Here's our Care Circle "Continuing the Conversation" guide for Aug 15, 2021.
Kung gusto ninyo ng downloadable version, you can get the file here:
Series: From This Day, Forward!
Topic: Best Foot Forward
Date: Aug 15, 2021
Opening [Pambungad]
Napakahalaga to build a genuine relationship with your members. Ang discipleship ay hindi lang attendance o pang-sesermon kundi pagkakaroon ng relasyon sa isa’t isa at sama-samang pagtahak sa buhay.
Mga bagay na makakatulong:
1. I-welcome ang grupo.
2. Kung kayang magkaroon ng ice breaker, mas mainam!
3. Kamustahin ang kanilang mga naging nakaraang lingo – any highlights or challenges.
4. Kamustahin kung nagawa ba nila ang application last week
5. Kamustahin kung meron bang answered prayers mula sa inyong mga ipinanalangin.
Rewind [Balikan ang Napakinggan] and Reflection [Magnilay-nilay]
Medyo iba po ang format ng ating CC material ngayong linggo. I-refresh ang grupo sa outline ng sermon at itanong ang mga reflection questions as you discuss.
AS WE STEP FORWARD, GOD USHERS US TO BE THE ‘BEST’ - Gen.37-41
Best Foot Forward - BEING THE BEST WHERE GOD BRINGS YOU!
1. In enduring / sa pagtitiis - Gen. 37: 8
· Gen. 37:3 says that “they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.” Gen. 39:8, 23, 24 - Joseph’s brothers envied him, ridiculed him about his dream, conspired to KILL HIM. Joseph lived through all the ill treatment, abandonment, physical battery, emotional trauma. He could have clammed up and mustered all bitterness and hatred for his family.
· But never did Joseph retaliate, rebel nor rout the people who have hurt him using his leverage of favorable dream and favored treatment.
· HINDI GUMANTI! HINDI NAGREBELDE! HINDI NAMBASTOS SA NAKAKATANDA! HINDI NAKIPAGKUMPETENSYA!
· JOSEPH’S SIBLINGS NOTICED THE BEST!
· This is such STRENGTH IN THE INNER MAN!
Application: Haharap at haharap tayo sa iba’t ibang situwasyon na magbibigay ng paghihirap sa ating damdamin, sa ating pag-iisip, sa ating katawan, sa ating relasyon, o sa pinansiyal na aspeto ng ating buhay. WE SHARE WITH HIS SUFFERINGS.
Reflect:Umuusad ka ba sa buhay na may BEST ‘HEART’ sa PAGTITIIS?
2. In obeying / sa pagsunod – Gen. 39:2-3
· He showed outstanding performance!!! He prospered where he was brought. He bloomed where he was planted. He succeeded where he was thrown into.
· WALANG PALPAK! WALANG SEMPLANG! WALANG WINDANG!!
· Potiphar noticed the best!
· This is such BRILLIANCE!
Application: May kanya-kanya tayong pinagdadalhan ng Dios. And in each of these, we must show our excellent submission and obedience to the authorities that God has placed above us. BEST IN WHAT WE DO AND BEST IN WHO ARE!
Reflect:Umuusad ka ba sa buhay na may BEST ‘ARMS’ sa PAGSUNOD?
3. In testing / sa pagsubok – Gen. 3
· Vs. 7-12 – [Potiphar’s wife] spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
· Without compromising his job, HIS FEET RAN AWAY FROM THE TEMPTATION!
· He bravely walked to prison.
· WALANG PAGSISISI SA GINAANG TAMA! WALANG REKLAMO SA DI-PATAS NA PARUSA! WALANG PAGHINTO NA GAWIN ANG MABUTI!
· The warden noticed the best!
· This is such PERSEVERANCE!
Application: Would we quit and stop being the best because things are not happening the way we want to see them happen? Do not quit! Do not stop! Your best now will be matched with the BEST!
Reflect: Umuusad ka ba sa buhay na may BEST ‘FEET’ sa PAGSUBOK?
4. In waiting / sa paghihintay – Gen. 40:1-23
· May ikinulong sa Haring Pharaoh na chief baker at chief cupbearer.
· Kinuwento ng cupbearer at baker ang kani-kaniyang panaginip: At binigyan ng interpretation ni Joseph
· Sa vs. 14, nakiusap si Joseph na ilapit yung kaso niya kay Pharaoh:
· “Kaya, kapag naroon ka na, huwag mo naman akong kakalimutan. Banggitin mo naman ako sa Faraon at tulungan mo akong makalaya sa bilangguang ito. Ang totoo'y kinuha lamang ako sa lupain ng mga Hebreo, at wala akong nalalamang dahilan upang mabilanggo rito.”
· Both prisoners noticed the best!
· Gen. 40:23 - But the cupbearer forgot his promise. He did not remember his promise to Joseph. Naghintay si Joseph nang tamang hustisya sa kaso niya ngunit hindi ito naibigay dahil may nakalimot.
· This is such DETERMINATION!
Application: Nawa, just like Joseph, our thoughts will be steadily thinking BEST about God’s sovereign plan. That God has never stopped believing in you and you are His trophy!
