DISCLAIMER:  This text is not a verbatim transcript.  Communication Access Real Time Translation (CART) is provided in order to facilitate communication credibility and may not be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings.    >> Thank you for joining us today. We want to let you know about a few items of interest. First, go to our website, firstcolonychurchofchrist.org, and go there often. You'll find links to our worship services; Bible study options; online giving; and our podcast, Anchor Point. You can also download our church app. Just search for "First Colony Church of Christ" in the App Store or on Google Play. The app is a great resource where you can stay connected to First Colony Church. Thank you for joining us today. We're glad you're here. ¶ >> Thank you for joining us today. We want to let you know about a few items of interest. First, go to our website, firstcolonychurchofchrist.org, and go there often. You'll find links to our worship services; Bible study options; online giving; and our podcast, Anchor Point. You can also download our church app. Just search for "First Colony Church of Christ" in the App Store or on Google Play. The app is a great resource where you can stay connected to First Colony Church. Thank you for joining us today. We're glad you're here. >> Richard: Hey, good morning church! How is everybody? Happy New Year! Let's make sure we're looking ahead and not behind this year, amen? God will do a new thing. Let's sing! ("Every Giant Will Fall" playing) >> Richard: Let's all stand! >> Richard: Yes, nothing is impossible with our God, amen? (Applause) We serve an amazing God, a faithful God, a God who can make rivers in the desert. ("Raise a Hallelujah" playing) >> Richard: Let's sing, church. >> Richard: Yes! Hey, church, thank you for worshiping with us. You may be seated. >> Jose: Buenos Dias. Good morning. My name is Jose Casanueva, and this is my wife Maria. We're grateful to lead you in the communion prayer this morning here from the city of Sugar Land, Texas. We will partake together. We'll take the bread, which represents the body of Christ; and the juice that represents His blood. Pray with me. Heavenly Father, God, thank You for sending us Jesus. Thank You for His Sacrifice on the cross for us. Thank You for His ministry of reconciliation. Thank you You for sending us the beginning and the end, Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, Father; and He is able to make all things new. It is in His Name that we pray. Amen. Partake with us. >> Maria: Good morning. Today I will be reading from Genesis 1, verses 1-5. (Reading) >> Richard: Let's all stand together. ("Build My Life" playing) >> Richard: Church, you may be seated. >> Ronnie: You know, in this moment after we've taken communion, we've received communion, let us receive afresh all the realities to which communion is pointing. Let's receive afresh in our spirits the cleansing from the Lord Jesus. Let's receive afresh that we have lives of meaning and purpose. We have lives of destiny as well. God is working in all things for the good of His sons and daughters; and receive afresh that sense of identity. You are God's child, made so by His grace. Church, I want to thank you as we get ready to receive our offering -- and again, just remind you that you can give online. It's safe and secure. That's what Martha and I do and encourage you to take advantage of that. If you want to give in one of our giving boxes, receptacles, they're at the exit doors. Let me thank you again for your generosity. We had an incredible burst of generosity over the last few days, and you have been amazing. My friends, it is your energy and engagement; prayers; generosity; your buy-in that in partnership with the Holy Spirit is fuel for what we do here both locally and globally. Again, I say thank you. Let's pray. Father God, today we give again with glad and sincere hearts. Use these funds and use these fine men and women and boys and girls to advance Your purposes. Lord, we love You, and we thank You for loving us first. In Your Name do we pray. Amen. >> Joel: Amen! Hey, everyone. It's good to see you this new year, and this is the kids' spot. You're probably saying, "Sweet! You're going to teach my kid how to sweep! Yes!" Well, not exactly. Often I'm asked what is one of my favorite object lessons. And my favorite object lesson involves a broom. The reason I like this object lesson is it's something that for the most part you can do at home. So not at home right now; wait until the service is over. If you're going home today and definitely don't do it in the formal living room if your parents china. We start with the Bible verse, and that comes to us from Hebrews 12, verses 1 and 2. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin so that easily entangles. Let us run with perseverance. The race marked out before us, fixes our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of the faith." So this object lesson involves the challenge of can you balance a broom on your hand? I learned something very interesting. If you look at your hand or you look down, it is impossible. It doesn't matter how good you are; this broom will fall. So as I look down, I can hold it for a second but eventually will fall. Believe it or not, that wasn't acting. I tried it at home; it's impossible. But how do we look to Jesus? We look up to Jesus. What I love about this chapter is that it comes to us right after Hebrews 11 where we talk about the superheroes of the faith. These were ordinary individuals who did extraordinary things. It's because they set aside the things that hindered