Church Of Christ - Youth Group

Today we are looking at Genesis 39:1-6a as we look at life without God. It’s not that cool.

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. ”

When I was a young child, I always went shopping with my mom. When we were in an unfamiliar area, I made sure that I stayed really close so that I didn’t get lost. Well, one day it happened. I got interested in something and wandered away. Mom was no where to be found. I frantically looked everywhere, but could not find her. Soon my mom found me and I was happy to see her. Without your parents, you may feel lost, but eventually they find you and your life returns to normal.

Joseph got into a similar situation. He was in an unfamiliar land and still managed to praise God. When he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, he was lost from his family – but not from his heavenly Father.

In Genesis 39:2 it says, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.” Joseph was faithful to God, and he was blessed in many ways. He had control of all of Potiphar’s belongings. With God’s help, Joseph became one of Potiphar’s top servants. Joseph pleased Potiphar and that please God.

Joseph, being away in a foreign land, is a little like being lost in a huge department store. We may get lost in a huge store or our parents may lose track of us, but only we can lose track of God; He never loses track of us.

Points To Ponder: Have you ever been lost without God?

Prayer Possibilities: Pray that your faith will prosper. Pray for help to help a friend’s faith prosper. Thank God for giving you faith.

People make promises all the time. Sometimes those promises get broken and people are let down. When God makes a promise, He always keeps it - always. Take a look at Jeremiah 33:14-18 today as we look at the Ultimate Promise.

‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.’ For this is what the LORD says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, nor will the priests, who are Levites, ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.’

Have you ever been promised something you wanted really badly? Have you ever wanted something so badly, but the only way to get it was to do something for it? Have you ever been promised something that your future depended upon? Maybe your parents promised you a new car for getting straight A’s. Maybe your friends promised to throw you a birthday party—non-alcoholic of course. As you can see, life is full of promises.

God made a promise to the entire world. He promised to send His Son as a Savior for all men. It says in Jeremiah 33:15, “I will make a righteous branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” God did keep His promise and send His Son to be our Savior. We did not have to do anything to receive this promise. God gave it to us by His grace.

If we believe in God’s promise, we will be with God in heaven. No works are needed to obtain salvation. It says in Jeremiah 33:16, “In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.” God is with us and protecting us at all times. We should continually praise and thank God for His promises. We should be very happy He keeps His promises. Without His promise we would all be dead. Now we can live with Him forever.

Points To Ponder: Why did God send Jesus for us? What can we do to show thanks for God’s promise?

Prayer Possibilities: Thank God for keeping His promises and sending Jesus to be our Savior. Pray that you are able to keep your promises to people like God did for us.

We live in a throw-away world. Today we are taking a look at Isaiah 51:4-8 and getting some new insight on this idea. I’ve quoted verse 6 below, but please read the whole passage at the link above.

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.”

We’ve all seen items at the grocery store that say “disposable,” such as diapers and litter boxes. Some of us even plan to throw things away and get rid of them, like a car. On the average, most people only have their cars for five years and they “dispose” of them. Unfortunately, even some of our friendships are disposable. For example, many of the people we meet at camp, we never talk to or write to again. It seems as though nothing lasts forever.

There is one thing, however, that will always last. That is God’s love for us. Although it might not seem like it all the time, God is always there for us to comfort and guide us. It says in Isaiah 51:6b, “My salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.”

Whenever it seems as though there is nothing definite in our life, all we have to do is to turn to God. He is always there.

Points To Ponder: When do you feel alone? How do you know God will always be there? How do you help friends when they are feeling alone?

Prayer Possibilities: Pray that those who don’t know God’s comfort will find it. Pray for those who are feeling left out and “disposed” of.