Reflect: Umuusad ka ba sa buhay na may BEST ‘THOUGHTS’ sa PAGHIHINTAY?
5. In speaking for God / sa pagsasalita para sa Dios – Gen. 41
· Si Pharaoh na mismo ang nanaginip at naghahanap ng mag-iinterpret ng panaginip niya.
· Dahil laging katabi ng Hari ang cupbearer, biglang naala niya ang ang kanyang pangakong napako kay Joseph. At kinuwento nya ito sa hari (vs. 41:9) Pinatawag si Jose agad-agad,
· Nabigyan ito ng interpretation na malinaw na malinaw at saktong sakto na may halong payo na pumili ang hari ng mapagkakatiwalaan para i-manage ang darating na panahon ng taggutom, ayon sa panaginip.
· THE KING OF EGYPT HIMSELF, PHARAOH, NOTICED THE BEST!
· So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” (41:38)
· WALA NANG IBA! WALA NANG DUDA! WALA NANG TANONG-TANONG!
· “You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
· This is such great influence!
Application: SIMPLE KA LANG PERO PINAKIKINGGAN! Hindi mo napapansin, napagtitiwalaan ka na ng Boss mo? Nakikinig ang authorities sa iyo? Nakatuon ang kanilang tainga sa wisdom na sasabihin mo?
Reflect: Umuusad ka ba sa buhay na may BEST ‘MOUTH’ sa pagiging kinatawan ng Dios?
6. In abounding / sa pagsagana
· 41:45 Joseph served under Paharaoh at 30 years old (Wow! What a distinction!)
· Joseph was married to priest’s daughter (Wow! What a blessing!)
· Joseph did his duty as second-in-command, supervising the whole of Egypt (Wow! What a privilege!)
· 41:46 Joseph had full access to and from Pharaoh (Wow! What an honor!)
· 41:48:49 Joseph was able to do his tasks beyond measure (Wow! What glory!)
· What distinction! What blessing! What honor! What glory! What fame!
· The whole land of Egypt and beyond Egypt noticed the best!
· This is such prosperity!
Application: REMEMBER THAT IT IS GOD THAT GIVES THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE WEALTH. Sa Kanya nagsimula at sa Kanya rin magtatapos.
Reflect: Umuusad ka ba sa buhay na may BEST ‘HEAD’ THAT LOOKS UP TO GOD sa PAGSAGANA?
7. In valuing – sa pagpapahalaga – Gen. 41:50-52
· Manasseh - God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” (positive way)
· Ephraim - “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”
· In naming his children, Joseph never forgot to acknowledge God. He valued what God had been doing in career and family.
· God made him forget all his toil, disgrace, and affliction, and had made him fruitful in the very land in which he had suffered the greatest misfortune and indignities. (Adam Clarke)
· TINANGGAL NG DIOS ANG DALAMHATI! ANG GALIT! ANG PANG-AAPI!
· This is such acknowledgment!
Application: Higit pa sa ating inaasahan, ang Dios ay nagbibigay ng mga pagpapala, mga bonusNgunit minsan, kapag nasanay na tayo sa abundance, nasanay na tayong nakakatanggap, nasanay na tayong tinutulungan at inaabutan ng ayuda, at walang masyadong alalahanin, nakakalimuta nating maging ‘grateful’ (paano nga ba tayo nagpapakitang ‘grateful’). Isinasantabi na lamang natin ang mga bagay at taong ibinigay sa ating buhay. HUWAG KANG MAKALIMOT! PAHALAGAHAN MO ANG GINAGAWA NG DIOS SA IYO!
Reflect: Umuusad ka ba sa buhay na may BEST ‘BREATH’ sa PAGPAPAHALAGA at PAGSAMBA SA DIOS?
8. In overcoming evil / sa pagdaig sa masama
· Tingnan natin ang mga ginawa ni Joseph na pandaig sa masamang ginawa sa kanya:
o Vs. 42:16,20; 43:7 (paglilihim) - He, first of all, he made sure that his ‘real brother’ was all right by instructing them to bring the ‘youngest brother’ – kunwari lang, generic. Pero concerned na concerned sya ang bunso niyang kapatid. He needed this time to hide his real identity first and also give time for his brothers to acknowledge their sins.
o Vs. 42:14-16; 44: 3 (para-paraan) - He took the initiative to reach out for his family (creative drama) – Gumawa siya ng kaparaanan na unti-unti niyang makita ang mga kapatid niya at magkasama-sama na sila.
o Vs. 42: 24 (pagluha) - He wept quietly after listening to the siblings’ convo in verses. 21-22
o Vs. 42:25-26 (pagbigay ng kailangan) - He provided for them and even returned their payment of silver; 28 - They were starting to recognize God again
o Vs. 43:16, 24 (paghahanda ng lunch feast) - Through his steward, Joseph prepared a banquet for them, let them wash, provided food for their donkeys / Vs. 43:33 Arranged according to age / Vs. 43:34 Benjamin’s share was 5 times more / they feasted and drank freely with Joseph
o Vs. 45: 1-2 (pagtatapat na marubdob, pagbubunyag) - Naglast drama si Joseph para maiwan si bunso sa kanya. E kabilin-bilinan pa naman ng Tatay Jacob nila, na ikamamatay talaga niya kapag pati ba naman si bunso ay mawawala na rin.