and they looked up to Jesus. Now, when you look up to Jesus, you can hold it; and the more you practice, you can pretty much hold it forever, as long as you're looking up. Now, the cool thing is, as you say the last part of the verse, "Let us run with perseverance, the race marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." What is "The race marked before us"? There are only two things we can do that last forever, and that involves God's words and people's souls. Learning God's word is eternal. Investing in people's souls is eternal. And one day everything we do, say, earn will be put toward the fire test. Only what is eternal will last forever, which is -- pretty cool. (Laughter) What?! (Laughter) So my question to you is: are you ready for the fire test? Invest in what lasts eternal. Thank you very much. (Applause) >> Ronnie: Joel will find a way to have fire almost every Sunday, right? He is a trip. Hey, let's express our appreciation to Joel for these lessons every single week. (Applause) A lot of fun. Hey, and again, good morning to you with us online. Hundreds of you are worshiping with us. We're glad to have you as part of this worship, not just a worship service but worship experience. We're glad to have you here and would love to hear from you. You know, here in the room, you can see QR codes there on the pews. You can contact us via our Connection Card online. We'd love to hear from you. And we'd love to pray for you. Our church leaders, we pray for you. We can't read your mind but can communicate and let us know how to serve you and pray for you. It's our honor to do so. Okay. We're getting ready for dismissing our children to Main Street Live. There's Ms. Danelle and for those fifth grade and below, walk towards her, walking, walking towards Ms. Danelle. She will take you to our chapel for Main Street Live. All right, everybody, Happy New Year. Remember, we're not just celebrating a new year; we're celebrating our Great God and King who can make all things new, right? So why don't you stand up, look at somebody, and say "Happy New Year! God can make all things new!" ("Sing Wherever I Go" playing) >> Richard: Come on, church! >> Richard: Thank you, church! You may be seated! >> Ronnie: Richard and team, thank you so very, very much for leading us so well. Again, good morning, everyone. Welcome to the First Colony Church of Christ. We're delighted that Jeff Walling from Pepperdine University has returned and glad to have him with us as we kick off 2022. Jeff works in Pepperdine's Office of Church Relations. He is the Director of their Youth Leadership Initiative. As I've told you before, Jeff is an absolutely master speaker, master Bible teacher; and just a really, really good guy, really good man. Jeff speaks all across the nation and beyond almost on a weekly basis. He's done a fantastic job for us this morning, and I'm so thankful that you get to be here. I ask you to open up your hearts, receive what Jeff has to say to us today from the Scriptures. Jeff is married to Catherine, and Catherine is here. Would you please stand? Catherine Walling. We'd like you to stand and recognize and welcome you. (Applause) We welcome you here to First Colony. Jeff and Catherine have three married sons and three grandchildren. Jeff, welcome back to First Colony. Everybody, let's welcome Jeff Walling, please. (Applause) >> Jeff: Thank you, Ronnie. Thank you for the invitation to come and be here at First Colony again. I hope y'all know what a wonderful congregation you have to be a part of here. I mean, after singing like that, if that doesn't set your heart on fire, your wood just wet. That's all she wrote. (Laughter) I appreciate it. I just wish I had half the enthusiasm that Jack if guitar player did. Man, I just -- just got to love that. And then Joel set the church on fire. So we're ready for a new year. I do appreciate Ronnie's invitation. He has been a friend and brother and example to me for a long, long time. I remember being in junior high school and going to hear Ronnie speak. (Laughter) (Chuckling) If you're a guest here today, I want to congratulate you, especially -- you have perfect attendance in church so far this year. So in fact, even you members do, too. Tell the person next to you, "You have perfect attendance" and want to keep that up. We're thankful you're here and also online. There's many things the church has been doing well. We have been greeted and treated with hospitality, connected with friends and folks we have known in years past; but I love the way this church lifts up Jesus in this community. If you're guest a here like me, I hope you discovered you're at a place that really believes Jesus is the answer. Can I get an "Oh, yeah" out of First Colony on that? Jesus is the answer. So we'll begin the new year after -- let me do one thing. I want to bring you greetings and ask for your prayers as we serve at Pepperdine University. How many have been out to Pepperdine's campus? Some have. How many have been to Malibu or to Los Angeles? How many have been anywhere in the state of California? We'll do it that way, huh? (Laughter) How many will not raise your hand no matter what question I ask you? Okay; thank you for your honesty, ma'am. Pepperdine University; Malibu, California. This is a picture of our campus. It is a beautiful place to serve. We have about 3,000 undergrad students there, many of whom don't know Jesus; so it is a mission opportunity. Please keep us in your prayers, and you have been kind enough to invite me to your place so let me invite you to ours. We host every year a program called Harbor. It takes place the