Most families have stories that define them. For some, it's about hard work, resilience, or overcoming big challenges.

In the Bible, there's an incredible family story about the Israelites that shows how God works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

The story begins with a scary situation...

Have you ever felt like your life was falling apart? Like everything was going wrong, and you couldn't see any hope? There’s a story in God’s record of history which is a powerful reminder that God is at work even when things seem impossible.

Joseph's story starts in a pretty complicated family.

An Impossible Test

Imagine being asked to give up the most precious thing in your life. Sounds impossible, right? That's exactly what happened to Abraham in one of the most challenging stories in the Bible.

Abraham wasn't just any ordinary person. He was a man who had waited decades for a miracle - a son named Isaac, born when Abraham was 100 years old. This wasn't just any child. Isaac represented God's promise and hope for Abraham's entire future.

Then came the ultimate test.

Have you ever felt like giving up on a dream that seems impossible? Imagine waiting 36 years for something you desperately want, only to have people laugh at the very idea.

This is the incredible story of Abraham and Sarah – a tale of hope, patience, and believing that God’s plan for you is bigger than just yourself.

Beyond the Storybook

Most of us grew up hearing a cute tale about animals marching two-by-two into a big boat, Noah’s Ark. But the actual biblical account is much deeper and more complicated. It's not a bedtime story for kids. It's a raw, powerful narrative about humanity, sin, and the intricacies of God's relationship with the world who rejects Him.

Don’t you love how slow-paced our world is? How nobody's ever in a hurry? How happy everyone is waiting in long lines?

If you caught that sarcasm, you know the reality: We live in a fast-paced, restless, dissatisfied world. There's always something better to pursue, always something more that might finally make our lives complete. When someone asks how we're doing, we often either pride ourselves on being busy or complain about it. "You wouldn't believe my week - I had to do this, this, and this!"

Don’t you love how slow-paced our world is? How nobody's ever in a hurry? How happy everyone is waiting in long lines?

If you caught that sarcasm, you know the reality: We live in a fast-paced, restless, dissatisfied world. There's always something better to pursue, always something more that might finally make our lives complete. When someone asks how we're doing, we often either pride ourselves on being busy or complain about it. "You wouldn't believe my week - I had to do this, this, and this!"

When a pastor starts talking about giving we might find ourselves automatically rolling our eyes. Perhaps we wonder why churches keep talking about money when faith is free. Maybe we question how giving our resources away might actually be good for us. In any case, Jesus is very concerned about what our giving reveals about the kind of people we are.