(Sobrang naisip ni Joseph ang tatay niya sa panahong iyon kaya minarapat nan yang i-reveal ang sarili nya!)
Vs. 45: 3 Ako si Joseph! Buhay pa ba ang tatay ko? (natahimik sila kasi nagulat sa revelation ni Joseph) Pinaliwanag ni Jospeh sa kanila ang plano ng Dios sa kanilang pamilya – that God sent him ahead!!
HINDI NAGHIGANTI! HINDI NAGMATAAS! HINDI IPINAGMALAKI ANG KANYANG NARATING!!!
Vs.45:14,15 - Umiiyak niyang niyakap si Benjamin, at ito nama'y umiiyak ding yumakap kay Jose. Patuloy siyang umiiyak habang isa-isang hinahagkan ang ibang kapatid.
· This is such godly character!
Application: BUT AS GOD’S CHILDREN, WE STRIVE TO REFLECT GOD’S CHARACTER
Tayo ang inaasahang lalong ready magpatawad, ready magmamahal, ready magparaya, ready mag-reach out, ready maging peacemaker, maging IBA!
Reflect: Umuusad ka ba sa buhay na may BEST LIFE sa PAGDAIG SA MALI AT GAWIN ANG TAMA?
Conclusion:
JOSEPH ALWAYS TOOK NOT JUST THE BETTER STEP, BUT THE BEST STEP!! HE NOT ONLY PUT HIS BETTER FOOT FORWARD BUT BROUGHT HIS WHOLE LIFE’S BEST FORWARD!!
HE SHOWED SIGNIFICANT EXCELLENCE THAT IMPACTED THE LIFE OF AN INDIVIDUAL, A HOUSEHOLD, A KINGDOM, A NATION, AND THE THEN-KNOWN-WORLD.
Ito ang nakita ng lahat ng tao sa paligid niya:
· Gen. 39:2 THE LORD WAS WITH Joseph, SO HE SUCCEEDED IN EVERYTHING he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. (Potiphar!)
· Gen. 39: 23 The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. THE LORD WAS WITH him and CAUSED EVERYTHING he DID TO SUCCEED. (Warden and prisoners!)
At ito lagi ang deklarasyon nya kahit sa anong okasyon, kahit sino ang kasama niya, kahit anong sama ang nangyayari:
· Gen. 41: 16, 39 It is beyond my power to do this (interpreting the dream),” Joseph replied. “BUT GOD can tell you what it means and set you at ease. (Pharaoh)
· ”Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.”
· Gen. 41:28,32 “….for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. “….these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.”
· Gen. 42: 18 “….I fear God.” (brothers)
· Gen. 43:14 “ May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man..”
· Gen. 45: 7 “God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.”
· Gen. 45: 8 “God sent me here…” “God made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire hpusehold, and ruler of all Egypt
The favor of THE BEST was given to the whole family!!! God used the king of Egypt to show favor to them only because God was honored through Joseph’s life.
· Gen. 45: 18 Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’”
· Gen. 45: 20 (there’s more!) Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” (Name it, they had it! Carts – add to cart - Transpo,
· Gen. 45:22-23 donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt! (food, new clothes – not ukay, Benj has money)
Sa kahuli-hulihan, BEST FOOT FORWARD pa rin si Joseph. “ Be near me, I will provide for you --- lahat kayo ---” at nang paalis na sila, vs. 24 nagibilin pa siya ng: “HUWAG KAYONG MAG-AWAY AWAY, ha!”
Pangako lang ba ang sinabi ni Pharaoh sa kanila ng BEST? No! 47:6 - settle in Goshen.. the best part of the land!
Have you experienced your GOSHEN? “drawing near” – lumalapit ka na ba sa BEST mo dahil humahakbang ka sa BEST na pinagagwa sa iyon ng Dios? We can do our best because we allow God to usher us!
Reflect: As we walk through our desserts, as we cross our Jordan Rivers, as we settle in our Gilgals, we can always PUT OUR BEST LIFE FORWARD WITH GOD!
Practice [I-apply ang Natutunan]
Mula sa lahat ng pinag-usapan, ano ang pwede mong gawing aksyon agad? How can you put your BEST FOOT FORWARD WITH EXCELLENCE? Saang aspeto, at paano?
Kasama na sana sa maging application natin sa ating buhay na mas maging disciplined sa pagbabasa ng Bible at pagmemeditate ng mga pangako ng Diyos. Kung hindi mo alam ang promises Niya, paano natin i-cclaim?
Prayer [Panalangin]
Closing [Pangwakas]
I-remind ang grupo tungkol sa mg ito:
- Kanilang daily Bible reading and devotion
- Pagdalo sa church
- Pagbibigay (tithes and offering)
- Pananalangin (kasama ang Prayer Cell)
- Pag-care sa iba
- Pag-seserve sa ministry – baka wala pa silang ministry, marami pong available!
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