first few days of May and this year, Harbor will be about "No Other Jesus." The dates are May 3-6. You say, "Wow, man, I know Malibu is an expensive place." Here's what we do. It's after school closes so we open up our dorms and can get an ocean-view room with your food included for the full three days of the conference for only $250. Yeah, I know; you can't get a Motel 6 in Malibu for $250. I'm sure some of the guys here are saying, "Well, that's the anniversary trip I can afford right there. All right, babe." (Laughter) Come on out. We'd love to have you. 200 speakers will be over the country and we'll have a gathering -- can you imagine singing with 2,000 or 3,000 Christians? We have gatherings of that nature during the week of Harbor. Just look up "Pepperdine" and then "Harbor." Those two words. You'll find the program. My wife is indeed with me, along with Brad and Vonda Snyder and Taylor. These are good friends who years ago were part of our church in Southern California. 13 years there with the Mission Viejo Church of Christ. I said it was some of the best sleep the Snyders ever got during my lesson so I'm glad they're here today to relax and enjoy that. (Chuckling) I also want to say that it is a blessing to be in Texas because this is where my dad was from. My father was a minister in California all his life but born in Big Spring. Anybody know where Big Spring, Texas, is -- right, up north a little ways? As I think about my dad and my mom and the blessings that I had, I think about a lesson that is all about my mom's favorite Bible character. I think a good way for us to start the year -- if you have your Bibles with you, turn over to Hebrews 11 -- or if you have a phone or some glowing device, I want to show you something in Hebrews 11. To get there, I need to tell you something about my middle son. You know, during COVID, it is said that more people change jobs during the time of COVID than any previous year for unite a while. COVID was a challenge. Can I get an "Oh, yeah" on that? Those of you maybe who are still here online with us understand that sometimes the tension and frustration and things that just seem to get in our way, get in the way of our vision or even -- I brought one with me just in case because I didn't know -- masks, right? They gave us Pepperdine masks with a little "P" there. I have never been so excited to come here and be with Paul on the road to demask us. (Laughter) I have been waiting to say that, I got to tell you. Ronnie will use that; I know that. We are all so ready to say good-bye to COVID -- can I get an "Oh, yea" on that? But at the same time, we realize it's part of living in a world that is already but not yet. This world already belongs to Jesus. He's the King of King and Lord of Lords. Can I get an amen? And this world is not yet what it one day will be. The renewal of all things, the One who makes all things new, as Ronnie mentioned earlier today. That process we're caught inbetween, inbetween that which will be and that which is, inbetween the brokenness and frustration in our world; and it leaves us always feeling like, "Man, there's just something that I am missing." My middle son had been in his job a while. He's a videographer -- by the way, thanks to the folks who work in video here so those online can watch. We appreciate what you do. So he -- I was talking to him a couple years ago. "Dad, Rich got the job." I said, “What job?” He said, "The job I would love to do someday." “What is it?” “He's working in the Fox sports truck." “A truck driver?” "No, the big truck they park outside the arenas." “What does he do in the truck?” "He does the sizzle reel." “What's a sizzle reel? I don't know what that is.” He said, “Yes, you do. You have seen hundreds of them. Any time you watch a basketball or football game when it come to the commercial time, right before the break, they show a sizzle reel." I said, “No, no, no.” He said, “Yeah, it's only three or four seconds long. It's the best shot of the last period. The music starts and they reshow the three-point shot or they reshow the coach getting mad or in a football game reshow that end-zone catch and the guy doing the chicken dance.” He said, "That's called the sizzle reel. There's one guy or gal who work in the truck, and their responsibility is to pick the best shots from that period; but they only can do it up to eight seconds before. At eight seconds before, they have to make a decision, which of the shots they will use. So will be a sizzle 8. They start digitally pulling down. We'll use this one -- maybe this one -- they'll put music with it." Three, two, one -- boom. It goes out on national television. He said, “Doesn't that sound like a dream job?” I said, “Sounds like a nightmare to me.” (Laughter) Sounds like a stomachache. I mean that would be a little bit stressful. But I started thinking about the challenge of taking maybe 15 minutes of play and taking it down to three seconds. Right? How do you do that? And then, Ronnie, I realized a verse of Scripture, a chapter we have read many times -- Hebrews 11 -- is God's set of sizzle reels because over and over in Hebrews 11, he takes stories that are six, eight, ten, maybe 13 chapters, and boils them down to one verse. Now, he does it all -- the Hebrew writer does -- with this kind of caveat. He says in 11:1, "Now, faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." A moment ago I talked about what is and what will be. The Hebrew writer stands in the middle and says, "Okay. Faith -- can you say “faith”? >> Audience: Faith. >> Jeff: Can you say it like you believe in it? Faith. So faith is confidence