Elements City Church
Old School - The Story of Joseph
Some things stand the test of time. Some things that are vintage dramatically increase in value. Join us as we glance back into the Old Testament for some ancient stories that hold some timeless truth, principles, and practical insights for us in our apprenticeship after Jesus and God's best for us. We're looking into a few characters from the Old Testament to discover that these aren't just stories from long ago -- they hold ancient truths for us in our spiritual journey today. May you find your faith spurred on by their story.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for worshipping with us tonight!
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbHow did we get here in the story of Joseph?
Our tears capture snapshots of our story, don’t they...
-Often it is because it stirs up hurts or heartache from the past.
-Sometimes tears come because of the passion deep within, that you desire to see to be true - your longing to be true…but it’s not yet reality.
Our tears capture snapshots of our story, don’t they...
-Often it is because it stirs up hurts or heartache from the past.
-Sometimes tears come because of the passion deep within, that you desire to see to be true - your longing to be true…but it’s not yet reality.
Aren’t you grateful that the Bible isn’t a collection of sanitized stories of holy, perfect people? It’s a collection of ordinary, broken people …loved by God and He goes to work on them and with them and through them. God's the one who intervenes - is on the move and active…AND HE STILL IS.
'Dysfunction Junction' describes Joseph's family.
Truth is: 'Jesus might reside your in heart by faith, but your family is in your bones by practice.'
We’re all a product of our growing up years for good OR not so good… our family deeply shapes and influences us. We all need to heal from and learn from and grow from what we have gone through.
The beauty amidst the adversity in Joseph's story is that God goes to work with and within Joseph to grow his faith, his trust, his integrity and grit.
Cliff Notes: (see Genesis ch. 37-50)
-Joseph is sold off into slavery (human trafficking)
-Falsely Accused and then Imprisoned
-Interprets Dreams of high officials and again forgotten
-Continues to live with integrity and grows in favor with those over him
-Finally remembered and interprets the dream of Pharaoh
-Then instantly installed == from prisoner to Prime Minister!
-Then encounters his brothers a few years down the road...
Truth is: 'Jesus might reside your in heart by faith, but your family is in your bones by practice.'
We’re all a product of our growing up years for good OR not so good… our family deeply shapes and influences us. We all need to heal from and learn from and grow from what we have gone through.
The beauty amidst the adversity in Joseph's story is that God goes to work with and within Joseph to grow his faith, his trust, his integrity and grit.
Cliff Notes: (see Genesis ch. 37-50)
-Joseph is sold off into slavery (human trafficking)
-Falsely Accused and then Imprisoned
-Interprets Dreams of high officials and again forgotten
-Continues to live with integrity and grows in favor with those over him
-Finally remembered and interprets the dream of Pharaoh
-Then instantly installed == from prisoner to Prime Minister!
-Then encounters his brothers a few years down the road...
The grit and integrity that the Lord has been building within Joseph - leads him forward in life...
Integrity pushes us to persevere through adversity: Joseph demonstrates that integrity endures even when life seems unjust. He patiently awaited God's plan to unfold, never losing faith. Staying faithful and trusting in God.
Integrity stirs us to honor God in success: In his newfound authority, Joseph used his position not for personal gain but to serve others and ultimately honor God.
Integrity moves us toward forgiveness and reconciliation and away from retaliation and regret
Integrity stirs us to honor God in success: In his newfound authority, Joseph used his position not for personal gain but to serve others and ultimately honor God.
Integrity moves us toward forgiveness and reconciliation and away from retaliation and regret
Joseph also demonstrates a beautiful realization that he came too:
Instead of spending all his energy trying to create and manufacture his own story - he began to see how he could find his fit within the greater Story God was writing...
When we live with that (bigger - God) perspective — that our lives are enfolded into a story BIGGER THAN US — we can change our mindset:
Our Mindset can shift from ‘have to’s’ -to- ‘get to’s’
Our Mindset can shift from “What if” (fear) -to- “Even if” (trust God)
In our culture we’re challenged to write our own story, but biblically we’re called to find our fit in God’s story. Joseph does that. As we allow God to grow our GRIT - develop our integrity and our AQ (adversity quotient) - it’s going to impact our relationships. Forgiveness can flow. Because God can heal us & have us see His Bigger Plan/Story...
Quote:
“Pain redeemed impresses me far more than pain removed.” -Philip Yancey
God - via His Story - redeemed the pain of Joseph’s history.
Instead of spending all his energy trying to create and manufacture his own story - he began to see how he could find his fit within the greater Story God was writing...
When we live with that (bigger - God) perspective — that our lives are enfolded into a story BIGGER THAN US — we can change our mindset:
Our Mindset can shift from ‘have to’s’ -to- ‘get to’s’
Our Mindset can shift from “What if” (fear) -to- “Even if” (trust God)
In our culture we’re challenged to write our own story, but biblically we’re called to find our fit in God’s story. Joseph does that. As we allow God to grow our GRIT - develop our integrity and our AQ (adversity quotient) - it’s going to impact our relationships. Forgiveness can flow. Because God can heal us & have us see His Bigger Plan/Story...
Quote:
“Pain redeemed impresses me far more than pain removed.” -Philip Yancey
God - via His Story - redeemed the pain of Joseph’s history.
May you find your fit in the story God is writing with your life through the ups and downs, the twists and turns, through the challenges and adversities that come your way. He is with you! (often in Joseph’s story, at each turning point, there is the phrase “The Lord was with Joseph”)
Friend: The Lord is WITH YOU - Jesus assures us of that truth & reality.
He wants to grow your character, your integrity, your grit to be a light in a world often marred by moral compromise and darkness.
*remember: Jesus said - "let your light shine"
Friend: The Lord is WITH YOU - Jesus assures us of that truth & reality.
He wants to grow your character, your integrity, your grit to be a light in a world often marred by moral compromise and darkness.
*remember: Jesus said - "let your light shine"
Thank you for partnering with us!
If you partner with us financially, thank you for enabling us to be the church in our city. Your tithes and offerings help fuel the mission of Elements City Church, as well as our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis. You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveJoin us next weekend as we continue our series, Old School: Ancient Truth for Today.
Hope you're ready for our Tailgate Afterparty! *food trucks and fun after service...stick around!
Check out the Elements City Church app to stay up-to-date with upcoming events, listen to playlists of the songs we sing in worship, and more. Find it in your smartphone's app store.
Hope you're ready for our Tailgate Afterparty! *food trucks and fun after service...stick around!
Check out the Elements City Church app to stay up-to-date with upcoming events, listen to playlists of the songs we sing in worship, and more. Find it in your smartphone's app store.