This week we continue our sermon series based on Mike Breen's book "Covenant and Kingdom - the DNA of the Bible". Guest speaker Emily Halvorson shares the story of Joseph as related in the book of Genesis, showing how his covenant relationship with God helped him on an amazing journey. As Joseph grew in maturity and knowledge he began to see God as the center of his being, the source of his power. As beloved children of God in the 21st century are we able to do the same?

Genesis 37 New International Version (NIV)

Joseph’s Dreams

1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.

This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.

Alexander Graham Bell