Outline: Who is in charge of you?

I. The Power of Position

2. The Power of Love

3. The Power of God

Content:

1. One major theme throughout the Bible: God’s promise to restore the mess we have made, to fix what is broken in our world and to make all things new, which includes our relationship with God and with one another.

2. Who is in charge of you? This is the question each of us needs to answer.

3. The power of position: Our position and status is what many rely on for direction and decision making.

4. At first Joseph with his powerful position and still past hurts used his position to speak harshly to his brothers, accuse them of spying and throws them in jail.

5. Past hurts and wrongs need to be dealt with and brought out into the light, so that the darkness in your heart can be removed.

6. Again using Joseph’s power of position, he sends nine brothers back home to bring his baby brother Benjamin to him in Egypt. Joseph has gotten his revenge and his dream fulfilled.

7. You might think you have it all—but God wants us to know and experience the power that changes you, the power of love.

8. Joseph’s love for his father and the realization of how much pain his dad, Jacob, has been through for many years, broke Joseph’s heart and this power of love changed him.

9. When love enters our heart—the love of one another, God’s love for us, and our love for God—this love is a power that changes us.

10. The power of God—this is a higher power that changes everything—the perspective that a good God can bring something good out of something so bad. God can change something intended to hurt into blessings for me and it becomes a blessing to many people.

11. Only God knows the future, and can take our setbacks and screw-ups, wrongs done to us and wrongs we do—all of it and use it for good.

Aim:

Now that you’re in charge…who’s in charge of you?

Application Questions:

1. What hurts are you holding on to?

2. Who do you need to forgive?

3. Who is in charge of you?

4. What can you see God meant for good in your life?

Outline

I. Joseph was the favored son

a. Special coat

b. Special dreams

II. When your dreams become nightmares

a. The Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:12)

i. Sold to traders

ii. Foreign land

iii. No longer free

iv. Sold to Potipher; works all day

v. Potipher’s wife lies about him

vi. Now in prison- less contact with people

vii. Rough surroundings

viii. All this took 13 years

b. Proof the Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:3-4, 20-21)

i. Found favor in the eyes of others

ii. Successful in what ever he did

iii. New opportunities opened to him

c. Joseph was with the Lord (Genesis 39:6,8-9,22-23)

i. Did a good job even though it was a bad situation

ii. Did right even though he was wronged

iii. Didn’t forget the Lord even though he felt the Lord had forgotten him

Content

1. The Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:12)

2. Proof the Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:3-4, 20-21)

3. Joseph was with the Lord (Genesis 39:6,8-9,22-23)

Aim

Experience doesn’t determine what’s true about God…His word does.

Application Questions

1. What would Joseph possibly be thinking while led away?

2. Where does it appear at this point that God is protecting him?

3. How do we sometimes confuse God with a ‘genie in a bottle’?

4. Do you think Joseph felt the presence of God?

5. Do you think Joseph thought God was using this to fulfill his dreams?

6. How did Joseph refer to himself when he was wronged by Potipher’s wife?

7. How did he refer to Potipher?

8. How did he refer to Potipher’s wife?

9. Do you find it difficult to tell people God is good if you haven’t felt that recently?

10. How is God with you?

11. How has God demonstrated he is with you?

12. How do you demonstrate you are with God?

Joseph came from a dysfunctional family which included jealously, deceit and lack of trust.

Joseph might have been thinking, “What have I done to deserve this?” when he found himself in the pit.

Joseph had special talents and abilities: honesty, responsibility (for example, checking and reporting on his brothers), and dreams from God.

Joseph experienced favor from his father, Jacob (Israel) because he was the son of his father’s old age, at a time when Jacob had changed some of his undisciplined ways, and he was the son of Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel, who died while Joseph was young.

God blessed Jacob with dreams fortelling the future.

Joseph was a “show off,” telling his brothers about his dreams and wearing his special coat. Jacob rebuked Joseph because of his sharing of his dream about becoming a leader in the family.

Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers, and did not see it coming.

Restoration and healing from betrayal is not easy but it is possible.

Joseph had to wait many years for his dreams to be fulfilled.

David wrote in Psalm 40:1-3 about God’s rescuing him from the pit.

Aim

Just as Joseph’s story doesn’t end in the pit and as a slave, our life stories do not end when we are in trouble — that of our own making or because of the acts of others. We need to keep our eyes on God and wait for him to complete His plans for us.

