Leading God’s People God’s Way Lesson 5 – The Law of Process

Leading God’s People Leading God’s People God’s WayGod’s Way

Lesson 5 – The Law of ProcessLesson 5 – The Law of Process

The Law of ProcessThe Law of Process

Leaders develop daily, not in a dayLeaders develop daily, not in a day

James 1:2-4 James 1:2-4

““22Consider it pure joy, my brothers, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

33because you know that the testing of because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. your faith develops perseverance.

44Perseverance must finish its work so Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything.”not lacking anything.”

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)

a)a) Have you ever faced trials or tests in Have you ever faced trials or tests in your life? What was your attitude or your life? What was your attitude or response to those trials?response to those trials?

b)b) We talked about how becoming a better We talked about how becoming a better leader is a process much like an athlete leader is a process much like an athlete training to compete in the Olympic training to compete in the Olympic Games. What are some of the things Games. What are some of the things you are doing and learning to become a you are doing and learning to become a better leader?better leader?

1600

Our Story in HistoryOur Story in History

1900

Jacob marries Leahc. 1747 BC

1800 1700

Jacob dies at age 147 c. 1684 BC

Joseph is born to Jacob & Rachaelc. 1740 BC

Joseph has dreams and is sold into slavery by his brothers at age 17 c. 1723 BC

Children of Israel in EgyptChildren of Israel in Egypt

Jacob goes to Haran to escape his brother c. 1754 BC

Abraham Moses

c. = circa (about)

Jacob marries Rachaelc. 1747 BC

Joseph sent to prison for 2 years by Potiphar at age 28 c. 1712 BC

Joseph (110 years)

Joseph summoned to palace to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams at age 30 c. 1710 BC

Joseph dies at age 110 c. 1630 BC

Scriptures to ReadScriptures to Read

Genesis 37:1-36Genesis 37:1-36 Genesis 39:1 to 42:6Genesis 39:1 to 42:6 Genesis 47:13-26Genesis 47:13-26

CHALDEA

CA

NA

AN

EGYPT

Haran

Ur

Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:26-32)

Abram Called by God

PADDAN-ARAM

CHALDEA

CA

NA

AN

EGYPT

Haran

Ur

Abram left Ur with his father Terah, his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot. They were going to Canaan, but got as far as Haran where they settled (Genesis 11:26-32)

Abram Called by God

PADDAN-ARAM

CHALDEA

CA

NA

AN

EGYPT

Haran

Ur

God told Abram to go to a land He would show him, so Abram left Haran with his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot and went to Canaan. Abram was 75 years old (Genesis 12:1-5)

Abram Called by God

PADDAN-ARAM

Hebron

Sarah Dies

Sarah dies in Hebron at age 127 and is buried in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem

CHALDEA

CA

NA

AN

EGYPT

Haran

Ur

Abraham’s servant goes to find a wife for Isaac amongst Abraham’s relatives (Genesis 24)

A Wife for Isaac

PADDAN-ARAM

Rebekah returns to Canaan with Abraham’s servant

Hebron

Abraham Dies

Abraham dies in Hebron at age 175. His sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah next to Sarah (Genesis 25)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem

CHALDEA

CA

NA

AN

EGYPT

Haran

Ur

Jacob flees to Haran to escape his brother Esau after he tricked Esau into giving up his birthright (Genesis 27)

Jacob Flees from Esau

PADDAN-ARAM

CHALDEA

CA

NA

AN

EGYPT

Haran

Ur

Jacob works for his uncle Laban for seven years and marries Leah and Rachael, Laban’s daughters (Genesis 29)

Jacob Flees from Esau

PADDAN-ARAM

CHALDEA

CA

NA

AN

EGYPT

Haran

Ur

Jacob returns to Canaan with his two wives, two concubines, one daughter and eleven sons. (Genesis 29)

Jacob Returns to Canaan

PADDAN-ARAM

Hebron


Jacob returns to Canaan and goes to Bethel where God changes his name to Israel (Genesis 32-35)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem Penuel

Hebron


On the way from Bethel to Bethlehem Rachael dies after giving birth to Benjamin, the twelfth son of Jacob (Genesis 35)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem Penuel

Hebron


Jacob arrived home to his father Isaac at Hebron. Isaac died in Hebron at the age of 180 years, and was buried in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham and Sarah, his parents (Genesis 35)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem Penuel


a)a) Has God given you a dream or a vision Has God given you a dream or a vision or a revelation for the future? Read or a revelation for the future? Read Habakkuk 2:2-3. Have you written down Habakkuk 2:2-3. Have you written down what God has given you?what God has given you?

b)b) What is your attitude towards the dream What is your attitude towards the dream or vision God has given you? Are you or vision God has given you? Are you humbly and patiently waiting for the humbly and patiently waiting for the appointed time, or are you puffed up appointed time, or are you puffed up and impatiently trying to make it and impatiently trying to make it happen in your own strength?happen in your own strength?

