Bethel Presbyterian Church

09/06/2026

September 6th Service

Join us today for Adult Sunday School at 10:30 AM and Worship at 11:15 AM. On the first Sunday of each month we celebrate Communion. We hope you will join us today as we study, worship, and come to Christ’s table! If you are unable to join us in person you may listen to today’s sermon by clicking HERE.

Join us today for Adult Sunday School at 10:30 AM and Worship at 11:15 AM.  On the first Sunday of each month we celebrate Communion.  We hope you will join us today as we study, worship,…

09/05/2026

Feasting on the Word-September 6, 2026-The Rule of Christ


Matthew 18:15-20

Conflict within communities is a fact of life. The good news is that God calls us to face this conflict so that relationships can be restored and the community can be unified.

Opening Prayer – Gracious God, we give you thanks for bringing us together to study your Word. Guide us by your Holy Spirit that through our study we may be led into deeper discipleship as we follow Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

When was a recent time that you verbally forgave someone?
When were you recently forgiven by someone else?

This session is about Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness.

The following are examples of how Jesus would have the church be together in community.
Matthew 18:1-5 - The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:6-9 - Causing to Stumble 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
Matthew 18:10-14 - The Parable of the Wandering Sheep 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:15-20 Today’s Scripture
Dealing With Sin in the Church
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18 is dedicated to the maintenance of community through humility and forgiveness.

What are the steps Jesus outlined for handling conflict in today’s Scripture?

Even though this passage is primarily concerned with matters of church discipline, the emphasis throughout is on trying to reclaim the offender, not to punish him or her; this is made clear by the context in which Matthew has placed these verses. Preceding this passage is the parable of the Lost Sheep, with its emphasis on the joy that comes from recovering one who has gone astray; following it is Jesus’ saying about forgiveness and the parable of the Unforgiving Debtor, which emphasizes the need for unbounded forgiveness.

Jesus’ saying in verse 18 is susceptible to multiple interpretations. In light of his teaching on life in the church as the focus of God’s mission in the world, and this verse’s echo of the Lord’s Prayer (God’s will being done ‘on earth as it is in heaven’), Jesus could mean this: if we in the church do not forgive and heal, who on earth is going to do it” If the church—no matter how small, even just two or three believers—will agree in Christ and seek prayerfully to do the will of God, then God will respond. The church will really be the church, because Jesus will be present.

How do you interpret today’s Scripture?

In the first-century Jewish worldview, Gentiles were seen as sinners because of their ignorance or indifference to God’s word. Jesus, however, welcomed those who were considered to be outsiders. They were a top priority of His mission.

Here are some examples about Jesus’ use of the Gentile and tax collector as how we should treat the unrepentant person.
Matthew 9:9-11 The Calling of Matthew 9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Matthew 11:16-19 - 16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Matthew 28:18-20 - 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What makes us Christian is not whether or not we fight, disagree, or wound one another, but how we go about addressing and resolving those issues. When we enter into membership in Christian community, we bind ourselves to one another with Christ as our head. We are not free from each wisdom and discernment of the whole diverse body of Christ together. The ministry of reconciliation must be at the heart of any Christian community’s mission.

Why is reconciliation important in the church when there is a conflict? In the community?

Closing Prayer – The Prayer of Assisi

Leader –Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Class – Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Leader – Where there is injury, pardon;

Class – Where there is doubt, faith;

Leader – Where there is despair, hope;

Class – Where there is darkness, light;

Leader – Where there is sadness, joy;

All – O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen.

08/30/2026

August 30th Service

Join us today for Worship at 11:15 AM and stay for a BBQ Picnic Lunch following! Adult Sunday School will not meet in person today, but you will find this week’s lesson posted on our page. Don’t miss this time of worship, fellowship, and good food! If you are unable to join us in person you may listen to today’s sermon by clicking HERE.

Join us today for Worship at 11:15 AM and stay for a BBQ Picnic Lunch following!  Adult Sunday School will not meet in person today, but you will find this week’s lesson posted on our Facebook…

08/29/2026

Feasting on the Word-August 30, 2026-Holy Encounter, New Response

Exodus 3:1-15

In this session, we will explore an unexpected encounter with the Holy One.

God’s three-fold response to Moses’ question about God’s identity.​
1. “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”: God identified as the God of Moses’ ancestors.
2. “I AM WHO I AM”: God is actively present for God’s people.
3. “I AM has sent me to you”: The present One sends Moses to be present for the people.