Application Questions- This Week’s “Homework”

How could Joseph have handled things differently? Would the result have been different?

What do you brag about? Why? What is your response when others brag, even when it’s related to spiritual blessings or gifts?

How do we treat our family and friends? Do we show favoritism? Do we resent those who seem to be favored? What is this doing to our relationships?

What dreams or visions has God given you? If you are still waiting, how are those unfulfilled dreams affecting your spiritual life? What can you learn from Joseph’s life about how God trains and uses us?

“These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age.”

Good things and bad things are passed on from our families.

Understanding your family’s past can help you understand why your family is the way it is today.

Joseph’s Family Tree:

Abraham and Sarah had one son, Isaac (meaning “laughter”), because of Sarah’s difficulty to have children, but God promised them a large family that would bless the world.

Isaac married Rebekah, who also had difficulty having children. God blessed Rebekah with twins, Esau and Jaco.

Esau, the firstborn, received more favor from Isaac and Jacob received more favor from Rebekah.

God promised to bless the world through Jacob, even though Esau, as the firstborn, traditionally would receive Isaac’s blessing first.

Jacob tricked Esau into selling his birthright, and Jacob and Rebekah tricked Isaac into giving his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau.

Esau became furious, so Jacob fled.

Jacob eventually met Rachel and they were engaged to be married. On their wedding night, however, Rachel’s family tricked Jacob into marrying her sister, Leah, since she was the eldest daughter. Jacob would later marry Rachel as well.

Since Jacob wanted to marry one and not the other, there was comepetition, jealousy, and favoritism.

Family Dynamics

Why don’t we ever see our cousins? (Esau’s family)

Why is their so much tension between our parents? (Rachel and Leah)

Between Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah (Leah and Rachel’s servants), Jacob had 10 sons before Rachel had Joseph.

Joseph’s mother dies.

When giving birth to Jacob’s last son, Benjamin, Rachel dies.

Every family has tough dynamics, and can impact your future, but they don’t have to determine it. God can determine your future if you let Him.

2. When you become a Christian, you are adopted into a new family. (Galatians 3:26)

God becomes my heavenly Father.

Other Christians become my brothers and sisters.

I am God’s beautiful and precious child.

3. We need to re-learn how to live God’s ways. (Romans 8:14)

Learn God’s Word and obey it.

Treat all people with respect because God made them and Jesus loves them.

Know that our blessings are meant to be enjoyed and shared.

Application questions:

What was it like growing up in your house? What were your family dynamics? Relationships between parents? Siblings (if any)? Extended family?

How can you see the impact of your family’s past in your present?

What good things (blessings) have been passed down from generations past? Bad things (sins)?

Where have you seen God determine your future instead of your and your family’s past?

Outline

1. Showing the money shows concern.

A. It’s observable

B. It’s personal

2. Showing the money shows commitment.

Qualifers

1. Contentment frees us to ask and to receive, to give and to go without.

2. Giving is for us, not just from us. It’s investing in our eternal account.

Content

1. The letter to the Philippians started out as a thank you note for their financial gift. In this passage at the end of the letter, Paul comes back to their financial gift.

2. Money makes a statement, communicates something.

3. Actions speak louder than words. It is good to feel compassion, but giving to the need demonstrates concern. Putting our money where our mouth and heart are shows our concern.

4. How much we give depends on the relationship we have with the person / group / organization. The more connected we feel, the more confident we are in supporting them financially.

5. Contentment doesn’t come from within; it comes from Christ. Jesus is the source of strength and gives us the ability to be OK when things aren’t OK, the strength to persevere when we’re in want.

6. The Philippians wanted to partner with Paul in his ministry, so when he left they continued to support him.

7. It is a significant step when people decide to become a regular contributor to a ministry. There’s a greater level of commitment, of sacrifice and intentionality.

8. There’s a connection between faith and finances: giving to the cause, and for the long haul.

9. Giving to the work of God is good planning, like investing. It shows what we believe about eternity. Refer to Matt 6:19-20 and Luke 12:16-21.

Takeaways

1. A response from a grateful receiver: The balance between need and contentment is gratitude. Paul was appreciative and thankful, but not entitled. His perspective was that God was in control and gave him strength to be content. In the same way, we need to look to God.