in what we hope for. We don't have it yet. We're hoping. It's assurance -- can y'all say “assurance”? >> Audience: Assurance. >> Jeff: Take your hand and do this. Like assurance, like you're really sure. They tell me at Pepperdine the teachers say it's kinetic learning. Here we go, faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not yet see. He goes on to say, "This is what the ancients" -- he uses that word to describe these Old Testament heroes -- "the ancients were commended for." Then he launches into the sizzle reel. Over and over again -- for instance, Noah's chapter six-plus chapters in the Old Testament. If you had to boil Noah's story into one sentence, what's Noah's big three-point shot? What's the one thing you got to include in it? Yeah, the ark, right? Take a look. Here's what it says: "By faith Noah when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear” -- can you read it with me – “built the ark to save his family." That was Noah's big three-point shot. Or Abraham. Remember when God said, “Come and leave to a country where I will show you?” Abraham had no idea where he was going. Here's his three-point shot. "He obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." You know, I have been driving a rental car the last couple of days and I know that sentence really well driving in Houston on freeways -- wait a minute; was that the turn? 903? Y'all understand? Only Abraham had God say, "I will lead you to a promised land." Abraham said, “Where is it?” God said, “I won't tell you. Just follow Me. I want you to leave and you will go places you haven't seen. You don't know where it is, but I will get you there.” (Whispering) That would drive me nuts. (Normal voice) Do we have follow control freaks in the audience? Don't point, ma'am -- "I'm married to one right here." (Laughter) Are you the kind of person -- show it to me on the map. Year ago I was in a Texas Gospel meeting. “We'll go to Brother so-and-so's house." How do you get there? "Just follow me." “It's by the tank and big truck.” Okay. I get behind him and all of a sudden I'm hanging on for dear life with two red lights the only thing with me and being lost in East Texas thinking, "Oh, man!" Well, that's exactly what God called Abraham to. Abraham packed up his things, was loading up, and neighbors said, "Where you going?" Abraham said, "I have no idea." “How do you know when you get there?” “God will say stop, I guess. I'm following Him.” If that feels weird, (Whispering) that's the life we're all living. (Normal voice) God said, “Follow Me and I will take you to some place you haven't seen or imagine.” I don't know what heaven looks like but imagine it will be great. If you draw me a picture; I don't know. This stained glass look up here, the marvelous color. How could we possibly picture heaven? Abraham didn't know where he was going, but he knew it was the Promised Land. Okay, do you see how it works? You boil it down to just one little sentence? All right, I will name a Bible character, and I want you to tell me how you boil that Bible character's life down to one sentence. This was the one -- my mom's favorite one. She had a shoebox with all the necessary flannelgraph in it. YouTube it. It's pretty cool. It's like early PowerPoint. (Laughter) She had these flannel cut-outs she would use to teach in Bible class. Her favorite character was the 11th son of Jacob. Y'all know who the 11th -- you teach on the Old Testament sometimes, Brother Norman, I assume? The 11th son? Everybody remember who Jacob was? Okay, let's back up a little bit here. God made the world. (Laughter) And then ten generations later, you know, He claims it off with Noah and then calls Abraham to come and leave -- he married Sarah and they had a child named Isaac. Isaac married Rebekah. They have the first twins we read about in the Bible, Esau and Jacob. Good. Jacob has 12 sons, right? Almost -- Jacob had more kids than Joel. He had 12 sons. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Asher, Issacher, Zebulon, Benjamin. The second-to-last one starts with a -- very good, VBS graduates -- starts with a “J,” ends with "Oseph." Joseph. Would you please at this point close your Bible? I know preachers don't normally tell you this. Close your Bible up. Don't look at your phone. Joseph's entire life is summed in one sentence, one. Now, those of you who know Joseph's life are going, "Wow. It's not as easy with Noah because of the Ark." If you don't know Joseph's life, buckle your seatbelt because it's better than a Six Flags ride. It's just crazy! Joseph starts out as his father's favorite. Daddy loved Joseph. He gave him the coat of many colors and was the 11th kid. All those older brothers hated him and, you know, sometimes I think Joseph kind of leaned into it. God gave Joseph adrenal one day. He comes to breakfast the next morning and tells his big brothers, "Hey, guys, I dreamed." “Give us a break.” "No, I dreamed about you. I dreamed you were all stars in the sky." His brothers must have been, “Yeah, that's right, we are.” He said, "I dreamed I was a star, too, and Mama was the moon and Daddy was the sun. And then, all of a sudden in my dream, all of your stars and the sun and the moon bowed down to me." (Laughter) I mean, isn't that just asking your big brother for a beatdown to tell him about a dream like that? And he had another dream, you know, about the sheaves of wheat that ready the same thing and his brothers were just like, "I'm so sick of him! Daddy loves him, gives him the special fancy coat." One day the brothers are in the field and grab and try to kill him by throwing him in a well. It