In Joseph’s rise to power from his complicated history and impossible task to save the nation of Egypt, Connections Pastor Sejana Yoo (that’s me!) offers another perspective about the story of Joseph. Joseph was met with “hands-off” leadership and she invites us to consider our responsibility for our community, our church, and our context as Christians. This is a continuation of our preaching series on Joseph: God’s providence and Life’s curveballs. I prepared this sermon for my home church at Impact Temple Church, in Temple, Texas on 23 February 2025 from Genesis 41:37-57.

As usual, scroll to the end of this blog to watch my after-sermon ‘preaching tips’ video recorded immediately after I got back home. I share about the holy disruption near the end of my sermon in which you get to hear my unscripted response. Indeed the Spirit of God is moving at Impact and rallying us towards advocacy for our church friends and community. Thank you for praying for me and for us.

I am always hopeful that these offerings would bless and encourage you in your own journey with God and in your ministry of service to others. Blessings and peace!

Genesis 41:37-57 (NIV)

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[a]?”

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 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.”

Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,[b] and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,[d] to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh[e] and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim[f] and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”

56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.

Sermon Summary

• I basically tell you in the background video! (below)

Preaching Tips Background Video

I love my church. I’m so grateful I get the privilege to craft and deliver sermons for my church. I also love doing this for other contexts too, but there is just something about preaching at my church that is so special to me. I see the different things we are trying to do and I get to contribute and help move us towards that as a part of the church leadership. Today was potluck Sunday and many different (new) things were happening and new folks were getting involved and people were speaking up and it was beautiful. In this share, you can see on my face the excitement to recall the movement of the Spirit at work in and through several of us. I describe what happened at the end of my sermon and I encourage you to keep doing what you know God has you doing because I was reminded again TODAY (which I didn’t talk about in this video) that people are picking up what is being put down. That’s so encouraging y’all. AND I’m looking forward to connecting with my pastor and listening to his thoughts on today, after he has taken a much needed rest!! Me too!!

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You can find the rest of my sermons here! https://sejanashines.com/preaching