Let's wrap up our “Duped” sermon series by focusing on what many believe to be a touchy subject - money. How are we to use our wealth? Is there a danger to wealth? How much is enough? Please don’t let the evil one dupe you into thinking this might be a good time to skip watching. :)

“God just wants you to be happy.” That sounds right, but is it true? Let's search the scriptures together.

We are kicking off a new sermon series entitled Duped. Over the next four weeks, we will be looking at a few of the lies our world is selling. One of the lies society hopes you will believe is that you only live once. One only needs to look at the empty tomb to know that is a bunch of hooey. There is life, a better life, after this one.

Mark 11:12-14, 20-21, “The next day they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And the disciples heard him say it. (20) In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!’” This is such a bizarre incident, isn’t it? It feels so petty and unjust - so out of line with the character of Jesus. Why in the world would he do such a thing? Join us Sunday to discover why Jesus performed this one and only miracle of destruction.

Joseph acted with the utmost integrity. What did that get him? It landed him in a dungeon prison on a trumped-up attempted rape charge, a charge that he could not fight because he was just a lowly Hebrew slave with no voice or rights in the empire. However, instead of spending all of his time retelling the story of how he had been messed over, pleading his innocence, or wallowing in toxic emotions, he got busy serving other people. Join us as we continue to learn from this man of remarkable faith.

One thing you need to know about God is that He is all about reconciliation. His great desire is for people to be reconciled to Him and reconciled to one another. This is why Jesus, God in flesh, came. He defeated the evil one through his death to begin the restoration of the perfect harmony that existed in the garden. This work will come to full completion when Jesus returns to usher in the New Heavens and New Earth where we will take our place at the banquet table in fully reconciled relationships with our brothers and sisters of all nations and our triune God. As we wait for that day to come, God works in the here and now to reconcile people whose relationships appears irreparable. Hear the perfect ending to Joseph's story.

Joseph was no overnight success, but his life changed dramatically overnight. How did that happen? How did a Hebrew slave rise to such a prominent position in the Egyptian empire? His life changed overnight because he trusted the God who is powerful enough to move people into the positions and places He wants them to be. What God did in Joseph's life, He can do in yours. He can change your life dramatically overnight.

If anyone knew what it was to go through crises it was Joseph. He went from a favorite son in the house of his father Jacob to just another slave in a foreign household. Yet, he not only withstood the crises, he thrived in his new environment. All credit goes to God for Joseph’s success, but Joseph experienced God’s favor in large part because of how he handled the situation.

Knowing God has a dream for each one of us also gives us reason to be excited about life. To bounce instead of roll out of bed in the morning. Life can feel awfully mundane at times (just as I am sure it did for Joseph all those days he was out shepherding flocks), but it is never free of anticipation when you realize God is moving and working out his great dream/plan for your life.

One of the greatest gifts we can give future generations is to deal with and end family/societal dysfunction in whatever shape or form it comes in. When it comes to favoritism we may not all agree to what extent it exists in our family/country, but let’s show the courage and resolve to address whatever inequality is still present.