LIVING WITH GOD IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TODAY’S THEME: LIVING WITH GOD IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

TODAY’S THEME (2): UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES Caused by GRACE SIN IGNORANCE BENT & BROKEN CREATION and SOCIETY

IF YOUR GOAL FOR FAITH IS…. CONTROL & PREDICTABILITY ASSUREDLY - YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES A PERSONAL STORY GENESIS BEGINNING – Genesis 1 & 3 ENDING – Genesis 50 (on your bulletin cover) Genesis 37-50 – JOSEPH & HIS BROTHERS

Genesis 37:15-17 (New Revised Standard Version) 15  And a man found Joseph wandering in the fields; the man asked him, "What are you seeking?" 16  "I am seeking my brothers," he said; "tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock." 17  The man said, "They have gone away, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. (straight to pit and slavery)

Genesis 41:50-51 (New Revised Standard Version) 50  Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons, whom Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 51  Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house."

GENESIS 50:18-22a (NRSV) 18Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as God is doing today. 21So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them. 22So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s household…. (then Exodus 1….)

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE TABLE BY GOD & BY JESUS - IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THEY PROMISE TO WORK TOWARD GOOD FOR YOU IN THE GOOD SITUATIONS & IN THE BAD SITUATIONS OF LIFE THEY PROMISE TO NEVER WASTE ANY SITUATION: NO MATTER HOW BAD – UNWANTED & UNINTENDED - IT IS

Romans 8:28-39 – GOD WITH US IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES (1) 28  We know that all things work together toward (for) good for those who love God, who are called according to God’s purpose. 29For those whom God foreknew God also predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son of God, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.

Romans 8:28-39 – GOD WITH US IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES (2) 30  And those whom God predestined (those who love God and are God’s family), God also called; and those whom God called, God also put into a right relationship with God (justified); and those whom God put into a right relationship with God, God also glorified.

Romans 8:28-39 – GOD WITH US IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES (3) 31  What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32  God who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will God not with him also give us everything else? 33  Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who puts us into the right relationship with God.

Romans 8:28-39 – GOD WITH US IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES (4) 34  Who is to condemn? Is it the Messiah, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? 35 (If not God, and not Jesus then) Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."

Romans 8:28-39 – GOD WITH US IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES (5) 37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through God who loved us. 38  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39  nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in the Messiah Jesus our Lord.

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE TABLE BY GOD & BY JESUS - IN A WORLD FILLED WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THEY PROMISE TO WORK TOWARD GOOD FOR YOU IN THE GOOD SITUATIONS & IN THE BAD SITUATIONS OF LIFE THEY PROMISE TO NEVER WASTE ANY SITUATION: NO MATTER HOW BAD – UNWANTED & UNINTENDED - IT IS