2. A perspective on a generous gift: Gifts to church are like our offering / sacrifice to God on an altar of worship. But not every gift we give is pleasing to God, such as if we give begrudgingly, with wrong motives, or to appease our conscience. What we give is not about the amount but about worth and sacrifice. A small gift could be a bigger sacrifice than a large gift. Giving our best makes us acceptable to God.

3. A promise to the faithful giver: God will meet our needs and give to us if we are givers.

Aim

~ Contentment comes from Christ. Look to Him for strength to be content in every circumstance.

~ Worship is honoring the One who is worthy, and what we give reflects the value of the honor we ascribe to God.

Application Questions

1. Describe a time when you received money — or more money — and how you reacted. Was it a surprise? Was it a gift / raise / bonus / other?

2. Give some examples of when you’ve given to a person or organization, or when you haven’t given because you didn’t have a strong relationship with them.

3. Pastor Jim mentioned the example Lydia gave to the believers when she hosted Paul and his companions. Who are some good examples of generosity you’ve seen / known?

4. Have you experienced a time of need? How did you react? Were you content despite your need? Why or why not?

5. What are some wrong motives people can have when they give?

6. What determines the level of your giving?

Outline:

Time Out: the designation used by Paul to regroup, change an action, and communicate something important or inspiring to the team.

1. Work It Out (Philippians, 4: 2)

2. Pray About It (Philippians 4: 6-7)

3. Put it in Practice (Philippians 4:8-9)

Content:

1. We, as individuals and as a community, need to go to a deeper level of unity, working together to enable us to stand firm in the faith, strive together for the gospel, and stay strong in the face of opposition. (Philippians 1:27-28)

2. In a full court press analogy, every player works together, putting teammates ahead of oneself, having a deeper commitment to each other, living a cruciform way of life in Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)

3. Chapter 4 begins with a hinge verse: “Therefore…” it swings back to what was said and forward to what is going to be said. Ask yourself what is it “there for” me?

4. When we have an issue, a difference, a different point of view, or a problem with someone else, don’t let pride and pettiness get in the way. Work it out—reconcile with one another. (Philippians 4: 2-5, Psalm 133)

5. You can enjoy people when you find your joy in Jesus.

6. Your example is evident to all; make it worth following.

7. Keep it all in perspective, an eternal perspective.

8. When you are anxious, worrying, nervous, fretting, losing concentration and focus, Pray About It.

9. Paul uses three words for the promise of God’s peace: Prayer, Petition, and Thanksgiving. (Philippians 4: 6-7)

10. Pray with a level of confidence and assurance that God is able, God is good, and God will hear your prayers.

11. Petition to God with specific requests, in detail. Write it down so that your faith will grow when you see God’s work.

12. Give thanks to God. Remind yourself of who God is, of what He has done, and what He has promised to do.

13. Enjoy the moment and keep putting what we have learned into practice. (Philippians 4: 8-9)

Aim:

Enjoy life’s moments and keep putting what we learned into practice. Stand firm in the Lord, be of the same mind in the Lord, and rejoice in the Lord. Guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Application Questions:

1. How are you preparing yourself, your family, or a friend for what is ahead in life?

2. How well do you accept others’ help in preparing yourself for what is ahead in life?

3. Do you see yourself “to be of the same mind in the Lord” with your spouse, family, life group, friends? Explain.

4. What are you holding onto that gets in the way of being Christ-like or working together?

5. How difficult and uncomfortable is it when there is a rift or tension between two people?

6. How do you show thanksgiving and thanks-living for God’s kindness, mercy, and favor in your life?

7. How can you and do you “be in the Lord” when our culture says it is all about you, self?

Last Week: When anything keeps me from treasuring Jesus alone, it is a loss. “Jesus plus”means we are rejoicing in stuff, status, or place instead of Jesus himself. (See Luke 14:26)

Paul let the Philippians know that he had not arrived at perfect love for Jesus, either. He was still working, just as they (and we) are on seeing Jesus himself rather than the things that come from Jesus.

It is often easier to learn form another learner, and Paul wants them to know he is right there having to keep “pressing on.”

God is more committed to keep going than we are. He tells us He will help us get there (Philippians 1:6, 2:13)

We need to “forget” the past, successes and failures, by not carrying it forward. We do not want our pasts to get in God’s way.

Striving for what’s ahead means recognizing that a certain future is coming, that our future is our resurrected selves, and that this knowledge of our future should change what we do now.

Philippians 3:15 We should think this way (I’m still growing…the mark of maturity is realizing we are not mature).

