CONVERSATION STARTERS

1. Read Genesis 50:1–21.

2. Joseph endured betrayal, slavery, and prison before seeing God’s purpose unfold. Can you recall a time when your circumstances made you question God’s presence? What was that experience like for you?

3. Joseph forgave his brothers and saw God’s hand in their betrayal. What does forgiveness look like when the pain is fresh? How can you imagine God using that hurt for something good?

4. Joseph didn’t know the end of his story while he was living it. While Genesis–Revelation helps us see the “whole story,” there are still times where doubt of God’s plan can creep in. Are there practical reminders that have helped you stay grounded in times of suffering and confusion?

5. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph says to his brothers "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done ..." Can you look back on your life and see a time that was meant for harm, but God has used it to grow you, protect you, or bless others? What did you learn about God through that experience?

6. Joseph’s story reminds us that God’s purpose isn’t always visible. How can Joseph's story and his faithfulness through hard situations be an encouragement to you this week? How can you use this to encourage others?

Title: Joseph
Reference: Genesis 37:1-8
Speaker: Jonathan Neef, JonathanN@cckc.church

Because God is with you, you can …
Endure faithfully even in the worst circumstances

Turning to God in your pain
Telling God how you feel
Telling God what you want
And Trusting God with the outcome
-Psalms

Because God is with you, you can …
Forgive even the worst people

Because God is with you, you can …
Trust that God can take the worst and turn it to good

It is perhaps most striking of all to realize that if God had given Joseph the things he was likely asking for in prayer, it would have been terrible for him. And we must realize that it was likely that God essentially said no relentlessly, over and over, to nearly all Joseph’s specific requests for a period of about twenty years. Most people I know would have given up and said, ‘If God is going to shut the door in my face every time I pray, year in and year out, then I give up.’ But if Joseph had given up, everything would have been lost. - Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering