JOSEPH!
A HERO'S JOURNEY
Sunday, August 21st, 2022
Every HERO has a JOURNEY. So do you.
During this series we are learning about the AMAZING JOURNEY of one of the GREATEST HEROES of the Bible - Joseph. Through many challenges, Joseph never lost sight of the promise God made to him as a child. He kept his focus on God and experienced the REWARD of a life lived faithfully for God through the difficult times. We can experience the same if we will stick with God when the going gets tough!
We love blockbuster movies! And the biggest and most successful movies feature a hero we can cheer for. If you pay close attention to these epic movies, you’ll begin to notice a pattern to them. The hero doesn’t just show up and “save the day.” There is usually a journey that the hero must go on before they are ready to be the hero we long for in the story. While each story is different, there are some aspects of this journey that appear in almost every hero story. We'll be exploring those in this series and what we can learn from them.
OUR LESSON TODAY:
Joseph Runs from Potiphar's Wife
READ ABOUT IT: Genesis 39:1-20
Every hero at one point or another is going to face a point where they have to make a tough decision that will reveal their character. It is in that moment that we find out if they have what it takes to be a hero - if they will step up and do what is RIGHT!
Every hero at one point or another is going to face a point where they have to make a tough decision that will reveal their character. It is in that moment that we find out if they have what it takes to be a hero - if they will step up and do what is RIGHT!
The Heavenly Rewards GAME SHOW!
Episode Three: Selflessness
Why do you think Molly won? What did you think about Stan’s attitude? Should Sam have been allowed to join the show? In our Bible story today, Joseph faces a test where he could have been selfish and just gone along with temptation, but as you’ll see, instead he decides to do the right thing, and God will reward him for it in the long run.
HERE IS THE MAIN POINT FOR THIS WEEK:
The Hero’s Test
Blockbuster movies are usually epic! And the biggest and most successful movies feature a hero we can cheer for. If you pay close attention to these epic movies, you’ll begin to notice a pattern to them. The hero doesn’t just show up and “save the day.” There is usually a journey that the hero must go on before they are ready to be the hero we long for in the story. While each story is different, there are some aspects of this journey that appear in almost every hero story.
Let's review the last two stages, The Hero’s Calling and The Hero’s Plight.
• The Hero’s Calling – Some event or person that calls them to some higher purpose for their life.
• The Hero’s Plight – Before our hero can save the day, they always have a setback. It can be a villain, but often it is something within them that holds them back that they need to overcome.
That brings us to this week’s stage in The Hero’s Journey: The Hero’s Test. In every hero story from blockbuster movies to even animated films, you’ll see the hero’s character and nobility tested before they rise to accomplish their heroic feat. It’s a test of character to see if they are worthy of being called a hero. Often the villain is someone who had the opportunity to be a hero but failed the test.
Let's talk about this next stage:
• The Hero’s Test – Next, our hero usually must face some kind of test to determine whether he or she is worthy of being the hero we hope they will be. They must decide if they will be honorable and noble, or if they will cheat or lie or take a short-cut. We cheer when they make the right decision. It makes them worthy of rooting for.
As we follow the story of Joseph, we see him coming out of his plight as a slave, rising to be put in charge of all of Potiphar’s household, just to be tempted by his boss’s wife. He could have given in to the temptation, for the temptation itself or to save his position. Instead, he ran from it and ended up being falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He passed the test, even though there would be consequences.
READ: 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Below)
Blockbuster movies are usually epic! And the biggest and most successful movies feature a hero we can cheer for. If you pay close attention to these epic movies, you’ll begin to notice a pattern to them. The hero doesn’t just show up and “save the day.” There is usually a journey that the hero must go on before they are ready to be the hero we long for in the story. While each story is different, there are some aspects of this journey that appear in almost every hero story.
Let's review the last two stages, The Hero’s Calling and The Hero’s Plight.
• The Hero’s Calling – Some event or person that calls them to some higher purpose for their life.
• The Hero’s Plight – Before our hero can save the day, they always have a setback. It can be a villain, but often it is something within them that holds them back that they need to overcome.
That brings us to this week’s stage in The Hero’s Journey: The Hero’s Test. In every hero story from blockbuster movies to even animated films, you’ll see the hero’s character and nobility tested before they rise to accomplish their heroic feat. It’s a test of character to see if they are worthy of being called a hero. Often the villain is someone who had the opportunity to be a hero but failed the test.
Let's talk about this next stage:
• The Hero’s Test – Next, our hero usually must face some kind of test to determine whether he or she is worthy of being the hero we hope they will be. They must decide if they will be honorable and noble, or if they will cheat or lie or take a short-cut. We cheer when they make the right decision. It makes them worthy of rooting for.
As we follow the story of Joseph, we see him coming out of his plight as a slave, rising to be put in charge of all of Potiphar’s household, just to be tempted by his boss’s wife. He could have given in to the temptation, for the temptation itself or to save his position. Instead, he ran from it and ended up being falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He passed the test, even though there would be consequences.
READ: 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Below)
When he was faced with a temptation, his answer was to ask how he could sin against “your husband and my God?” What would motivate Joseph to do what was right, even when he knew that it wouldn’t end well for him?
READ: Hebrews 10:36 (Below)
READ: Hebrews 10:36 (Below)
He knew that God had made a promise to him, and if he wanted that promise to come true, he had to hold up his end of the deal by trusting and obeying God, no matter what.
READ: Matthew 7:13
READ: Matthew 7:13
Potiphar’s wife may have said to him, “But everyone is doing it...” but Joseph knew that he had to do what was right no matter what.
There is a saying that is worth remembering: WHAT’S POPULAR IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT AND WHAT’S RIGHT IS NOT ALWAYS POPULAR.
There is a saying that is worth remembering: WHAT’S POPULAR IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT AND WHAT’S RIGHT IS NOT ALWAYS POPULAR.
Joseph knew that doing what was right was the best choice in the long run, even if it meant some bad result in the short run.
FAMILY DISCUSSION GUIDE!
Use this PYRAMID to discuss the lesson as a family! If you want to re-play the game, compete as a family and build PYRAMIDS with plastic cups!
DOWNLOAD AND READ!
This weekly guide will give you some Scriptures to look up, family discussion questions and more so you can learn more about our Rock Solid Adventure from The Outpost this week!
DOWNLOAD AND READ!
This weekly guide will give you some Scriptures to look up, family discussion questions and more so you can learn more about our Rock Solid Adventure from The Outpost this week!
If you are catching up, here is the link to NEXT WEEK.
THIS MONTH'S SCRIPTURE CHALLENGE!
WE ARE WORKING TO MEMORIZE THIS PASSAGE:
