Fusion: week of 2/28

 FAMILY THEME: GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE

Genesis 45:1-28

Joseph used his power and position to provide for his family in spite of the

way he had been treated.

✞   God Can Use the Worst of Circumstances to Accomplish His Purposes

     (Genesis 45:1-7)

     In spite of their abuse, Joseph had forgiven his brothers.

✞   God Can Provide for Our Needs

     (Genesis 45:8-13)

     God worked through the difficulties Joseph had experienced

     in order to provide for the needs of His people.

✞   God Can Restore Broken Relationships

     (Genesis 45:14-28)

     God allowed Joseph's family to be reconciled and restored.

Fusion: week of 2/21

FAMILY THEME: GOD IS IN CONTROL

Genesis 37:1-36  ;  39:1-5 

Joseph faced challenging circumstances, but God provided him

favor for the role he would play in His plan.

✞   God Accomplishes His Plans, Even in the Midst of Family Problems

     (Genesis 37:1-11)

     Jacob's favoritism and Joseph's dreams caused strife within their

     family. But God was still at work.

✞   God Accomplishes His Plans, Even When Life Seems Off Track

     (Genesis 37:12-35)

     Joseph's brothers, considering murder, chose to sell him into

     slavery. They deceived their father and made him believe that

     Joseph was dead.

✞   God Can Use Us for His Glory in Any Work Situation

     (Genesis 37:36  ;  39:1-5)

     The Lord blessed Joseph's work and showed him favor while

     in captivity.

Fusion: week of 2/14

FAMILY THEME: GOD CREATED EVERYTHING

Genesis 35:1-29 

Jacob returned to his spiritual roots to reflect and received a blessing

and renewed promise.

✞   Reflecting on What God Has Done Strengthens Us

     (Genesis 35:1-8)

     Jacob built an altar at an instrumental place in his

     spiritual journey.

✞   God is Always Working His Plan

     (Genesis 35:9-15)

     Jacob was clearly different than he had been when

     last he met God at Bethel. In this meeting, God 

     changed Jacob's name to reflect His promise.

✞   God is With Us Through the Ups and Downs of Life

     (Genesis 35:16-29)

     Although Jacob had received a blessing, he would

     soon be confronted with the realities of death and sin.

Fusion: week of 2/7

FAMILY THEME: GRACE IS UNDESERVED

Genesis 27:1-46 

By His grace God chose to use Jacob despite his faults and failures.

✞   God Will Accomplish His Plan Regardless of Our Bad Choices

     (Genesis 27:1-29)

     Rebekah devised a plan for Jacob to deceive his father and

     steal Esau's blessing. But Jacob's willful dishonesty didn't

     deter God from His choice to bless the world through him.

✞   Choosing to do Things Our Way Leads to Negative Consequences

     (Genesis 27:30-46)

     After Jacob had stolen his blessing, Esau became so bitter 

     that he committed to kill Jacob. Even then, God was at work.

     He met with Jacob, transformed him, and reaffirmed His

     covenant to Him (Genesis 28:13-15).

Fusion: week of 1/31

 FAMILY THEME: FAITH WILL BE TESTED

Genesis 22:1-19 

Genesis 22 shows us Abraham's greatest test of faith.

✞   God Tests Our Faith

     (Genesis 22:1-2)

     This was a God-ordained test for Abraham's benefit (not God's)

     to grow his faith and set an example for all believers.

✞   Trust and Obey God, Even When it is Difficult

     (Genesis 22:3-10)

     Abraham's faith in God took him to a place he didn't want to go,

     to do something he didn't want to do. This was extreme faith.

✞   God Provides What is Needed to do His Will

     (Genesis 22:11-19)

     God provided the perfect sacrifice when Abraham obeyed.

Fusion: week of 1/24

 FAMILY THEME: GOD PROMISES BLESSINGS

Genesis 12:1-9 ; 15:1-6

Abraham is called the father of faith because he believed God about

some big promises. Genesis 12 reveals to us God's call of Abraham

and his response of faith.

✞   God Promises Blessings to Those Who Trust and Obey Him

     (Genesis 12:1-9)

     God made specific and incredible promises to Abraham,

     conditioned on Abraham's obedient faith.

✞   God Reassures Those Who Trust Him

     (Genesis 15:1-5)

     When years later, Abraham and Sarah remained childless,

     God came again to confirm His covenant with Abraham.

✞   We Are Saved by Faith

     (Genesis 15:6)

     Despite any doubts he may have had, Abraham trusted God.

     Throughout Scripture, this testimony is used for our example

     (see Romans 4:3, 22 ; Galatians 3:6 ; and James 2:23).

Fusion: week of 1/17

FAMILY THEME: SEEK THE LOST

Luke 15:1-32

When the religious leaders could not figure out why Jesus would be

willing to associate with sinners, Jesus told a series of parables to

help them understand.

✞   Even Sinners are Priceless in God's Sight

     (Luke 15:1-10)

     While all sheep were important, the shepherd's priority was to

     rescue the one that was lost; the woman searched for her lost

     coin.

✞   Going Our Own Way Leads to Brokenness

     (Luke 15:11-19)

     While the world gives the lost some sinful pleasure, it takes far

     more than it gives. Sin overpromises and under-delivers.

✞   God Welcomes All Who Repent and Return to Him

     (Luke 15:20-32)

     The father rejoiced to see his son come home. No one has

     strayed so far or been gone so long that God will not welcome

     their return.