Teaching by Book: Genesis
Ministering Out of Depletion
Sometimes we are tempted to feel that our contribution to God’s kingdom is insignificant, especially when we are feeling depleted. Yet in the storyline of all of history, it could be that, when any of us goes forth to minister in the simplest way to another person, it may change the course of the world.
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Mind Your Heart, Part 1: What Is Shame?
Shame is the fear of not being accepted, of being found out, of being discovered. Like Adam and Eve, we want to hide in our shame. But even though life isn’t safe, Jesus is.
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In the Beginning, Part 60: Forgiveness
Granting forgiveness is hard. Asking forgiveness is hard. Accepting forgiveness is hard. If you don’t think it’s hard, you probably aren’t doing it right.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 59: The Character of Jacob and Joseph
The gospel is best communicated where the conviction of those who believe it can be observed by those who don’t. God honors those who honor Him.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 58: Judah Is the Key
Jacob prophesies that descendants of Judah will carry the royal scepter and rule his people until the one comes to whom the scepter belongs. Then He will rule the nations.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 57: Jacob’s Spiritual Sight
In spite of the fact that we have fallen and failed time after time, God has been our shepherd and has gone before us. Our view of eternity guides our life of uncertainty.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 56: Escaping Egypt
No matter what is going on in your life, you are still in “Egypt,” the land of your affliction. But if you have put your trust in Christ, you can know that you will someday escape Egypt to dwell in an eternal, heavenly city.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 55: Down Into Egypt
If you want to gain an eternal perspective, you must see yourself as a pilgrim, understand that life is a vapor, hold no confidence in human promises, realize that your life is in transition, and take inventory of your life.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 54: Joseph Is Revealed
We all contribute to the mess that exists in the world, but we can look back and see that everything is designed for our good and God’s glory. By seeing God as sovereign, it replaces bitterness with love, forgiveness, and grace.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 53: The Coat and the Cup
When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, they took his coat and used it to bring great pain to their father. But when a missing cup threatens the life of their youngest brother Benjamin, Judah is willing to offer his own life instead.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 52: A Meal in a Palace
Joseph’s brothers sat down and had a meal while Joseph was trapped in a pit. Many years later, Joseph invited them to a meal in a palace. None of what happened to Joseph was “good luck” or “bad luck,” but it was the providential working of God to bring about His sovereign plan to redeem the world.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 51: Awakening of the Conscience
The accounts of Scripture are not just about individual people in history; they are a revelation of the human condition and our desperate need for somebody to take our sin and get rid of our guilty consciences. All pillows are soft if your conscience is clear.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 50: Pharaoh’s Dreams
Pharaoh has absolutely everything—but in reality he has nothing. Joseph has absolutely nothing—but in reality he has everything. Joseph’s encounter with Pharaoh has echoes of revelation, illumination, identity, and suffering, all of which find their fulfillment in Christ.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 49: Joseph’s Patient Hope
In a fallen and broken world, we are constantly going to be waiting. Waiting on the Lord is hard, but joy is the inner spiritual confidence that God’s grace is sufficient to see you through your earthly pilgrimage.
Watch / ListenIn the Beginning, Part 48: Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife
What appears to be a downward spiral in Joseph’s life is actually a trajectory toward greatness, because of the Lord’s providential working. Joseph’s identity was in the Lord, and the Lord was always with Joseph.
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