EPIC (Joseph) | Week 2
Key Verse: John 16:33
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Digging In:
Read Genesis 37:18-22
When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” “Let’s not kill him,” he said. 22 “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.
Genesis 37:23-25 & 28 So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. 24 Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
Life has pits.
Read john 16:33a In this world you will have trouble.
What do you think Joseph was feeling in the pit?
What part did Joseph play in getting himself thrown in the pit?
Pits in your own life come in many forms:
Outside Circumstances: Life happens
Internal Circumstances: Bodies and mind can fail for many reasons
Poor decisions: Sometimes we create our own pit.
Read John 16:33a
Jesus is speaking “In this world you will have trouble.
What is the most difficult life event you have ever experienced?
In the pit, you can be buried or you can blossom.
What was your initial reaction to the most difficult event you’ve experienced?
How did this experience change you?
What are the negative reactions we can have in the pit?
What are some questions we can ask to help us grow in the pit?
What is God doing in me?
What is God doing through me?
Read James 1:2-4
Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
The verse says to have JOY in TROUBLE. What does that look like?
Do you show joy in your troubles?
Many of the pits we face in life drive us to avoidance. We avoid the curveballs life throws at us as long as possible, until we can’t anymore. But if you’re not willing to go through it, you’re never going to grow from it.
What does growth look like from your pits?
What does the quote “Beautiful souls are shaped by ugly experiences” mean to you?
Pits can drive us from God or to God?
What new insights did you learn about the character of God in this time?
How have/could you use your experience to bless others who may be going through something similar?
Read John 16:33
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Because Jesus endured his pit of the cross we can overcome whatever the world throws our way.
Next Step:
If you’re in a pit, look for God and his guidance.
Ask him to make you a quick learner and for you to be able to see what He is teaching you.
Ask God to show you how you can use your pit experience to bless others.