doesn't kill him. "Let's just throw rocks on him and kill him." Some said, “We can't do it.” And then some traders come by and one said, “Wait a minute; we'll sell him. Let's make money out of the deal. We'll sell him into slavery.” They sell them to Ishmaelite traders and the last thing they do before kissing him good-bye is take the coat off his back and dip in animal's blood and take it home and break their father's heart with it. "Dad, we're so sorry. Joseph got killed by a wild animal." And while Jacob weeps over his favorite son, Joseph is being pulled to Egypt. I hope they let him ride the camel; I don't know. But by the time he got there, he must have been saying, "God, what did I do wrong? Why is this happening to me?" Have you ever had people that ought to love and protect you turn their back on you? Have you ever had people you trusted, maybe family, mistreat you? Joseph says, "I know what that feels like." And yet, he seems to continue to trust God because God says, "I'm gonna be with you, Joseph." Joseph is put on a block in Egypt and sold as a slave and the guy that sold him, hmm -- or bought him, rather -- is the head of the Supermax prison. His name is Potiphar. Joseph is taken from daddy's favorite with the special coat, sold into slavery and cleaning out cells. These were not nice cells. These were cold, stone cells that were everything for the prisoner including his bathroom; and here is Joseph on his hands and knees -- how many beaks or months was he there, saying, "When's my dad coming for me? When will someone come and deliver me?" And no one does. You ever felt abandoned by God? I think Joseph knows what that feels like. And yet God was him. In fact, He was so with him that everything his hands touched seemed to prosper and his boss said, "Man, you are awesome. I will make you manager. And pretty soon I will make you ruler over the prison." He becomes the right-hand man of this guy. Everything in his house he said "You're in charge of everything." Wow, from Daddy's favorite to sold in slavery to man in charge of everything -- you think, whoa! Just wait. Then he meets the boss' wife. Do we all remember this part of the story? A little awkward here. Because the wife thinks Joseph is "hot." Here's the way the Bible says it. It say she is noticed Joseph was handsome and well-built. I know that many men in this church know that burden. (Laughter) Of being "the guy" that gets noticed in the mall. "Whoa, dude, who is that," right? Turning -- you know -- guys, you know what feels like. So did Joseph. Only the problem was it turned the head of his boss' wife and she starts coming on and says, "Hey, hey, good-lookin'. What you got cookin'? How's about cookin'" -- you know the rest of that, right? And sure enough, she starts coming on, flirting with him; and Joseph is like, "Whoa, whoa, no, no, no!" This guy is 18 or 19 years old, right? Here's a woman in charge, a woman in power, and she is saying, "Come on, baby. Nobody knows." And yet Joseph has the courage to say no. I wouldn't dishonor God; I wouldn't dishonor your husband that way. This woman won't quit! She just keeps coming. And finally grabs him and says, "Come to bed with me." Joseph is like, “Whoa!” And this brilliant young man in a moment where -- I mean, at some point, guys, let's be real. Would you say "She's got my coat; there's nothing I can do." Would you have said, "Oh, God, I can't." You Joseph leaves the coat in her hands, running out the door. To every teen in the room -- sometimes the smartest thing you can do is get out of temptation's room. Can I get an “Oh, yeah,” from you wrinkled homies who have been there? Sometimes it is the smartest thing to just get out of dodge. That's what Joseph does. Unfortunately, it was still in her hand when her husband walked home that day and she said, "Look what your servant tried to do to me. He tried to attack me. He tried to rape me." Potiphar goes up in flames and gets Joseph and throws and locks him up in prison. His title is actually Chief Executioner, as you translate the Hebrew. It's possible he was planning to kill Joseph. Anybody here ever do the right thing and get in trouble anyway? Anybody here ever make the Godly choice and then get beat up for it? Joseph says, "I know what that feels like, friend." And yet he keeps trusting God. In his cell, waiting, hoping, two other prisoners are stuffed in there; and what do you know? It's the butler and the baker for the king, the cup-bearer and the baker for Pharaoh. They're in the cell and they're saying, "Oh, man, we're here." Somebody says, "Why were they put in the cell?" Think with me. You want to assassinate a ruler; how do you do it? You don't have a long-range gun so what are you going to do? Sneak poison in his food and wine. So if these two aren't trusted, they're in prison. And they both said, "Sir, we've had the weirdest dreams." I can imagine Joseph said, "Don't talk to me about dreams because they messed up my life." "But please, if you know dreams, interpret our dreams." So Joseph listens and said, “Yeah, my God can interpret the dreams.” He turns and said, "You will be back working for Pharaoh in two months." Yea. “And the baker will be dead in two months.” Sure enough, that's what happened. This guy got hung; this guys go to Pharaoh's palace. Joseph said, "Remember me to your master." But he doesn't. He forgets him. Ever been forgotten by a friend? Joseph said, "I know what that feels like." By the way, you have one sentence. Everything I just told you; I need one sentence. What's the three-point shot from that? And we're not done yet because when Joseph is in prison, guess who else has a weird dream? Pharaoh. When the cup-bearer comes to him with the drink in the morning, "Oh, man, I didn't sleep." "What is it, sir? "I had the weirdest dream. I dreamed seven fat cows came out of the Nile River and behind them came seven skinny cow and the skinny cows ate the fat cows. But they didn't gain any weight." that's the diet I have been looking for, right? Off the beef you can eat without gaining weight? "Pharaoh said I had the same dream with ear of corn. I wish somebody could interpreted them." All of a sudden the butler says, "I know a guy who does dreams." "Where is he?” “The prison.