Think about a time when you had to tackle a new challenge and how you felt during the transition. In today’s session we will meet a potential leader who had to tackle a new challenge. Keep your thought in mind as we hear about God’s call to this leader.

Opening Prayer – Instill in us a sense of wonder and mystery, O Holy One, as once again we encounter your Word. In the name of your Son. Amen

In the last session, we encountered Moses as a young child safely settled in the palace to be raised by Pharaoh’s daughter.

Moses Flees to Midian
11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” 14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”
15 When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. 16 Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock. 18 When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?” 19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 “And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.”
21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22 Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.” 23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

Today’s focus scripture is about an encounter with the Holy One. Imagine yourself in the wilderness as you read Exodus 3:1-6 15.

Moses and the Burning Bush
3 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look,
God – Moses! Moses!
Moses – Here I am.
God – I am the God who was worshiped by your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
I have seen how my people are suffering as slaves in Egypt, and I have heard them beg for my help because of the way they are being mistreated. I feel sorry for them, and I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians. I will bring my people out of Egypt into a country where there is good land, rich with milk and honey. I will give them the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzities, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. My people have begged for my help, and I have seen how cruel the Egyptians are to them. Now go to the king! I am sending you to lead my people out of his country.
Moses – Who am I to go to the king and lead your people out of Egypt?
God – I will be with you. And you will know that I am the one who sent you, when you worship me on this mountain after you have led my people out of Egypt.
Moses – I will tell the people of Israel that the God their ancestors worshiped has sent me to them. But what should I say if they ask me your name?
God – I am the eternal God. So tell them that the Lord, whose name is “I Am,” has sent you. This is my name forever, and it is the name that people must use from now on.
This is my name forever, and this is my title for all generations.

Look back at the scripture and notice the verbs in the adaptation from the Scripture that pertain to God’s actions.

What do these action verbs tell us about the nature of this Holy One?

God gives Moses a seemingly insurmountable task to accomplish, but God will not allow Moses to assume that he will engage the powers of Egypt alone. Moses assumes he needs more authoritative information, but the voice from the burning bush reminds Moses that he knows more than enough: “thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.”
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Moses learned that it was time to let go of his life as a shepherd and embrace a new role as the deliverer of the Hebrew people.

Are there any old ways of being that we have been asked to let go of?
What current ways of being are we being asked to let go of?
What new ways of being are we being asked to claim?

Here I Am, Lord
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save

I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

Closing Prayer – O Holy God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Holy I AM, I pray that your words and your Word has been valued and understood. Give us hearts to hear Your Word and minds to understand. In your Holy Name I pray, Amen.

08/23/2026

August 23rd Service

We hope you will join us today at 10:30 AM for Adult Sunday School and 11:15 AM for Worship. Make plans to join us next Sunday for Worship at 11:15 AM and stay for the BBQ Picnic following worship in the Fellowship Hall. If you are unable to attend in person you may listen to the August 23rd sermon by clicking HERE.

We hope you will join us today at 10:30 AM for Adult Sunday School and 11:15 AM for Worship.  Make plans to join us next Sunday for Worship at 11:15 AM and stay for the BBQ Picnic following wo…

08/22/2026

Feasting on the Word-August 23, 2026-Unlikely Saviors, Creative Response

Exodus 1:8-2:10

Today’s theme challenges us to recognize that God chooses to work in and through the most unlikely of saviors. We will encounter some unlikely saviors from oppression whom God used in surprising and creative ways.

Opening Prayer – God of salvation, thank you for the opportunity to worship together and learn about your saving Word. Teach us how to love you and your people today and always. Amen

In last week’s session, we explored the story of Joseph and how he was reconciled with his brothers who had sold him into slavery.

Genesis 50:15-21 Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.



Exodus 1:1-7 The Israelites Oppressed
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. 5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

Exodus 1:8-14 8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.

What accounted for the change in how the Israelites were perceived by Pharaoh?
How did the status of the Israelites change?

Exodus 1:15-22 15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” 20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. 22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
Exodus 2:1-10 The Birth of Moses
2 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. 5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. 7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” 8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

Imagine taking on the parts of any of the women involved in the saving of Moses. How would you have reacted as the mother; the Hebrew midwives; Miriam, the sister of Moses; the Pharaoh’s daughter; Pharaoh.

What actions might you have expected each to take in the face of oppression?
What was surprising about whom God used, and how they were moved to act?

