How To Overcome A Weak Foundation Sermon
How To Overcome A Weak Foundation Sermon
In the last post we began to explore Joseph’s weak foundations life, potentially keeping him from a compelling, overcoming life. This post is a follow-up to that post. Here we consider a sermon on how to overcome a weak foundation as one in a series on preaching about the family.
Joseph’s Positive Viewpoint Overcomes His Weak Foundation
As we saw, Joseph didn’t have it easy in his youth. His brothers mocked his dreams, and then they sold him into slavery when he was a teenager. Then he becomes a slave in Egypt. And after a false accusation, he ends up in prison. What kept him going? There is evidence that his positive attitude helped him see how God was at work in his life.
Joseph knew, somehow, that a positive attitude could have a powerful effect on the outcomes of his life. Amazingly, there is evidence in Scripture that when we are aware of God at work in our lives, we have confidence to look at the future with anticipation of what God is going to do next. This is not just an old-time positive thinking message. It is more along the line with what Paul said in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
An Example
There is a great story about two hunting friends. One of them always saw things from a positive perspective, the other always from the negative. The positive thinking man determined that he was going to get a positive comment from his negative friend. He bought the finest hunting dog he could find. As duck season approached, he taught his dog to retrieve downed ducks. But rather than just teach the dog to go and get ducks, he taught him to walk on water.
When duck season arrived, he picked up his negative friend and headed to the lack. They got out their duck calls and began quacking away. Before long, a group of ducks flew over close enough for a shot. The hunters opened fire, and two ducks fell into the lack. This is what the positive hunter was waiting for. He gave his dog the order, and the animal sprinted across the water, retrieved the ducks and dropped them into the blind where the hunters waited. With pride, the positive oriented hunter looked at his friend and said. “What did you think of that?” He was sure that a positive comment was sure to come.
“Well, the negative person began, “I see you got stuck with a dog that can’t swim.”
This example will catch attention for your listeners, and will be sure to bring a chuckle.
The bottom line is this: A positive attitude is one avenue to consider in building a how to overcome a weak foundation sermon for your church.
A Servant Heart Helps Overcome A Weak Foundation
A second characteristic that allowed Joseph to overcome his weak foundation is that he had a servant heart. When Jacob asks him to go check on his brothers, he doesn’t act like a spoiled kid. He goes.
When he becomes a slave in Potiphar’s house, he goes beyond the least require3d in his position. He served the cupbearer and the baker of the king in prison.
In other words, he didn’t just say, “Poor me!” and waste time in a pity party. He looked for a way to make a difference in the lives of other people.
Here’s a quote you can use from F.B. Meyer, a preacher from a previous generation. “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other; and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gives are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not a question of growing taller, but of stooping lower; that we have to go down, always down to get his best gifts.”
Modern sociology confirms this basic truth. Studies have confirmed over and over that those who reach beyond themselves are happier. This is even a recommended treatment for those who are depressed, to go find a place to serve.
In your how to overcome a weak foundation sermon be sure to include this aspect. In the next post we’ll look at the most popular New Testament passage to consider when preaching about the family.