“ “Go get him.” Imagine you're on from the pit to the palace and before Pharaoh who said, "I understand you interpret dreams." Joseph said, “God does.” "Fine. Interpret my dream." He tells him the dream; and Joseph said, "Oh, sir, I don't know if you really want to know because you see, those seven fat cows that you dreamed about, they represent seven years of really great harvest; but the seven skinny cows represent seven years of famine. And during the seven years of famine that will follow seven year of great harvest in Egypt, your people will eat up all the grain they had during the seven good years and your country will starve." Pharaoh said, "We have to do something about this! I need somebody wise! I need somebody who can -- you." Sure enough, he makes Joseph his new Head of Agriculture. Joseph goes from the prisoner to head of agriculture in one day and does a great job that Pharaoh said "I'm making you my right-hand man." You see, during the seven years of good harvest, he keeps back more of the grain than anyone thought would be appropriate; and then during the years of famine, that's enough grain not only for them but other people. Guess who down in Canaan hears about "there's grain in Egypt" but 11 starving boys who say to their father, "We've got to Egypt to get some of that grain. There's a man up there with grain." And they come trouping into the hallway -- I want you to get this picture. Here's the 11 guys who wrecked his life and they come walking in before Joseph. Now, they don't know it's Joseph. They just know it's the man in charge. And guess what they do when they stand before him? They bow. They bow down, JUST like the dream. Now, can I ask you, if you had the seven people or probably 11 people in front of you or the ten who had wrecked your life all of a sudden and you were the guy in charge and they're bowing down, wouldn't this be "Thank You, Lord; payback time!" Not Joseph. Joseph won't do it. Now, you understand why they didn't recognize him. It's because he's been in Egypt over a decade and didn't look like them anymore. I mean, you know, he recognized them because they're still in their VBS costumes; but here he is. (Laughter) And he's talking like an Egyptian and dressing like an Egyptian, right? In other words, he talked like an Egyptian and walked like an Egyptian, you know what I'm saying? So here is Joseph being able to hide behind haul all of this but will not destroy them or throw them in jail. In fact, all right, he pulls their chain a little bit to get Benjamin up with the golden cup shenanigans; but basically he says, "Guys," -- kind of Scooby-Doo, pulls off the headdress -- and said, "It's me." And they go, "Oh, no, it's Joseph." And Joseph said, "Don't be afraid because what you intended for harm God intended for good." So he saves their lives. Oh, by the way, he saved yours. “What do you mean ‘he saved my life’?” Remember. He saved Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and who is the fourth son? Name starts a "'J" and ends with “Udah.” Take your time on this one. It starts a "J." Yeah, Judah. Judah was the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather or so of Jesus Christ who was called the Lion of Judah. Yeah. Joseph saved the lineage of the One who Saved in this building; can I get an amen? >> Audience: Amen. >> Jeff: Wow! God! What an unbelievable story. He gets his dad and they all come and live in Egypt and Joseph gets to be an old man and dies. And you've got one sentence. One! What would you put in? Seriously. Got to put in the dreams, right? At least say no to Potiphar's wife. What about saving Egypt and Judah? And now prepare yourself. I was stunned when I read Hebrews 11:22. Therefore wave by faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones." Who was in the truck when that sizzle reel was put together is what I want to know? (Laughter) I'm serious! Look at it! There's nothing up there about the dreams; there's nothing up there about saving -- read it with me. Maybe we need to read with good forte. Here we go. "By faith Joseph when his end was near, spoke about the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt" -- just read the rest -- "and gave instructions about his bones." Doesn't make you want to say hallelujah, really, does it? It's not a verse you want on a poster, right? And then -- put it back up there just a second. And then I started thinking, "I don't even remember that." I read the Bible, right? You know? I don't remember that. I had -- you know where that comes from? That comes from Genesis 50, the last chapter. In fact, it's the last paragraph of the last chapter of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. When I went there and read it, lightbulb. Listen to it. You go to Genesis -- let me read 22. Joseph lived to be 110 years old and had the third generation of Ephraim's children. He got to bounce his great-great-great grandkids on his knee. He's 110, Watch what it says. "Then Joseph said to his brothers, I'm about to die." Well, he's 