The hidden actor throughout the first chapters of Exodus is the God who, through the agency of an Egyptian princess, “draws out” the child from the dangers of his watery transport. As the narrative continues, God will reveal God’s self to this “drawn out” on in the form of a fiery bush and will use this rescued child to deliver all the children of Israel from their forced bo***ge. By the end of 2:10, readers have been prepared for the story that follows, of a God who hears the cries of oppressed slaves, rescues them from chaotic waters, and sends them out on the path of freedom.

God is the only character who controls all the twists and turns in this story. Only God can control all the twists and turns in our lives. We are not always aware of how He is working, but we are sure that He is through our faith.

Can you see God’s saving power evident in any of today’s news stories?

Closing Prayer – Gracious God, we thank you for using unlikely agents for the salvation and blessing of a baby, and through him, a people. We thank you for his successor, the baby born in Bethlehem, who was to lead all people into eternal life—your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

08/19/2026

08/16/2026

August 16th Service

We hope you will join us at Bethel for times of worship, study, service, and fellowship. At Bethel you will find a home ready to welcome you into the life of the church! Come and join us as we seek to love and serve the Lord. Join us today for Adult Sunday School at 10:30 AM and Worship at 11:15 AM. If you are unable to join us in person you may listen to today’s sermon by clicking HERE.

We hope you will join us at Bethel for times of worship, study, service, and fellowship. At Bethel you will find a home ready to welcome you into the life of the church! Come and join us as we se…

08/15/2026

Feasting on the Word-August 16, 2026-Reconciliation in Places of Exile

Genesis 45:1-15

How is God at work through conflict and where do we look for reconciliation?

Recall a time when your life took on an unwelcome conflict that you did not plan. Think about how you felt about this turn of events and who you blamed for it, if anyone. Look back on it, how do you feel about it now?

If your feelings have changed, do you now have any sense of something good having come out of that bad experience?

I don’t normally add personal notes to the Sunday School Lesson posted on line, but today I will. My only brother and I were estranged from each other for 16 years over a horrible misunderstanding. I thought I was right about the situation which caused it and it wasn’t my doing. My brother knew the reason for his actions were justified but he didn’t tell me the whole story. After 16 years, I called him and he was out of town, but the next day he called me back and we talked for a very long time on the phone. I found out the reason, which I won’t go into. I hated myself for having been uninformed about the truth which separated us for all those years. I asked him why he didn’t let me know what had happened to him and he said that he didn’t want to cause any trouble. Sixteen years! That’s a long time! We didn’t get to enjoy each other’s kids growing up. We didn’t get to enjoy each other! We reconciled and are best of friends and we don’t let time go by without seeing or talking to each other. Please don’t let time separate you from the ones you love for any reason. Talk it out! Please!

Today’s Scripture affords the opportunity to explore unwelcome situations in which God is present, whether we perceive it or not.
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Opening Prayer – Give us discernment of faith, O God, that we may have a sure sense of your presence as revealed in your Word. Amen

Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Jacob
The Story of Joseph
Joseph Dreams of Greatness (Genesis 37:1-11)
​Jacob gave his favorite son Joseph a fancy coat. One day, Joseph told his brothers about two dreams. In one, his brothers’ bundles of wheat bowed down to his. In another, the sun, moon and stars all bowed down to him.
Joseph is Sold by His Brothers (Genesis 37:12-36)
​Seeing Joseph approach, his brothers plotted to kill him. Reuben, intending to rescue Joseph later, suggested that they throw him in a dry well instead. But in Reuben’s absence, the others sold Joseph to traders. When Reuben returned and found Joseph missing, he tore his clothes in sorrow. The brothers took Joseph’s coat, dipped it in blood, and told their father, Jacob, that Joseph had been killed by wild animals. Meanwhile the traders sold Joseph to the official in charge of the Egyptian palace guard.
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife (Genesis 39:1-23)
​Joseph was Potiphar’s personal assistant. Potiphar’s wife asked Joseph to make love to her, but he refused. One day, Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph’s coat and insisted he make love to her. Joseph ran out of the house. The wife accused Joseph of trying to take advantage of her. Potiphar was very angry and threw Joseph in prison.
The Dreams of Two Prisoners (Genesis 40:1-23)
​The king threw his personal assistant and cook in prison. One night each man had a dream and told it to Joseph. Joseph told the servant that the dream meant that the king would pardon him in three days. Joseph told the chief cook that in three days, the king would cut off his head. Everything happened just as Joseph said.
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream (Genesis 41:1-36)
​Two years later, the king had a dream that seven fat cows came to the river to eat grass. Suddenly, seven skinny cows came up and ate them. In a second dream, seven full heads of grain appeared, followed by seven thin heads. The thin heads swallowed the full heads. None of the king’s advisers could tell the dreams’ meanings. Then the servant remembered Joseph. Joseph told the king the dreams meant there would be seven good years of harvests followed by seven years of famine. Joseph advised putting someone in charge of storing up the harvest for the famine.
Joseph’s Rise to Power (Genesis 41:37-57)
​Joseph was put in charge and was made governor, second only to the king. For seven years there were big harvests. Joseph stored the extra grain. Then as Joseph had predicted, seven years of famine began. Joseph opened the storehouses and sold the grain to Egyptians. People from all over the world came to Egypt to buy grain.


Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt (Genesis 42:1-25)
​Jacob sent his sons to buy grain in Egypt, keeping Benjamin at home. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not realize who he was. Joseph accused them of being spies. When the brothers protested that they were from Canaan, where the youngest brother was with their father, Joseph demanded that one of them go and fetch Benjamin while the rest remained in prison. After three days, Joseph freed all but Simeon to go back with the grain and bring Benjamin. Among themselves, they discussed that this was the penalty for what they had done to Joseph. They did not realize Joseph understood them; he turned aside and wept. Joseph had their bags filled with grain and secretly had his servant return every man’s money to his sack.
The Brothers Return to Canaan (Genesis 42:26-38)
​Along the way, one brother opened his sack and discovered his money. At home, they told Jacob everything. When they all discovered their money had been returned, Reuben asked his father to entrust Benjamin to him to get Simeon’s release. But Jacob, mourning the loss of Simeon as well as Joseph, refused.
The Brothers Come again, Bringing Benjamin (Genesis 43:1-34)
​When the famine worsened and Jacob’s family had eaten all the grain, he told his sons to go again to Egypt. Judah replied that the governor had warned them not to return without Benjamin. He promised to bring his younger brother back safely. Jacob instructed the brothers to take gifts with them, as well as twice the money for grain. In Egypt, Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers and told his servant to take them to his house for a meal. Worried that Joseph might arrest them, the brothers explained to the servant what had happened. He reassured them and brought out Simeon. When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts. Upon seeing Benjamin, Joseph was overcome and had to withdraw to weep.
Joseph Detains Benjamin (Genesis 44:1-17)
​Later, Joseph instructed is servant to fill the brothers’ grain sacks and again put their money back in the sacks. He also had the servant put Joseph’s silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. They were not on the way long before Joseph sent his servant after them, accusing them of stealing the cup. When the brothers protested their innocence, the servant proposed that only the one found with the cup would become his slave. On searching the sacks, the servant found the cup in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers returned to protest their innocence. Only the guilty party, said Joseph, would have to stay as a slave.
Judah Pleads for Benjamin’s Release (Genesis 44:18-34)
​Judah pleaded with Joseph that Benjamin be allowed to return. He reviewed the family history and the loss of Benjamin’s brother, stressing that Jacob was very old and would die of a broken heart if this youngest son did not return. Judah begged to be allowed to stay in Benjamin’s place.

What are some of the emotions Joseph might have experienced?

Today’s Scripture - Genesis 45:1-8 Joseph Makes Himself Known
45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
Genesis 45:9-15 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise, you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

Jesus begins the process of reconciliation between himself and his brothers. First, he offers them a word of consolation, aimed at quelling their own guilt and anger. This in turn paves the way for them to be able to forgive themselves for having treated Joseph unjustly. Joseph lets them know that he holds no animosity toward them. Joseph eases any tension that his brothers might feel in his presence.

These days, one often hears someone say, “Don’t get mad, get even.” What other responses might Joseph have made now that his brothers were under his control and at his mercy?

Joseph decided not to kill his family but, instead, to welcome them all and to offer his house. Almost an impossible gesture, but one based on God’s offering of life in the midst of death, forgiveness instead of justified hatred, kisses and hugs instead of strangling somebody.

Letting Go of a conflict experience can be the first step toward reconciliation. Prayer can be the answer that will help you reach resolution.

Closing – Psalm 67
Leader - May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
Class - May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
Leader - May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
Class - May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
All - The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear Him.
Amen