July 17th, 2011 The DNA of the Bible Wk3-Joseph

How would you describe the bible (Honestly!)? Intimidating? Confusing? Irrelevant? What if you had a lens that helped unlock the power in every passage? In this series we will be exploring the DNA of the Bible; the two simple, interwoven threads that carry God’s message throughout the bible from start to finish: Covenant and Kingdom-this week in the life of Joseph.

If you want a study tool to go along with the podcast, see Lift Notes here:

The DNA of the Bible: Covenant and Kingdom in the life of ___________

July 17, 2011

The Bible has a DNA. If we step back and look at the big picture of the bible there are some clear and simple themes that run throughout.  They are a framework to help unlock the mystery of the bible, and put its ___________ accessibly into ________ hands.

The two grand themes that are like tightly woven, interconnected threads that carry the message of God throughout the whole bible are: Covenant and Kingdom.

Covenant has to do with:

  • ___________: Above all else, we are made for _________ with God
  • ___________: Who are you in _______ _______?

Kingdom has to do with:

  • _____________: What are you called to do?
  • _____________: How do you ____________ the Father and King?

Covenant and Kingdom in the life of Joseph….

“Listen to this dream I had” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”….And…

“Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” Genesis 37:6-7,9

 

The crazy thing about this is God did give him these visions; they were a picture of a great _______ that God intended for him. He was born to be a powerful leader; called to rule on God’s behalf.

However, he was not prepared to rule at all.  ____ was the _________ of his own universe. And that’s a problem…

God opposes the proud, but give grace to the humble.   James 4:6

 

The path to kingdom ____________ is through personal ___________.

So, God prepares Joseph to rule on His behalf through the humbling of ________ __________.

He is beat up, almost left for dead, sold into slavery, bought by Potiphar, wrongly accused, unjustly thrown in prison, and forgotten in prison; all totaling 13 years!

Yet, __________’s stunning perspective at the end was, “God intended it for good.”  Gen 50:20

How is this possibly good?

Look at transformation that has taken place.  When Pharoah asks him if he can interpret the dream, Joseph says “It is beyond my power to do this, but God can…” Genesis 41:16

 

Before, ____ was the center of his own universe, now _______ is at the center of his universe.

The path to kingdom greatness is personal humility. So, Hang in there, be _______ in trials, Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.                                                                                                                               1 Peter 5:6

Joseph’s life powerfully illustrates the bible’s DNA strand of Kingdom: that we are called to ______ and ___________on God’s behalf.

But in order to rule on God’s behalf we have to truly desire God’s _______, and none of us start out there, including Joseph.

jessecraig