110 so he probably said, (Imitating old person's voice) "I'm about to die." (Laughter) (Continues in voice) “But God will surely come to your aid and take you out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham." "Oh, what was his name?" “Isaac, and Jacob." (Normal voice) And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear on oath and said, "God will," -- everybody say "surely." -- "surely come to your aid and then you must carry my bones up from this place." I'll level with you: I didn't get it the first time or second time. It took me a while to realize why THAT is his three-point shot. THAT is a BRILLIANT moment. Think about this: Joseph and his family by the time he dies, he's been in Egypt 80 years, and every year on his birthday, surely he's saying, "Now, remember, God made a promise to us. Now, remember. God made a promise to us." And on his 110th birthday, “Now remember.” And the little kids are like, "If he does the Promised Land speech again, I'm going to throw up. Every year. We're leaving, going to the Promised Land. Somebody needs to tell the old guy. Great-great-great Grandpa. It ain't happening. I was born in Egypt. My mom was born in Egypt. So was her mom. We're Egyptians, dude!” And Joseph is like, "No. We are God's people, and He made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And don't you forget it!" (Whispering) Come on. You can relate. (Normal voice) How many years have we been singing? ¶ Soon and very soon we are going to see the King ¶ ¶ Soon and very soon we are going to see the King ¶ Somebody says, “Excuse me; didn't your mama sing that song?” “Yeah.” “Didn't your grandma sing that song?” “Yeah.” “So soon? Really? Maybe the King ... isn't coming.” And Satan says, (whispering) “Yeah, that's right. Look around. It's stinkin' 2022." (Laughter) "It's two thousand years since Jesus was on the earth? When are you people going to give it up?" (Normal voice) Joseph reaches out through history and says, "Watch this." "Excuse me. Great-grandson, great-great grand Son -- whoever you are -- come here. I want you to pinky swear something with me. I want you to promise -- and all my brother that are still alive -- I want you to promise, too -- when Grandpa dies, do not bury me." “That's weird. What do you want us to do?” “Just put my bones in a box and let them rot until there's nothing left but bones. And then I want you to take the bones with you.” "How am I supposed to do that?” “You have a backpack?” “Yeah, my school backpack.” “Get your school backpack and put my bones in your school backpack and wherever you go, take them with you.” “Okay, Grandpa; that's weird, Grandpa. What will I say when a kids asks what's in the backpack?” “My grandpa.” “Why do you have that?” “I don't know.” “Well, you do. He's in the backpack because he's not staying here because this world is not my home. I'm just passin' through. And my treasures are laid up in a Promised Land.” That's the message. That's the three-point shot. Therefore that's how we in our generation -- I'm speaking here again to my seasoned friends -- that's how we, in our generation, hand to these students in this next generation and the ones back in Children's Bible Hour who are saying "Soon and very soon" and we say yes, and it may be a year; it may be a week, it may be 100 years. But if God says He’s going to do it, He WILL be faithful. Joseph's language He will surely -- everybody say “surely” -- He will surely come to your aid. Brothers and sisters, the greatest challenge of the church is not all of the things that often get talked about. It about war in the Middle East or climbed change and isn't COVID -- although those are real and true challenge. Let me tell you what the great challenge, that we will not pass from one generation to the next Joseph's simple idea: “Dude. Look where you're going.” Look where you are -- that's Joseph's advice. Look where you are going; keep your eyes on where you're heading! Because you and I get caught up right here, don't we? “Oh, my goodness, Russia is going to attack Ukraine. Oh, no, an omicron variant." And Joseph said, "Hey, friend, where you going? Because a bunch of that stuff won't matter when you get where you're going." Can I get an “Oh, yeah”? A bunch of stuff doesn't matter in your life truly today because what you need to do is put your eyes on where you're going because soon and very soon we will see the King. How are you passing that onto your kids? Can they see you're looking where you're going by the way you spend your time, your treasure, your talent? Do they hear it at the dinner table? Do they hear it when you sing "Joy to the World"? One day we will sing around the throne of God, amen? Do they see that when we worship? Do they know we believe it, even like Joseph when we go through up and downs and ups and down; we say, "God will see us through because He is faithful." Joseph said, "I'm gonna die, and I'm not gonna get to see the promise; but even when I'm dead I never want you to forget we're going to the Promised Land." What a POWERFUL choice Joseph makes. So where are you? Stuck like this? Or is Joseph saying, "For 2022, let's look at where we're going." I saw a lady in the Chicago Airport text her way into a pillar. (Laughter) I would say she's an executive because she was dressed sharp with this fancy black Tumi roller bag and her phone in her hand like this and she was barreling -- she must have been late because she wasn't paying attention and rolled the bag over my foot. Didn't even look up. Whoa. That's the only reason I saw her -- head down, texting like this rushing -- straight towards this