Philippians 3:16 We should live this way (leaving the past behaind, striving to move forward, making sure good things don’t replace important things) See also Philippians 2:5-9.

Philippians 3:17 We should learn this way (follow Paul’s example, learn from those who are also learning to follow Christ, and also lead others in this process)

Philippians 3:18-21 This is serious. We are not to live as enemies of God, with our minds set on earthly things (things, status, position, etc.)

Aim

We are to live so that we are treasuring Jesus, nothing else, and we are to press on, striving, learning and maturing in loving Him.

Application Questions

Are we enjoying Jesus or the stuff and status that we receive for our works “for Him?”

What does it mean to treasure Jesus?

What is standing in the way of you loving and enjoying Jesus? What do you need to do about it?

As a community of believers, how do we express this idea of Jesus and nothing else?

Who are you learning from? Who are you modeling for?

What are you valuing or doing that is getting in the way of what God wants for you?

Outline

I. The big picture

II. The specific issue

III. Clarification

Content

God’s plan was to use Abraham and his descendants to start to reverse the curse of evil and bless the whole world. He gave the Isrealites the mark of circumcision as a sign of the covenant between Abraham and his family and God.

400 years later God gave Isreal another mark- the Law- to set God’s people apart, in a good way, to be light to the world and show the holiness of the One True God.

Three kinds of law: 1) to show how to love God and each other; 2) explain sin, justice, sacrifice and forgiveness; 3) to give structure for communal life, ie, communal law.

The story of Ruth and Naomi is a picture of how the law was to show that God was attractive, a way to really live. Naomi’s life of obedience to the law made her daughter-in-law want to be a follower of God.

Isreal, however, turned these marks given by God (circumcision and the law) into marks of self-honor and exclusion instead of marks of God’s honor and attraction for all people.

Isrealites called people who were outsiders (not circumcised or followers of the law) names like dogs, evildoers and uncircumcised. Instead of fulfilling their mission to lead the world to God, they were celebrating their differences from everyone else.

Paul used the same terms (dogs, evildoers, uncircumsized) to indicate that the namecallers were now the evil ones because they did not have the inner life of true devotion to God.

Jesus made this clear in Luke 11:42. These outward marks were not to impede God’s desire to call all to himself, and those who were using circumcision and the law to keep others away from God were doing evil.

Jesus came, and made it clear that the only mark from now on is the mark of trusting Jesus.

The church of Philippi included both Jews and Gentiles, and tensions were forming because some of the Jews still held on to the law and circumcision as requirements for holy living. The Gentiles were saying that it was only Jesus, which is what Paul preached.

Paul called his message that trusting in Jesus is the only marker of belonging to the people of God a safeguard, because adding anything else to salvation (Jesus plus something) is evil. Jesus is the focus, not works, not church, not Bible knowledge, not spiritual gifts, not giving, only Jesus.

If you add anything to the simple gospel of faith in Jesus, you water down the cross and weaken what Jesus has done for you.

We often have a list of things we add to Jesus for saving faith, although we would not say it aloud. But when Paul says (Philippians 3:7-9) that he counts his gains as loss in order to gain only knowledge of Christ, he reminds us that we have no righteousness of our own making, that the only true righteousness comes from God on the basis of faith in what Christ has done and is doing.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that our heart will be where our treasure is, where we are accumulating our honors.

We may do many things out of our love for Jesus, but when we look at these things we do or we are as making us superior to others, we’ve really missed Jesus. See Luke 18:9-14.

Aim

Our mission is to share with the world that the one true mark of unity and belonging is trusting in Jesus alone.

Application Questions

What are some marks we often add to Jesus (Jesus plus…)?

How do the works and characteristics we value become stumbling blocks to others seeing Christ?

What does it look like when we truly believe we are saved by trusting Jesus and nothing else? How does that belief work itself out in our lives?

Why do you think we have to keep reminding ourselves and others, as Paul did in this passage, that the works we do are not the goal?

How will studying this passage change your focus? What changes will you make? What help do you need to make these changes?

1. Paul sent two men to the Philippians who were great examples of who he wanted the church to be like, and the kind of players we need to strive to become.

2. As a team, we prepare to play on the court, but we also go out into the community.

3. Paul sent Timothy for two reasons: he wanted to receive a good report, and to be a good example.

4. Paul communicated with people he was in relationship with to see how they were doing because he cared about them.

5. Good relationships are reciprocal — we share with each other, lift each other up, share our struggles, and confess our sins.

