That S Messed Up

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That’s Messed Up

Series Big Idea

Though Joseph lived through so many messed up experiences, the Lord was with him and his life became a model of integrity and grace.

Series Overview

Joseph is an incredible Biblical hero. His story occupies more space in the book of Genesis than any other single individual… including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob.

Yet so much that happened in Joseph’s life was messed up! Though he made a few early mistakes himself, he was terribly mistreated by many people in many ways. Yet, he lived high above the all-too-common reactions of rage, resentment, or revenge. He is a model of integrity and grace, and we can learn much from his story.

A significant part of each talk in this series will be telling Joseph’s story. Each week we’ll tell a major part of Joseph’s story, draw some applications, and then end by foreshadowing the next chapter.

Week 1 | June 18 | Promise

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36, 39:1-6a

Message Big Idea

No matter what we’ve done or what’s been done to us, we’re never disqualified from living a life of promise.

Joseph’s Story

Focus: Jacob’s favoritism and Joseph’s Dreams. Joseph’s brothers mistreat him and sell him as a slave.

Foreshadow: Joseph ends up in the house of Potiphar and quickly rises to be the manager of the entire estate.

Message Description

Joseph was the apple of his father’s eye, who unwisely showed Joseph favoritism over his eleven brothers.

Joseph’s life was also full of promise. Through dreams, God revealed that he had great plans and purposes for this young man. But Joseph’s big mistake was bragging about these revelations and alienating his older brothers.

That’s Messed Up: Jealous and resentful, Joseph’s brothers betray him, selling him as a slave, and cover it up by making his father believe he is dead.

Even when Joseph’s brothers betray him and the unthinkable happens, Joseph continues to follow God and he prospers in the house of Potiphar.

We all mess up, and we come from families made up of people who mess up. All of us carry baggage. Maybe some of us feel like we are smack dab in the middle of failure and dysfunction right now.

No matter what we’ve done or what’s been done to us, we’re never disqualified from living a life of promise. God is with us just like he was with Joseph (39:2), and he can empower us to prosper in our current circumstances.

Docent Requests:

Interesting background and exegetical insights on Joseph’s story.
Insight regarding ancient family systems/structures (answering the question, “Why were Joseph’s brothers so upset?”).
Symbolic significance of the imagery in Joseph’s dreams.
Suggestions for supporting Scriptures.
Insights or quotes from spiritual writers that fit this Big Idea.
Statistics or research insights on the prevalence of common things people consider “baggage.” (i.e. victim of abuse, child of a broken home, job loss, divorce, etc.)
Stories of recognizable people/historical figures who were able to overcome incredible failures and/or challenging circumstances to live a life of purpose.

Week 2 | June 25 | Integrity

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23

Message Big Idea

Deciding now to do the right thing later can help us live a life of integrity.

Joseph’s Story

Focus: Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.

Foreshadow: Joseph ends up in the house of Potiphar and quickly rises to be the manager of the entire estate.

Message Description

Joseph is flourishing in Potiphar’s household. Potiphar can see that “the Lord was with him” (39:3), and Joseph is entrusted with leadership over the entire household.

Just one problem: Potiphar’s wayward wife.

That’s Messed Up: When her advances are refused, Potiphar’s wife frames Joseph, accusing him of attempted rape, and he ends up getting thrown into prison.

Joseph is confronted with a situation that challenges his integrity. Though it cost him dearly, he refuses to compromise.

A few things we learn from Joseph’s story that might help us:

Don’t be surprised by your situation.

We’re always going to be faced with situations that challenge our integrity (we’ll broaden this beyond sexual temptation - tempted to compromise, deceive, be lazy, etc.).

Don’t wait until you’re facing the challenge to decide.

Joseph had already decided he was going to do right by Potiphar and by God. His decision to live a life of integrity gave him the strength to resist persuasion. Decide now that you’ll do the next right thing.

Don’t be fooled by your emotions.

Your inner feelings will plead for satisfaction and comfort. Joseph didn’t stick around to think about himself and debate the situation. He fled. Note: Make an aside here that gives hope to the person who already messed up.

Don’t be confused with the immediate results.

Your stance against a temptation may cost you something (a job, a relationships, acceptance). Joseph’s stance cost him dearly and he finds himself thrown into prison. But even in a dungeon, the Lord was with him (39:21), and Joseph finds favor.

Docent Requests:

Interesting background and exegetical insights on Joseph’s story.
Suggestions for supporting Scriptures.
Insights and/or quotes from spiritual writers that fit this Big Idea.
Creative ideas/illustrations/images for communicating the idea of integrity.
Stories of recognizable people/historical figures who showed remarkable integrity even though it cost them dearly.
Insight on Douglas McGregor’s “Theory X/Theory Y” work as it pertains to the topic of integrity.
Information regarding the Talmud’s understanding of this scene between Joseph and Potiphar's wife (b. Talmud, Sota 36b)
Practical suggestions for ways to grow in integrity, in any expression.

