If you missed Sunday's broadcast, please catch up by following the link below. (For the foreseeable future, we be running our Sunday morning services digitally. Please go to our website on Sundays at 10:30 to join in)
Joseph’s story mirrors that of Jesus. Joseph was like a seed who was sown in a kind of death to save many. Jesus, however, is the seed. He has died for our salvation, from beginning to end.
The power is in the seed. Our salvation, any good work, any improvement in our character are all derived from the power of the cross. Jesus’ death for our sin has delivered us from sins’ guilt and power. Paul wrote of this in Romans 6,
‘What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life’ (Romans 6:1-4).
Through Jesus, we have ‘died to sin’! This very real death and resurrection was expressed in the symbolism of our baptism. What is the result of all this? ‘we too may live a new life’. The power of our new life is in the power of the seed - in Jesus!
RESPONSE
Jesus speaks of this new life and lifestyle in John 15,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
The power is in the seed - or the ‘vine’ to use this analogy. Let’s ‘remain’ in Jesus. Let’s throw all of our hope for everything on Him. This is the first and most important ongoing response: the Christian is to live in dependence on Christ. We live on the grace of God. We deserve nothing, but we get everything in Jesus.
Paul says something very interesting in Galatians 3,
‘The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.’ (Galatians 3:16)
What ‘promise’ is Paul referring to? Paul tells us that it’s the promise given to Abraham,
“All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Hebrews 12:3)
The power is in the ‘seed’. Through Jesus all nations, and you and I, are ‘blessed’. In the context of Galatians this means the receiving of the Spirit (Gal. 3:1-2); Adoption into the family of God (Gal. 3:7,26, 29); We are justified - accounted righteous by faith alone (Gal. 3:8-9).
The power is in THE SEED - Jesus! Are we resting, indeed are we rejoicing in Jesus?
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY – THE POWER IS IN THE SEED
Opener/Ice-breaker
Do you have any funny or interesting experiences of trying to grow something?
Introduction - please read in your group
Please read Read Genesis 37:18-33
On Sunday our message was entitled, ‘The power is in the seed’. Joseph was like a seed. He was sown in a kind of death as he was put into the cistern and sold into slavery in Egypt. Joseph will achieve salvation for his family who deserve nothing.
This account is a prefiguring of the gospel. Jesus, like Joseph, will die for those who deserve nothing.
Jesus, like Joseph, will achieve everything for us.
God wants to teach us that our salvation, transformation, all our good works are a result of the power of 'the seed' - Jesus working in and through us.
This, of course, does not encourage passivity. If we have truly received Jesus, His power will work in us in a far greater way than thinking that we are are responsible for everything.
Please read Mark 4:26-28
The power is in the seed - Jesus has died, He's risen, He's working to complete the restoration of all things.
Discuss together (Before getting into smaller groups)
Some of us find it very difficult to talk about what Jesus is doing. The victory He is winning. We are the kind of people that spend little time worshipping because we feel that we need to quickly move on to 'productivity' in praying for things or doing things. Are you more focussed on your failures, your weakness, what you must do, rather than rejoicing in the power of Jesus who is achieving God’s plans?
Discuss/share/pray in smaller groups:
What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about (maybe from Sunday's message)?
What will you do in response?
How can we pray for you?
Prayer
This week, as I hope you've seen in the Church News, we are praying for our Community Groups. Community Groups are so important in connecting together in building friendships and strengthening our relationship with God.
At this time of not being able to meet together as we usually do, it is so good that we are able to meet online in smaller groups.
Prayer points for this week -
For each leader, as they faithfully serve in leading their group.
That each person would be encouraged and encourage others in their group.
That our faith would be strengthened as we share Gods word together.
That we would see growth and more groups starting.
For more leaders.
Notices
Please share from this week’s Church News