Are You Kidding Me?! - Detour Ahead!

Genesis 39:19 – 40:23

When a detour occurs in your life, how have you generally reacted toward it?

Why does God not take us on a direct route from where we are to where He wants us to be? Share a personal example of how God led you in a "roundabout way" toward a desired goal. What are some important lessons you learned on the path?

Joseph was born into a dysfunctional family, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, sent to jail unjustly, and forgotten by everyone he had helped and served. Have you ever had to bear negative consequences in your life as a result of your commitment to God?

Obviously, Joseph was not where he wanted to be (and not where God told him he would be yet), but while he was in prison, he was given an opportunity with the baker and the cupbearer. What opportunities are in front of you right now in the midst of your detour?

Has there been a time in your life where you were so focused on the final destination of your future that you were missing what God wanted to do in your life right in the present?

Have you ever tried to refuse taking a detour? What happened as a result?

Are you on a detour emotionally, relationally, career-wise, or in another way? Answer these questions concerning your situation:

1. How is this experience developing my relationship with God?
2. What am I learning about myself through the situation?
3. What opportunities do I have now that I otherwise would not have had if I wasn't on this detour?
4. What could God be preparing me for in the future through this experience?

Next Steps:

This week, some of your rGroup members ma have shared some struggles and pains associated with detours they find themselves on. Be sure to spend some time praying for them (and for each other) as a group before you dismiss.

On your own, take some time to identify ways you can improve your relationship with God in the midst of your detours and disappointments.

Are You Kidding Me?! - But I Did the Right Thing!

Genesis 39:1–23

Share a personal story about a time in your life in which it was very easy and seemingly innocent to cheat.

How would you define or explain integrity?
(The word 'integrity' evolved from the Latin adjective 'integer', meaning whole or complete. In this context, integrity is the sense of 'wholeness', and not a fraction. 8/8 is a whole number, 7/8 would be a fraction.)

What does the concept of "whole" and "complete" tell you about integrity?
(Integrity can not be something we have "some" or "most" of the time. It's something we must have "all" of the time. It's our character.)

What do "small" choices and "white lies" have to do with integrity?

What are some of the greatest tests of integrity that men/women/couples/moms/teens (whatever fits your rGroup) face today?

What types of situations test your integrity the most?

Do you think integrity is valued today in society? Why or why not?

How can you specifically follow Joseph's example to run from temptation (sexual temptation or other kinds)?

Was there anything that Joseph did to help him make a decision in response to Potiphar's wife's advances? How can you learn from him?

If it matters, guard it. What "guard rails" are in your life to protect your integrity? What guard rails do you need to add?

What happens to your relationship with God, with others, and with the opportunities God gives you when you refuse to have integrity?

Even though Joseph demonstrated his character of integrity, he still got blamed and thrown in prison. Has integrity ever cost you something?

Why do you think God allowed the situation with "Mrs. Potiphar" to end the way it did, especially in light of God's favor in other areas of Joseph's life?

Everything we do as a child of God and follower of Jesus must be in integrity, truthfulness, and honesty, as we are representing Him who is living in us. What are you tempted to pursue/follow more than Jesus?

Next Steps:

What do you need to confess of and turn away from in order to follow God with integrity?

Think through the steps you need to take to put integrity into action in a specific instance. For example, what can you do to be more consistent and proactive with integrity?

What action step will you take this week to build your character of integrity?

Pray:

God, we need your guidance every single step of the way. Help us to see those times when we have a decision to make about who we are and who we are not. Help us to follow you and not our own desires. And show us the way that we need to walk, talk and think to stay in step with you.

Are You Kidding Me?! - It's Not My Fault!

Genesis 37:18–35

Being a Christian does not mean we will not face extreme hardships in life. According to these verses (18-35), how does what's happening to Joseph remind you of what happened to Jesus?
• Joseph was hated by his brothers. Jesus was hated by his own.
• Joseph's brother's conspired against him. The Jews of Jesus' day conspired against Jesus
• Joseph was stripped of his coat. Jesus was stripped of His clothing.
• Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver. Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

What is a time you took the blame for something you did not do or when someone took the fall for you?

Without looking it up online, what is your definition of the word 'blame'?
('to assign responsibility for a fault of wrong')

Joseph's brothers were quick to devise a plan that would help them "get away with" their actions. What makes it difficult to accept responsibility for your actions?

Part of giving blame is that you also then accept innocence. This can lead to hypocrisy in our lives. What is the danger of a Christian hypocrite to others? What is the danger of a Christian hypocrite to themselves?

What feelings do people avoid when they constantly blame other people for their actions?

What role does pain or discomfort play in the issue of blame?
(Blame is pushing away pain and discomfort. We blame when we're uncomfortable, experiencing pain, when we're vulnerable, angry, hurt, in shame, and grieving. There's nothing productive about blame.)

In your opinion, does stubbornness reflect an open or closed mind? Does it matter? Why or why not?

