen. 1:27-28, 31)

- Made in His Image

- Created the World for Us-The Anthropic Principle

- Jesus tells how valuable we are (Luke 15)

II. Jesus Sends Us on The Greatest Mission (Mt 28:18-20)

- Sent (Jn 20:21)

- Equipped - Authority

- Not Alone- I am With You always

- Teaching- K___________ + A_____________ + B____________=Change

III. The Mission Requires a Personal Commitment (Roman 10:8-9)

- Intentionality

- Refocus

- Obedience

- Clothed with God’s Power

Title: Final Advice: Strength and Honor

Text: 1 Thess. 5

I. Strength, Not Fear When the Lord Comes (v.1-11)

- Like a Thief in the night!

- Salvation rather than Sentence

- Clearheaded living protected by heavenly armor

- Comfort, Encouragement and Building up

II. Honor Up, Honor Down, Honor All Around (v. 12-15)

- Honor reaps favor and more honor

- Honor leaders who work hard, care for you and admonish you.

- Be patient with one another; Warn the lazy

- Encourage the timid, Take care of the weak

III. Honor God’s Will (v. 16-18)

- Always be Joyful, Never Stop Praying, Be Thankful in all Situations

- Honoring God fortifies our life and brings God’s favor on us.

IV. Honor the Spirit or Live Like People of the Spirit (v. 19-22)

- Don’t Quench, throw water on, the Spirit

- Don’t despise prophetic utterances 1 Cor. 14

- Test Everything and Hold Fast to what is good

V. Live in the Strength of His Promise (v. 23-24)

- He is at Work in Us….Whole and Blameless at His Coming

- He who called us is Faithful and will bring it to pass!