Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
Chain Reaction
Scripture
12 When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, 13 they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 14 He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: 15"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." 16 He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; 17and he sent a man before them--Joseph, sold as a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, 19till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. 20 The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. 21 He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, 22 to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.
Main Idea
Joseph was put in chains and taken to prison after being thrown in a pit, sold as a slave, and accused by Potiphar's wife. He was imprisoned, but refused to take on the attitude of a prisoner. The chains that continued to have a hold on his life, one after the other, were moving him forward to his purpose. We don't get to pick our path that leads to our promises. Our circumstances should not become our identity, but rather our God-given identity should change our circumstances.
What God puts in you is always better then what life puts you in.
Discussion Questions
- What chains do you feel trapped in right now?
- What circumstances in your life are distracting you from who God's calling you to be?
- What causes you to put your purpose on pause?
Summary
Joseph was in chains, one form or another, during his path to his promise. Throughout our lives we'll find ourselves in circumstances that tempt us to turn away from God's purpose for us, but the real defeat is if we let our trauma become our identity. By focusing on our identity in God, our circumstances will bring us closer to our purpose.
Take Action
- Commit to a reading plan on the YouVersion app about the life of Joseph. Try the five-day plan "The Life of Joseph" or a more in-depth plan called "Trusting God's Plan in the Waiting: Lessons from the Life of Joseph."
- Pray about the people in your life God wants you to invite to our Good Friday and Easter services.
Announcements
- Good Friday service is March 29 at 7:00p
- Easter services are March 31 at our normal service times: 8:30a, 9:45a, 11:15a
- Find details and register at vel.city/easter to save your seats.
