Genesis 44 (HCSB)Joseph’s Final Test44 Then Joseph commanded his steward: “Fill the men’s bags with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s money at the top of his bag. 2 Put my cup, the silver one, at the top of the youngest one’s bag, along with his grain money.” So he did as Joseph told him. 3 At morning light, the men were sent off with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone very far fr...  Read More

Genesis 43 (HCSB)Decision to Return to Egypt43 Now the famine in the land was severe. 2 When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us some food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man specifically warned us: ‘You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food...  Read More

Genesis 42  (HCSB)Joseph’s Brothers in Egypt42 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other? 2 Listen,” he went on, “I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we will live and not die.” 3 So 10 of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benja...  Read More

GOD IS IN CONTROLGod can use trials and difficulty for good for those who follow Him.Key Truth: God Can Cause Family Problems to Work Out for Good (Genesis 37:1-11)Key Truth: God Can Cause Mistreatment to Work Out for Good (Genesis 37:12-36)Key Truth: God Can Cause Every Work Situation to Work Out for Good (Genesis 39:1-6)Family Connection: Continue the discussion after church!What did the branche...  Read More

DECEMBER 9, 2023Have you ever had family members treat you poorly or even plot against you?2.  What reactions do we have when we suffer injustice?3.  How will you handle such problems?Want to dig deeper? Go directly to www.mikethebaptist.com. You will be able to listen or watch a conversation with Temple's pastors as they sit down and dive deeper into the weekly questions and content....  Read More

Genesis 41:1-45 (HCSB)Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams41 Two years later Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, 2 when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. 4 The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, w...  Read More

Genesis 40:1-23 (HCSB)Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners’ Dreams40 After this, the Egyptian king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to them...  Read More

Genesis 39:1-23 (HCSB)Joseph in Potiphar’s House39 Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lor...  Read More

Genesis 37:12-36 (HCSB)Joseph Sold into Slavery12 His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.” “I’m ready,” Joseph replied. 14 Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him f...  Read More

Genesis 37:1-11 (HCSB)Joseph’s Dreams37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 These are the family records of Jacob. At 17 years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives,and he brought a bad report about them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons...  Read More

JACOBAbraham’s son was Isaac.  Isaac’s son was Jacob.  Jacob’s descendants became known as the children of Israel.Key Truth: Jacob Had Conflict With His Brother (Genesis 25:19-34; 27:1-46)Key Truth:  Jacob Had Conflict With His Uncle (Genesis 29-31)Key Truth: Jacob Had Conflict With God (Genesis 28:10-22; 32)Family Connection: Continue the discussion after church! If you were Esau and you could ha...  Read More

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK1.  What does the expression “what goes around comes around” mean in terms of Jacob’s experience?2.  Many people needed forgiveness throughout these scriptures and in each instance, it was given.  Who in your life needs forgiveness from you?  Who can you share the gift of God’s forgiveness with?3. How has growing up in our own particular family affected us?  How has it helped...  Read More