Part 1 – Living the Dream
Leader Guide
We often go through life without examining our situation or thinking about where we are going. If we’re comfortable, we can become apathetic. If we’re sinking in stress and despair, we often don’t have the energy to look ahead and beyond. But God wants to give us His dream for our lives. And that starts with seeking Him.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. Do you consider yourself a dreamer or have you stopped dreaming? If you have a dream that fuels your goals, do you have a verse or a promise that sustains your dream? Does your dream line up with a God-given purpose in your life?
Leader Note: Different people in your group may want to answer different questions. No need for each question to be discussed. Just a general discussion of our dreams.
2. Read Genesis 37:6-11 and 19-20. Joseph and his brothers dealt with some issues. What were they? What lessons can we learn from the way Joseph shared his dream with them? What happens to our dreams when others are not excited, supportive, or enthusiastic about them?
Leader Note: Not everyone will be excited by your dream. The brothers dealt with jealousy, anger, even hatred. Joseph appears arrogant, though maybe he was just insensitive or thoughtless about how his brothers would receive this information. Though His father Jacob rebuked him, but we don’t really see that Joseph changed or apologized. His dream was God-given, but it may not have been wise to share it with everyone.
As Jesus’ mother Mary did, we might do better to hold some things in our heart (Luke 2:19). There is a time for speaking and declaring, and a time for pondering and clinging to God’s promises in our hearts. Even if others are not excited, God will sustain and encourage you through other believers, His Word, and His Holy Spirit...if you keep pursuing Him.
3. Joseph’s dream did not give him a road map for life, for success, or for his purpose. How do you find God’s will and purpose for your life? Read Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, and Proverbs 3:5-7. Next, look at Psalm 119:105. What resource do you have from this passage? There is one other major way to understand what God is saying to you. Read John 14:26.
Leader Note: In the first verses, Jesus modeled spending time with God, getting “up-to-date" information from Him on how and where He was to minister. He spent a lot of time praying and listening to God. He also knew the Word of God and quoted it often. Get the Word of God in your heart to help guide you and keep you on track. Finally, the Holy Spirit lives in every believer, and Jesus says He will teach, explain, and show us the truth. And He will bring to our remembrance other things we have read in the Word and heard from God before. He will bring those back up in our minds when we need them so that we can follow them.
4. When you don’t have all the details of God’s plan or how to achieve the dream He has given you, what can you do? Read Genesis 39:2-5 and Colossians 3:23-24.
Leader Note: When you don’t know the entire plan, you can remain faithful to what you have been given to do. Keep doing the last thing you are sure God put in front of you. Serve your spouse, your boss, your ministry team, etc., as if you are serving the Lord! In fact, when you serve “the least of these,” He promises that you are serving Him (Matthew 25:40).
5. Action Steps: Read John 15:4-5. Have you ever tried to accomplish that goal on your own? Pursing Jesus and abiding in Him makes all the difference. What are practical ways that you pursue Him? Share with your group what you are doing or what you are now committing to do to pursue God and His dream for your life.
Or, choose from the options below:
a. Start a daily quiet time.
b. Read the Bible daily. Try this YouVersion Plan: Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel.
c. Commit to praying with your spouse daily about your future and dreams.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
This series is all about finding God's dream for our lives and following Him. We are all in the process of becoming who God has called us to be. This week, look deeply at the life of Joseph as he struggled, yet fulfilled God’s purpose for his life.
6. We first meet Joseph in Genesis 37. He is his father’s favorite. He is a bit immature and boastful—and he is hated by his brothers. List the trials of Joseph and how we know God was with him.
a. Genesis 37:18-28: (They planned to kill him, but God used Rueben to spare his life. Instead, he was sold and sent to Egypt, also part of God’s plan to position him for his future.)
b. Genesis 37:36: (Joseph was sold as a slave. On the surface this seems like a nightmare situation, but he was sold very specifically to Potiphar. Joseph will develop responsibility and influence because of who he serves. God uses even the worst of situations.)
c. Genesis 39: (Verse 2 says point blank that God was with Joseph and blessed everything he touched. Joseph was given more responsibility and power. However, Joseph’s success comes to a crashing halt when Potiphar’s wife claims Joseph made advances at her (out of anger that he rebuffed her). Joseph is thrown in jail. God was still with him. Joseph ends up winning over the warden’s favor because of his behavior and character.)
d. Genesis 40:9-15, 20-23: (Joseph is given the ability to interpret dreams from God. But trial again...he interprets a dream and is instantly forgotten once the cupbearer is restored. It feels like Joseph was let down and even a little betrayed. It feels like God’s gift to him was wasted.)
e. Genesis 41:1, 14-16: (After TWO years, God sends dreams to Pharaoh. Joseph ultimately ends up in front of Pharaoh, ruler of the land, because of his time in prison.)
7. After interpreting the Pharaoh’s dreams and explaining what Pharaoh must do to save his people from famine, Joseph was promoted to rule over Egypt, subject only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:37-43). After many years in power, his brothers came from Canaan to buy food, as the famine was across much of the world. Chapters 42-47 are the story of Joseph, now on top, testing his brothers. How do you see them being tested and “the genuineness of their faith” being proven in the passages below?
a. Genesis 42:18-28: (Joseph begins to tell them they cannot have more food unless they bring back Benjamin, the baby of the family. They argue against this and confess their sins against Joseph, who they don’t realize they are talking to. He keeps Simeon hostage, then plants gold in their bags to accuse them.)
b. Genesis 43:1-10: (Joseph applies some pressure to his brothers. He intimidates them and even accuses them of being traitors. He wants to see how willing they are to remain humble and open to change.)
c. Genesis 44:1-2, 7-13, 30-34: (Joseph planted a silver cup on Benjamin to see if the brothers would simply be okay with losing another brother or if they would fight for him. He wants to see if their hearts have truly changed and if their faith was genuine. They prove to Joseph that they do care for their brother deeply.)
8. We find that God was present through the struggles and hardships, and that He had a master plan. Read Genesis 50:15-21. What does this passage say to you about your struggles?
Additional Note: Not only did God change an evil situation and use it for good, but He allowed Joseph to realize His master plan. Joseph saved not only Egypt but most of the Middle East with the food and supplies he ordered to be stored up. Sometimes it all comes full circle, and we see the master plan. Other times, we never see the master plan while here on earth. Either way, we move forward, knowing God will work in every situation to make good.