6. A team needs to communicate well, with encouragement, instruction, and saying what they need.

7. We need to be open to hear from others.

8. As a church, there are at least three ways we communicate:

A. Steps cards and prayer cards.

B. Through community — small groups help each other, give godly counsel, and are accountable to

each other.

C. Church body — send notes to or call people, pray for each other.

9. Carrying each others’ burdens and helping is a big part of the church.

10. As Paul sent Timothy because he couldn’t go, we need to accept representatives whom people might send to help us.

11. Paul followed Jesus’ example and risked his all to reach the lost. The Philippians raised up workers to serve Paul.

12. Casualties occur in the midst of ministry; God doesn’t exempt His servants from adversity.

13. The Philippians took big risks, and with all risks, we don’t know the outcome.

14. Paul commended Epaphroditus and honestly acknowledged the realities of missionary work, which re-enforced the worthiness of the cause and the caliber of those who respond.

15. When Paul told the Philippians to welcome and honor Epaphroditus, it sent a message that what is important is the response — he went.

16. Paul described Epaphroditus in several ways: brother, co-worker, fellow soldier, your messenger, the servant you sent to care for me.

17. Our response to missionaries should be to honor them.

Aim

We need to truly care about people and show them that we do. We also need to go out into the world to share the gospel and make disciples.

Application questions

1. Describe a time when you experienced being cared for. A time you could have used some care but no one responded. A time when you cared for someone else.

2. What does it look like to be genuine in our concern for others?

3. Who do you care about and how do you show it? Are these the same people who show care for you?

4. Does your life group show care well? What are some examples of when they did? What are some ways you could do better?

5. Are you one of the people Heritage has sent out?

6. What are some adversities you’ve faced?

7. How and where do you share the gospel?

Outline:

All Stars, the designation for those who are the best, and who do it well.

1. The What from Us (Philippians, 1: 27-28; Philippians 2: 3, 12; Romans 1:5)

2. The Why for Christ (Philippians 2: 13 -17)

3. The How by God (Philippians 2:12, 16-18)

Content:

1. Paul’s letter had one goal in mind: to get us to agree, to run this play, to do what we are calling a Full Court Press, and walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

2. The elements of this Full Court Press are: Stand Firm in the Faith, Strive Together for the Gospel, and Stay Strong in the face of Opposition.

3. The standard Paul gave us was to have the same mind, same love, and the same purpose in obeying and serving God.

4. Paul is basically saying to keep obeying, keep growing and maturing in Christ Jesus—yield more of your life to the will of Jesus every day.

5. Ongoing and increasing obedience to God is evidence that you believe in Christ and you are a Christ follower, a Christian.

6. Paul writes about the what from us: do everything without grumbling or arguing and do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

7. We never truly break God’s laws; they remain intact, but they always break us—we are the ones that get broken when we do not obey and follow God’s laws.

8. We show the why for Christ in our daily witness. The why for Christ is the best motivation for obedience.

9. Maturity and growth is a process that takes effort and work, and is only possible because of God.

10. One of the most encouraging, comforting, and motivating statements in the Bible: Philippians 2:13.

11. God is working in me, on the inside at the heart and head level…He has not quit on me. He is committed to me—working, shaping, and refining me.

12. God gives us the will, the want to, the desire, the prompting to change, to obey, and the power and strength to act.

13. God is doing something good in each of us. Do we know what it is? We need to be in prayer, reflection, awareness, and contemplation to get a sense of what is going on around us and inside us in order to understand the Holy Spirit working within.

Aim:

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is going to press us on to what is important in life. Today’s section provides insight and application on the what, why and how of obedience, of change, and maturity.

Application Questions:

1. Where have your “self” ideas and plans gotten in the way of Christ’s ideas and plans?

2. Do you see yourself as one of God’s All Stars? Explain.

3. How does one really change, grow, make Christ-like choices, and reach for Paul’s standards?

4. How have you yielded more of your life to the will of Jesus this week?

5. What is the greatest detrimental thing in your life that has the greatest potential to unravel what God is wanting you to do? The Church to do? Your life group to do?

6. How have you been a witness of your Christian faith at work, at the store, on the road, and to your family and friends?

7. What is and how is your attitude toward fulfilling God’s good purpose?

8. Why is it so challenging to accept and change?

9. Where has God shown you what you are missing?