By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Genesis 45:1-5, 9-11 

The climax of the story of Joseph is when he reveals himself to his brothers. 

I. The revelation of his person (vv. 1-5). Chapter 45 begins with Joseph’s meeting with his brothers. Joseph knew his brothers before they knew him. He recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him. Before we were converted we did not know Jesus, but He knew us from our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:15). Like Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, Jesus revealed Himself to us. 

The secret sin of selling Joseph to the Ishmaelite caravan was now revealed as the brothers stood before him. We, too, may sometimes hide our sin from others. If we don’t repent Jesus will expose it, if not openly in this life, then at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Genesis 41:28-32, 47-54

The greatness of God is seen in Joseph’s character. 

I. Joseph, the interpreter (vv. 28-32) In interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph explained that Egypt would have seven years of abundant harvests followed by seven years of famine. 

Because Pharaoh saw the power and wisdom of God in Joseph’s life, he promoted him to second in command over all of Egypt, giving him the responsibility of executing the plan for storing the excess grain during the seven years of plenty as well as distributing it during the seven years of famine.  [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Genesis 39:21-23; 40:4-8, 20-23 

Like Joseph, we need to press forward with our focus on God in spite of injustice. 

I. Prosperity in prison (Genesis 39:21-23) While Joseph was in prison, the Lord was with him and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden (v. 21). He rose from being just another prisoner to being one whom the warden entrusted everything. 

Joseph was the victim of an injustice. Potiphar’s wife had falsely accused him of assaulting her and Potiphar had flung him into prison. In similar circumstances, most other men would probably have become bitter, withdrawn, and even angry toward God.  [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Genesis 39:1-12

Joseph was successful because the Lord was with him in all his circumstances. 

I. Joseph is trusted by a prosperous master (Ch. 39:1-6).

Although Joseph had been sold as a slave to Potiphar, an Egyptian official, the Lord was with him and prospered him (v. 3). Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and all that he owned. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar owned because of Joseph. The master saw that the Lord was with Joseph. Joseph surely shared his faith with him. Perhaps he told Potiphar about his two dreams.  [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Genesis 37:1-5, 19-24, 26-27 

Joseph was loved and hated, favored and abused, abased and exalted. He truly was a man of God. 

(1) Joseph’s boyhood (vv. 1-5). Joseph is introduced to us as a young man 17 years of age. Jacob loved Joseph more than his other eleven sons and made him a coat of many colors. 

After Reuben, the firstborn, slept with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, he lost his birthright to Joseph. Jacob bequeathed to Joseph the only plot of land he owned, which was near Sychar (Genesis 33:19; John 4:5). Because of Jacob’s favoritism, Joseph’s brothers hated, resented and were jealous of him. They hated Joseph all the more because of his dreams he conveyed to them.  [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Obadiah 1-4, 10-17

Though Obadiah is the most obscure of all the prophets, his message is potent and relevant. 

1. The sin of all sins (vv. 1-4). Edomites were the descendants of Esau. Edom was bordered on the east by the desert and on the north by a deep canyon. The central area was characterized by cliffs that rose to heights over 5000 feet above sea level. 

The configuration to enter Sela, the capital city, was so difficult to navigate that, according to the Edomites, just 12 men could defend it against an entire army. Their rallying cry was, “Who will bring me down?” (v. 3). The Edomites’ pride was in their geographical security. Pride is the sin of sins. [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Someone once took each letters of the word GOSPEL to define the gospel — God Offers Sinful (Dead) People Eternal Life. But this is only the beginning of what the good news means. The phrase — “Jesus did not come to make good men better, He came to make dead men live!” — is true. God’s offer of salvation is made all the more remarkable when we understand our condition outside of Jesus Christ and comprehend and embrace by faith God’s transforming grace in Jesus Christ. Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones illustrates our condition and God’s clear offer of grace.

The potential, Ezekiel 37:1-6. God gives Ezekiel a clear vision of Israel’s condition, and ours as well. Ezekiel says that God “brought me out by his Spirit and set me in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones,” (v. 1). The bones he saw were dry, numerous, and disjointed (v. 2). And so is the condition of the sinner — dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1), disconnected from the life of God (Ephesians 2:2-3).  [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Luke 2:22-35

Just as the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that the baby Jesus was the Messiah, He reveals to us the mind of God. 

The dedication of the parents (v. 27b). When Jesus was forty days old, Joseph and Mary went to the temple because she was required by Old Testament law to go there for purification rites described in Lev. 12. She had to offer a sacrifice for her purification. They also came to pay a five shekel ransom price because Jesus was her firstborn (Exodus 13:1-12). The third reason they came was to dedicate Jesus to God. 

Godly parents today, either in private or in a baby dedication service, will acknowledge that their child is God’s gift to them and dedicate him to the Lord (Psalm 127:3).  [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:26-33

Lela B. Long wrote a chorus in the Baptist Hymnal entitled “Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know.” I agree. 

The majesty of His name (Isaiah 9:6-7). Isaiah predicted the birth of Jesus, then stated that the government would rest on His shoulders (v. 6). All the governments of the world are on His shoulders in the sense that He is ruling over them. Jesus said that all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). 

The prophet described Jesus as the “Wonderful Counselor.” He is the source of truth and wisdom. He knows exactly how to answer any question we have for Him, and how to resolve any dilemma we face. The second description is “Mighty God.” He alone forgives sin, answers prayers, provides, performs miracles, and empowers us to do what we can’t do on our own. Isaiah pictures Him as “Eternal Father.” He is the Father of eternity. With the fourth couplet he describes Jesus as the “Prince of Peace.”  [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Luke 2:4-12, 16-20 

The birth of Jesus is the greatest event in the history of the world. 

I. THE PROBLEMATIC ARRIVAL IN BETHLEHEM (vv. 4-7) God moved on Caesar Augustus to order a census of all the earth for the purpose of taxation. Joseph and Mary went to the city of David, Bethlehem, to register and for Mary to give birth to Jesus. God takes pagan rulers and uses them for His own purposes. He is sovereign over every ruler on earth. He even rules over hotel capacities. 

There was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn (v. 7). They spent the night in a stable where an animal feeding trough was located. It was a dirty and smelly place for Mary to give birth to baby Jesus. When God came down. He came all the way down to the poor and lowly in humble circumstances.  [Read more…]