Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: Tomorrow is memorial day and we join with people around the country and world who remember those who have given their lives to protect our nation and its freedoms.

We do owe a lot to their sacrifice, and it is appropriate to remember them this weekend.

Today in our sermon, we are are talking about a “Mark” of true discipleship: Hands for Serving.

And often when it comes to thinking about examples of a selfless servant who is ready to give their life for others, the American military is often the first thing we think about.

Let’s take a minute to thank God for those people who have given their lives to protect the freedom we enjoy today.

Pray.

We are continuing our sermon series on Authentic Character and today we’ll be looking at Joseph, the son of Jacob had hands for serving.

Serving is something that everyone knows they are supposed to do, but few people are willing to serve in the way that God has called them to.

Serving means that we are willing to give up our own needs and wants in favor of doing what God wants us to do.

It means putting the needs of others before ourselves.

It means that regardless of what is going on around us, we serve well.

You might wonder what that looks like.

Today we look to a man who had hands for serving.

Transition to the Text: turn with me in your Bibles to Genesis 37:1.

The story of Joseph is one of the longest in all of the Bible.

It encompasses 12 chapters.

Because of this we can’t read all of it straight through (but it’s worth it if you want to do that this week).

So we’ll give an overview of Joseph’s life hitting the high points.

But all that to say, the summary of Joseph’s life was the idea that he had a strong devotion and dependence on God and no matter where he found himself, he served as though it were for God.

Joseph is also one of only 2 major characters in the Bible of which no sin is mentioned (Daniel being the other).

That’s not to say that he was sinless, but Moses just didn’t record any.

And considering his circumstances, this is admirable.

Introduce: From Joseph we learn to:

Authentic Principle: Serve Regardless of Your Circumstances.

1. Joseph’s story shows that greatness is in service.

(Genesis 37:1-11)

Explanation: Joseph was the favorite son of a man named Jacob.

If you know the story, Jacob had 2 wives: Rachel and Leah, sisters.

Rachel was loved but Leah was not.

Leah already had many children, but Rachel was unable to have children until Joseph was born.

Joseph was the child of Jacob’s old age.

So he favored him Joseph’s brother’s hated him for it.

He showered his favoritism on him by giving him a coat of many colors.

And then one day Joseph had a dream and then another.

Joseph dreamed that he would one be so great that his brothers would come and bow down to him.

Now the fact that Joseph dreamed the dream twice is significant.

Later in his life, when Joseph is standing before pharoah to interpret his dreams, who also dreamed a dream twice, he states

It would not be quick for Joseph.

It would be close to twenty years and it wasn’t going to be what many would expect.

His brothers would come and bow down to him, but not so that he could rule over them, but so that he could serve them.

And save them from a famine.

Joseph was always good at serving.

To start, he served his father even though, in so doing, his brothers hated him for it.

When they sold him into slavery, he was sold to a man named Potiphar.

Joseph didn’t get lost in sorrow, but got busy serving is new master.

And God blessed Joseph’s service and Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his whole household.

But then Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he wasn’t having it.

In Genesis 39:9, Joseph acknowledges that to give in to her would be to sin against God.

All that has happened so far and Joseph knows God is still in control.

But Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph and Potiphar has Joseph thrown into prison.

Not that any prison is nice, but this is a prison reserved for people that Pharoah doesn’t like.

How would Joseph respond?

Joseph served the jailer and he served the prisoners.

He had a pastoral concern for them, specifically we are told about how her served a cupbearer and a baker who had dreams.

The jailer gave Joseph a licence to be cruel to other prisoners.

But he wasn’t.

Joseph was kind.

Imagine being in a situation where you might feel every right to be upset about your circumstances, yet you show concern to others.

Be like Joseph.

Illustration: I think that many of us want to be in charge and we have a certain view of what being in charge looks like.

We get to tell people what to do.

We get to make the decisions and we get to require that people treat us with a level of respect commensurate with our position and title.

The Bible has a different picture of authority.

And Joseph is an example of what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 20:25-28

Application: Not everyone is called to lead or be in charge and I think we see that in how some of those people use their power and authority.

Do you lord it over people and make sure everyone knows who’s in charge or do you serve others?

Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, serve others.

Have concern for their needs.

The greatness you seek comes not from position or title, but from serving others.

2. Joseph’s story shows that God’s plan for us may involve suffering.

(Genesis 37:12-40:23)

Explanation: As we have gone through Joseph’s story, it started with God revealing to Joseph from an early age His plan for his life.

At some point in Joseph’s life, his brothers would come and bow down before him.

Even when we look at those dreams, the details are ambiguous.

What would the circumstances be?

Would they bow down in homage?

Or in fear?

Would this be retribution for the way in which they had treated Joseph?

How would Joseph respond?

Would he welcome them and treat them kindly?

Or would he punish them.

Or perhaps most importantly to Joseph how soon would this be fulfilled?

Many of us believe or hope that God has a bigger plan for our lives.

Joseph knew that God had a bigger plan for his life.

But what many of us (Joseph included) may not realize is that the plan almost always includes suffering.

Illustration: Around this time of year, graduations are taking place.

And in Christian circles we will hear Jeremiah 29:11

Now some of you know that I have long said that this passage should not be used to talk about graduations, because it’s not referring to God’s plans for individuals, but for the nation of Israel as a whole as it related to the coming Messiah.

When Jeremiah wrote, the fall of Jerusalem was imminent…suffering was imminent.

70 years were promised as judgement on the people of Israel.

All of those who were taken into captivity would die there and would never see their homeland again.

But in spite of the judgement, God will preserve the nation by bringing some of their children back to the land, and continue the plans which move towards the coming of the Messiah.

But earlier before Jeremiah 29:11 is the command of what the people are to do in the midst of their circumstances.

Do you see it?

In the midst of your circumstances, serve even your enemies well.

Application: I’m not as averse to using Jeremiah 29:11 to give encouragement to recent graduates so long as we tell the whole story.

God has plans, but those plans may include accounting for the suffering, disappointment, discouragement, abuse, lies, and even violence that is thrown at you by the world.

That’s not to say that God is to blame.

But God can and will use our circumstances to mold us into people useful for his purpose.

So in every circumstance, ask how might God be using this circumstance to build me up for later usefulness?