Hebron

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

Joseph’s brothers go to Shechem to graze their father’s sheep. Jacob sends Joseph to see how they are doing (Genesis 37)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem Penuel

Dothan

Hebron


When Joseph arrived in Shechem his brothers were not there. He found them in Dothan (Genesis 37)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem Penuel

Dothan

Hebron


Ishmaelite traders pass Dothan on their way from Gilead to Egypt. Joseph’s brothers sell him to them for 20 shekels of silver (Genesis 37)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem Penuel

Dothan

Hebron


The Ishmaelite traders take Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard (Genesis 37)

Bethlehem

Bethel

Shechem Penuel

Dothan

Pharaoh Has a Dream

Pharaoh, king of Egypt has two dreams trouble him. No one can interpret the dreams. (Genesis 41)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT

Pharaoh Has a Dream

The chief cupbearer remembers that Joseph can interpret dreams. Joseph is brought before Pharaoh. (Genesis 41)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT

Pharaoh Has a Dream

Joseph interprets the dreams and tells Pharaoh that God has warned him about seven years of famine that are coming. But, there will be seven years of plenty before in which food must be stored for the years of famine. (Genesis 41)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT

Pharaoh Has a Dream

Joseph presents a plan to Pharaoh of what must be done during the seven years of plenty to make sure there is food during the seven years of famine. Pharaoh agrees with the plan and promotes Joseph to second-in-command in all the land (Genesis 41)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT

The First Trip to Egypt

Jacob hears that there is food in Egypt and sends his sons to go buy some (Genesis 42)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT

The First Trip to Egypt

Joseph’s brothers return with food to their father Jacob in Canaan and tell him all that happened (Genesis 42)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT

The Second Trip to Egypt

Jacob sends his sons to go buy more grain in Egypt. This time Benjamin goes with them (Genesis 43)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT


When Joseph sees Benjamin for the first time in about 20 years, he is deeply moved and weeps. (Genesis 43)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT


Joseph’s brothers leave Egypt to return to their father. Joseph’s steward stops them and accuses them of stealing Joseph’s silver cup. The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack. (Genesis 44)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT


Joseph’s brothers Go back to Joseph who can no longer control himself. With great emotion he reveals himself to them. (Genesis 45)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT


Joseph’s brothers return to their father Jacob and tell him that Joseph is still alive. (Genesis 45)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT

Jacob Goes to Egypt

Jacob goes to Egypt and is reunited with Joseph. (Genesis 46)

CAN

AAN

EGYPT


a)a) Think about the process that God took Think about the process that God took Joseph through. Are you submitting to Joseph through. Are you submitting to God’s process for your life, or are you God’s process for your life, or are you trying to do things in your own way? trying to do things in your own way?

b)b) Joseph had to go through many tough Joseph had to go through many tough times to see his dream become a times to see his dream become a reality. Are you willing to allow God to reality. Are you willing to allow God to take you through tough times to bring take you through tough times to bring you to the place where His dream for you to the place where His dream for your life can become a reality?your life can become a reality?

What Do We Learn from What Do We Learn from Joseph’s LifeJoseph’s Life

1.1. It’s not the dream It’s not the dream ofof a lifetime; it’s a lifetime; it’s the dream the dream that takesthat takes a lifetime a lifetime..

2.2. It takes It takes timetime to grow as a leader to grow as a leader..

3.3. It takes It takes trialstrials to grow as a leader to grow as a leader..

4.4. It takes It takes God’s helpGod’s help to grow as a to grow as a leader leader ..

It’s not the dream It’s not the dream ofof a lifetime; it’s the a lifetime; it’s the dream dream that takesthat takes a lifetime a lifetime

All great leaders need three things to All great leaders need three things to prepare them: prepare them:

1.1. Time to mature themTime to mature them

2.2. Trials to strengthen themTrials to strengthen them

3.3. God to bless themGod to bless them

It takes It takes timetime to grow as a leader to grow as a leader

Every leader goes through four stages Every leader goes through four stages as they grow in their leadership as they grow in their leadership ability: ability:

1.1. IgnoranceIgnorance

2.2. MaturationMaturation

3.3. RecognitionRecognition

4.4. MultiplicationMultiplication


a)a) Joseph had to pay a price to see his Joseph had to pay a price to see his dream become a reality. Are you dream become a reality. Are you willing to pay the price to willing to pay the price to accomplish your dream or vision? accomplish your dream or vision?

b)b) Think about the four stages of Think about the four stages of leadership growth that Joseph went leadership growth that Joseph went through. Which stage are you in through. Which stage are you in when it comes to your personal when it comes to your personal leadership growth?leadership growth?

It takes It takes trialstrials to grow as a leader to grow as a leader

Things that happen when we react Things that happen when we react positively to trials: positively to trials:

1.1. We glorify GodWe glorify God

2.2. We receive new opportunitiesWe receive new opportunities

3.3. We develop integrityWe develop integrity

4.4. We grow spirituallyWe grow spiritually

5.5. We are prepared in mind and heart We are prepared in mind and heart for leadershipfor leadership

It takes It takes God’s helpGod’s help to grow as a to grow as a leader leader

As Joseph grew as a leader he learned As Joseph grew as a leader he learned that: that:

1.1. Self-promotion cannot replace Self-promotion cannot replace divine promotiondivine promotion

2.2. God is in charge of the processGod is in charge of the process


a)a) We saw how Joseph learned from the We saw how Joseph learned from the various trials that he faced a used them various trials that he faced a used them to grow as a leader. Do you make a to grow as a leader. Do you make a practice of learning from the trials in practice of learning from the trials in your life? your life?

b)b) We saw how God helped Joseph and how We saw how God helped Joseph and how Joseph eventually learned to see his Joseph eventually learned to see his circumstances from God’s perspective. circumstances from God’s perspective. How has God helped you as a leader?How has God helped you as a leader?

Jesus and the Law of ProcessJesus and the Law of Process

Hebrews 5:7Hebrews 5:7

““Although he was a son, he learned Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.”obedience from what he suffered.”

Luke 2:52Luke 2:52

““And Jesus grew in wisdom and And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and stature, and in favor with God and

men.”men.”

Homework – Scriptures to ReadHomework – Scriptures to Read

Nehemiah 1:1-11Nehemiah 1:1-11 Nehemiah 2:1-20Nehemiah 2:1-20 Nehemiah 4:1-23Nehemiah 4:1-23 Nehemiah 6:15-16Nehemiah 6:15-16

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Leading God’s People God’s Way Lesson 5 – The Law of Process