Pastor Talk

Joseph's family come before Pharaoh, and he favors them with the choicest land in Egypt. And yet, even though Joseph's father Jacob stands before the most powerful man in the world, Jacob goes out of his way to offer a blessing upon him. It turns out that the blessing comes not from earthly power but God's faithful presence, a lesson that can be easy to forget amidst the difficulties of our lives....

Not every story in Genesis has a happy ending. In fact, every character thus far had at least one very dark season. Today, Joseph is reunited with his father at the same time that God renews his covenantal promise that he had made to Abram and Isaac. In one short chapter, reconciliation leads to blessing, which leads to rejoicing, and an eternal reminder that God is faithful. Join the Pastors as t...

When Joseph, on the order of Pharaoh, sends his brothers home laden with gifts, he instructs them to bring his father to Egypt so that he could see him with his own eyes. Jacob, hardly able to believe that his son is alive, resolves to travel to Egypt at any cost so that he can see his long-lost son with his own eyes. Join the Pastors as they discuss this moving part of the story and explore its m...

Join Pastors Clint and Michael as they offer some concluding thoughts on how Christians can live a more unhindered life. No matter what we have learned about ourselves in the midst of this self-assessment, it all hinges on whether we are willing to put that knowledge into practice. Don't miss this down to earth conclusion of the Unhindered series! Download the Unhindered Self-Assessments Here: Pra...

This moment has been building for chapters and it finally arrives! Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, and in a scene rarely scene in the scriptures, he weeps over them. With all of the challenges that he has seen along the way, Joseph makes a stunning profession of faith in God and we catch a glimpse of this remarkable display of reconciliation and forgiveness. Don't miss this amazing...

In the climactic moment of the story, Judah stands before the man who is second in command of all of Egypt and makes an impassioned plea for the life of his youngest brother. Joseph watches as the same brothers who sold him into slavery now beg with their own lives for the sake of Benjamin. Join the Pastors as the explore how the story has been setting us up for this incredible moment from the ver...

The trap that Joseph has been preparing is now set and his brothers walk right into it. When the youngest (and their father's favorite) Benjamin is found to have the silver cup, they are terrified. In fact, they even confess that they may have finally been found guilty for what they had done to Joseph. Join the Pastors as they explore this difficult story and the questions it raises for us. Be sur...

Joseph's brothers are treated to an extravagant meal and they, for a moment, enjoy themselves. Join the Pastors as they explore this fascinating part of Genesis and some of its small details that you might miss on a first reading. It turns out, there is more happening beneath the surface than the nice meal might suggest. Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going...

Let's be honest, no one is perfect and, unfortunately, that means you aren't perfect either. Join Pastors Clint and Michael as they discuss the many pitfalls that often get in the way of Christians living out the faith. Though taking an honest assessment of our lives isn't often easy, it is absolutely essential to become the kind of people who are marked by the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Down...

Hunger drives Joseph's brothers to convince their father to take Benjamin to Egypt. They rejoice to see on Simeon who had been held captive but fear retribution from Joseph (who they still don't recognize) who has already spoken harshly to them. Little do they know things are only going to get harder... Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this jour...

Joseph's brothers return home dismayed after discovering that their money had been returned to them. Jacob is crestfallen because the only way to save his son imprisoned in Egypt is to risk the last remaining son of his beloved wife. In this crossroads of pain and grief, Israel's family tries to make sense of what they should do next. Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be intere...

When Joseph's brothers arrive in Egypt seeking food, Joseph sees them for the first time since the moment they sold him into slavery. This painful encounter forces Joseph to choose how he will treat the very brothers who years before had intended to kill him. Today we discover the importance of his younger brother Benjamin and we also begin to see that Joseph remains deeply affected by the events...

In a day, Joseph goes from the prison to the second in command of the world's greatest power. Join the Pastors as they explore how Joseph's remarkable story points us to God's original promise for the whole world and how some of the unexpected details of the story continue to teach us that God works in mysterious ways. Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going al...

The central message of the Christian faith is the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Today the Pastors invite you to explore how that forgiveness has made a difference in your own life. Do you find yourself getting angry with others quickly or do you keep a long list of wrongs? Maybe you been unable to forgive yourself for something that you have done (or left undone)? Let's explore grace together. Down...

After two long years, when Pharoah has a dream that none of his priests can interpret, the cup bearer remembers Joseph. Suddenly, in a twinkling of an eye, Jospeh gets a chance to stand before the most powerful man in the world and offer an interpretation of his dream that might not only change his own life as well as the wellbeing of an entire nation. Be sure to share this with anyone who you thi...

While Joseph serves the prison warden, he interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's cup bearer and chief baker. The radically different interpretation of each dream sets the stage for the remarkable transformation that lies just around the corner for Joseph, it also makes it explicitly clear that God continues to be faithful to him despite his continued struggles. Be sure to share this with anyone who yo...

If you thought that Joseph becoming a slave would be the lowest point in his life, today's story will come as a shock. When Potiphar's wife tries to convince Joseph to lay with her and he refuses, she turns the tables on him and falsely accuses him of attempting to take advantage of her. This chapter traces the shocking consistency of God's blessing, even as the circumstances of Joseph's life cont...

In today's story, Judah and his sons refuse to do their part to take care of Tamar when her husband dies. What follows is a rare kind of story in Genesis, when a strong woman makes the very best of a very bad situation and ends up not only tricking her father-in-law but also writing herself into the very genealogy of Jesus. Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in goi...

Today the Pastors explore what our relationships with others can to teach us about the state of our own spiritual health. For those with eyes to see, our closest relationships can become a mirror that reveal our greatest strengths and deepest burdens, a glimpse that can become a catalyst for becoming more Christ like people of faith. Join the Pastors for this engaging conversation about our relati...

When Joseph's brothers scheme to kill him, they aren't kidding. Joseph is sent by his father to the fields where his brothers plan to end his life. Join the Pastors as they explore how Joseph goes from the favored in his family to a slave. What follows is a story of jealousy, anger, self-advancement, and even God's ability to make something good out of those things that aren't. Be sure to share th...

Today we are introduced to Joseph, the last major character of Genesis (and the first introduction isn't great). He rats on his brothers, is pampered by his father with luxurious gifts, and is well known as his father's favorite son. In fact, we learn in just the first four verses that his brothers hate him so much that they can't say a single good thing to him. Join the Pastors as we meet the dre...

Today marks the final major character transition in the book of Genesis. Isaac dies, Jacob is named Israel, and becomes father to his 12th son, and for the first time we can see a glimpse of the 12 tribes of Israel that are to come. Though these transitional chapters may not always be devotional in their meaning, they are essential in leading us through long and winding path that God has been fait...

When Jacob and Leah's daughter Dinah is violated by a foreigner, it sets off a series of negotiations, trickery, and, ultimately, deadly justice. The cost of intermingling with foreigners is clear but the lasting impact on Dinah is left untold. Join the Pastors as they explore a difficult chapter of Genesis and its implications for our understand of the Israelite people. Be sure to share this with...

The power of the good news of Jesus Christ transforms Christians from the inside out. Therefore, any deep reflection on the Christian life must explore our personal conduct and, ultimately, our character. Join the Pastors as they explore how our attitude and demeaner can all be signs of our spiritual health and what practical steps we can take to deepen our "everyday faith. " Download This Week's...

Several chapters come to a head when Jacob and Esau finally meet in their long-awaited showdown. We discover that instead of violence there is peace and instead of division there is reconciliation. We are surprised to find that the man who was bested by his younger brother is ready to forgive, while the youngest is ready to humble himself. This story is a mountaintop of Jacob's story, and it is a...