Week 3| July 2 | Perseverance

Scripture: Genesis 39:20-41:1a

Message Big Idea

When our aim is to honor God, we can find the strength to persevere through any circumstance.

Joseph’s Story

Focus: Joseph interprets dreams for the cupbearer and baker, but is forgotten. .

Foreshadow: When Pharaoh needs a dream-interpreter, at last Joseph is remembered.

Message Description

Joseph has been treated unfairly by his family and by his “employer.” Yet, even in prison, God is with Joseph and he finds favor with the warden. He is put in charge of all the other prisoners. Everything Joseph does is successful, including interpreting dreams for two of Pharaoh’s servants, the cupbearer and the baker, who also found themselves in prison. Joseph makes one request of the cupbearer: remember me and tell my story of mistreatment to Pharaoh should you ever get out of prison.

That’s Messed Up: When Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer is restored to his position, just as Joseph said he would be, he forgets about Joseph, never giving him another thought. Another 2 years go by.

Joseph could have become disillusioned as he faced one disappointment after another. Yet what enabled Joseph to persevere was that he wasn’t focused on his own personal success, he was focused on honoring the God who was with him. God was using him to help others even in the midst of his troubling situation. That’s why even when his circumstances were so bleak, he could continue to have a great attitude. Joseph’s goal was to honor God and that kept him from becoming disillusioned because his goal was achievable no matter his circumstances.

Some application points could be:

God is always with us, he never leaves us no matter what our circumstances may lead us to believe.
It is possible to do the right thing and still suffer. (1 Peter 2:20b “...if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”)
Often circumstances are out of our control, but how we respond to those circumstances is in our control. We get to choose our attitude. (Possible story: Charles Swindoll’s story about Thomas Edison’s great attitude during a devastating fire (p. 44).)
Our difficult circumstances might provide the perfect platform for us to help someone else. This could be a great message to tell a story of a COMMUNITY attender whose has been able to help others because of a difficult circumstance they’ve been through.

Docent Requests:

Interesting background and exegetical insights on Joseph’s story.
Suggestions for supporting Scriptures.
What does the Bible say about “joy amidst adversity?”
Insights and/or quotes from spiritual writers that fit this Big Idea.
Any psychological insights on what enables a person to have a positive attitude in difficult circumstances (where others might grow disillusioned or discouraged).
A brief theology of suffering (i.e. How could a good God allow bad things to happen?)

Week 4 | July 9 | Redemption

Scripture: Genesis 41:1-45:28, Romans 8:28

Message Big Idea

God wants us to see that he’s at work redeeming whatever we’ve been through.

Joseph’s Story

Focus: Joseph is promoted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and is able to save people from famine. Next, he comes face to face with his unsuspecting brothers.

Conclusion: Joseph reconciles with his family.

Message Description

When Pharaoh has a couple troubling dreams, the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph and he is summoned from the prison. After successfully interpreting the dreams, Pharaoh recognizes how God is powerfully at work in Joseph’s life and puts him in charge of the entire land of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. Joseph successfully helps Egypt prepare for the coming famine.

That’s Messed Up: Now, all these years later, Joseph’s brothers show up in Egypt looking for food. What will Joseph do? Is this Joseph’s opportunity for revenge?

Joseph is able to look back on his life with all its struggles and pain and see the hand of God at work. He reconciles with his brothers and is reunited with his father. He recognizes God is redeeming what has happened to him and worked it for his good, his family’s good, and the good of thousands of others.

When we find our way back to God, deciding to walk with him and for him, he can work everything we’ve been through for our good, the good of the people in our lives, and the good of thousands of others.

How might God want to redeem the difficult things in your life? How can we partner with him in this redemption?

Some possible application points (these are from the Starting Over message):

Redemption is something God wants to do.
Redemption can take many forms (i.e. FYWBTG, spiritual growth, redirection, etc.)
Redemption requires us to take the long view.

See the Shannon Ethridge in the previous COMMUNITY message about God redeeming her worst mistake (striking and killing a bicyclist) and using her to help millions of women.

Docent Requests:

Interesting background and exegetical insights on Joseph’s story.
Suggestions for supporting Scriptures.
Insights and/or quotes from spiritual writers that fit this Big Idea.
Practical suggestions for partnering with God in his work of redeeming the difficult things in our lives.
Creative ideas/illustrations/images for communicating the idea of and need for redemption.

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