Joseph might have wondered where God was while being thrown in a pit and sold as a slave. However, we can see God in the small details. Share a real example of how to look for God's hand in times of trouble. How does this help you trust God more?

Why can't blame and trusting God co-exist?

Why is it comforting to know God can fulfill His will despite our rock-bottom circumstances?

Next Steps:

• What responsibility have you pushed on someone else that you need to take on yourself?

• What would it look or feel like to release the blame you've put on yourself, and ask God to forgive you?

• Is there a circumstance in your life that you are unhappy with and blame God? How might you experience His love and grace in that?

• What difficulty are you facing that you will trust God to control?

Are You Kidding Me?! - Living the Dream

Genesis 37:1–14

Joseph had a dream from God about what his life's calling would be.

A phrase you may have heard before is, "I'm doing what God put me on this Earth to do" or "I was made to _______." People often equate their passions, profession, or skills to God's will and purpose for their lives. Do you have a "dream" (AKA purpose, calling, destiny) for your life?

How do you know it's from God and not just a desire of yours? How can you tell the difference between a God-dream and man's dreams?

(Let anyone answer, discuss and brainstorm. You don't have to have the "right" answer yet.)

Many times, people believe that since they are a Christian, that means that God will bless their business, their family, their decisions, and their finances out of obligation. They believe that God will (or at least should) bless the dreams of Christians. Is that really what the Bible says God will do? Explain.

Here are 4 ways that the dream from Joseph helps us to see what a dream (calling, purpose, destiny) from God looks like:

#1 - A dream from God will always bring glory to God. A dream of yours usually only focuses around making YOU look better.

What's a calling you have that is meant to bring glory to God?

What is a dream you are pursuing that has left God's purpose out of it?

(Joseph's dream was about elevating Joseph to a position of power because God wanted a powerful person to proclaim to the people the truth about God. Joseph's elevation wasn't about him at all, but about God giving him a platform designed to give God glory.)

#2 - A dream from God benefits others. A dream of yours is focused on benefiting you and your life. God may bless you in the process, but it's not designed to simply be for you.

What's one of your personal missions that is centered around the benefit of others?

What dream of yours needs to be readjusted so that it includes others?

(Joseph was elevated so that people would be provided for during a famine, so that Pharaoh could tie the success to God through Joseph, and so that many people would know God. It wasn't about giving Joseph money and power just for his sake.)

#3 - A dream from God won't go away (it will resonate and even intensify over time). A dream of yours changes with your stage of life, circumstances, economy, and surroundings.

What passion has God put in your heart that has never gone away? And what are you doing with it?

What's a temporal pursuit that you know is from yourself and will fade away soon? What are you going to do about it?

(Joseph's dream came to him multiple times. It wasn't a one-and-done.)

#4 - A dream from God will be completed by God. God will do the work, make the way, provide the means, and work in people's hearts. A dream of yours means it's all up to you. God doesn't promise to bless OUR dreams, He promises to bless HIS dream for our life.

How have you seen God provide you with everything necessary to complete His dream for your life?

(There is no way that Joseph could have orchestrated his story. Because his purpose was given by God, God took care of all the details. If it's God's will, it's God's bill.)

Next Steps:

So, how does your "dream" line up? Is it a persona desire, or is it your purpose and destiny from God? Remember, there's nothing wrong with personal desires. We just need to make sure we don't miss the purpose that God has for our lives because we are busy chasing our version of a dream for our lives.

What do you need to confess to God and repent of? What do you need to ask God's help for? What's one step you can take towards God's dream this week?

Easter Sunday 2018

Luke 24:13–31

Read Luke 24:13-16

Why, of all the disciples to visit on this first day of His resurrection, would Jesus come alongside these two discouraged believers, and for it to be recorded for us?
(This could be a lesson for strong believers to take time, and come alongside those who are weak in their faith, building them up and encouraging one another by explaining the scriptures that our God is never far from us, even when we are low in faith.)

Why do you think the men did not recognize Jesus? How do we not recognize Jesus today?

Read Luke 24:17-24

How did the men "miss" Jesus in verse 21? How do we miss Jesus today? How do we miss the gospel today?

How does the reality of Christ fuel our mission?

What helps you recognize that it is Jesus who is walking alongside you when you are discouraged or confused?

If Jesus were to walk a few miles with you today, what would you talk with Him about?

Read Luke 24:24-31

What value do you see in Jesus doing a Bible study with them instead of just telling them who He was?

Why do you think Jesus disappeared once they recognized Him?
(We are to walk by faith and not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7. His disciples had been relying on His visible presence, some of them for three years now, but now it is time to lean on His invisible presence.)

Does God want our faith to be built on experience alone? What is the relationship between faith and truth?

If an unbeliever asked you, "What practical difference does Jesus make in your life?", what would you tell them?

Next Step / Prayer:

Jesus, I invite your presence and ask you to walk beside me in what I am going through. Help me to recognize that you are with me. Reveal yourself to me, and make me aware of your master plan for my life.