pillar. If you have been at the Chicago airport, there's GIANT, I mean giant, pillars in there. The lady's head is down and I'm thinking, "She’s gonna run right in that pillar." (Laughter) And, you know, I thought, "What do you do?" I just watched. (Laughter) I mean, I knew she really wasn't going to hit it, right? You've seen it. You know, somebody is doing this and then "Oh, ho!" And I was waiting for that moment; only she didn't have that moment. She just -- she was barreled straight in and hit it with the top of her head and when she hit the metal it was like boing, boing, boing. And everyone is like looking at her and she started to wobble on high heels. I thought, "She's going down." (Laughter) She kept it together and kind of shook her head and looked around. Everyone is staring at her. She looks at the pillar -- word of honor -- "Who put that there?" and then zips around it. Several giggled but thought, "Oh, dude, that is me. That's me with today's news and what is happening and going." “Oh, my goodness, Bitcoin is down. I don't know what that is. It's just -- aah!” (Laughter) And Joseph says, "You keep looking there, you will run into something, buddy." And oh, don't we just trip all over ourselves when our vision is just right here? He said, "How about you and your family look where you're going? How about every time you pray you grab their hands and you say, ‘Lord, come quickly’?” How about each day – “Maybe Jesus will come today.” How about every day you put Him first? When you do, when you do, people will see. They'll say, "Where you going?" And you get to tell them. ¶ Soon and very soon we are going to see the King ¶ Now, if you listen to this lesson to think, oh, man -- I'm sorry. I can't handle the Pollyanna. You don't know the difficulties or losses I've had the last couple of years. Clearly, you're right; I don't but I know God does. This lesson is not meant to say, "Oh, yeah, the hurts don't matter." It's meant to say this: No matter how bad things get, God WILL still be faithful, amen? >> Audience: Amen. >> Jeff: That's -- it's the Roadrunner. You remember the cartoon, right? Did you have the Roadrunner in Texas? The little burden, Wile E. Coyote. The bird was brilliant and was able to get out of every trap. How does he do it? He's so smart. I was in high school or college before it hit me. Do you know how the bird got off the trouble? He had an agreement with the writer. (Laughter) No matter what he got into, the writer of the cartoon would just write him out of it. And a friend of mine said, "Dude. That's what we have with Jesus." No matter how bad coronavirus or anything else gets, God has said, "Lo, I am with you always. And in the end, I'll come take you home." So what happens, what if something bad happen to me? What if tomorrow my wife and I get on plane flying out of Houston and when it bursts in the sky at 3,000 feet there's a shudder and we look and the right engine just crack and falls off? And in the same instant the left engine flames out; and at the same moment the pilot has a stroke and it scares the co-Pilot has a heart attack and a lady has a cigarette and lights the plane on fire and somebody else said they're a terrorist. So everything bad happens and the plane is going towards the ground powerless and Satan said, "Where are you going now, buddy?" You know what the last thing Satan will hear from me before the plane explodes? "Meep Meep!" We have an agreement with the writer. Tell the person next to you, "You have an agreement with the writer." Or do you? If you have never given your heart and life to Jesus, the Writer of History would like to ma make an agreement with you because He gave His Only Begotten Son for you; and if you're willing to take your eyes off here and now and look there and then and dress in something you cannot see and be confident, He says, "I will give you life eternal." If you have never been baptized into Jesus, Ronnie or any of the staff here -- any of the Christian on your row -- would like to share with you that's the best decision you will ever make, to trust in Jesus. Can I get an “Oh, yeah”? >> Audience: Oh, yeah. >> Jeff: How many baptized believers we not in the house here? I thought there might be a couple. All right. For you, Houston's waiting. Sugar Land is wearing. Pearland and Katy are waiting. When you leave here today, look where you're going. They're waiting, not just to the restaurant or to the house. But look where you're going eternally because THAT's the direction that will set everything else right in your life. Will you bow with me? Father, I just pray today for this great church and pray for Pastor Ronnie and the team he leads here. Father, I pray for the ministry of the First Colony Church of the Christ. Lord, I pray for this great community, this city, this state. Father, I pray the people in this building today will invite somebody to bring with them next wheelchair to hear Ronnie's sermon -- not because of Ronnie or this place; but, Father, because they will say, "Look where you can go." Lord, I pray with the early church, come, Lord, Jesus. For anyone who hasn't made that commitment, I pray they do it today. What a great way to start the new year. Lord, I do pray with the early church, God, if You just want to send Jesus today, that would be great. It means we won't have to worry about standing in lines in restaurants or what we're gonna do for dinner. But Father, instead we can just go home and be with You. If that's not Your will, and You let the world spin another day, gourd, will You help us be more like Jesus and keep our eyes on where we're going. I pray that in Christ.