1. In his sermon, analyzing and reflecting on the beginning of Joseph’s life, Tim pointed out that - in Joseph’s life, as in our own, “there are no blameless parties.” He shared a slide that read, “We are all part of the brokenness…We blame each each other to avoid facing reality that we’re all responsible for the mess. Because it’s hard to trust that God we can’t see is with us, keeping our world. Sometimes we’re totally blind to it.”

Take a moment to absorb these words. Consider re-reading them several times.

What does “We are all part of the brokenness” mean to you? Where do you most see this reflected in your life and in the world?

In which contexts are you most tempted to blame others rather than avoid facing responsibility for your part in a mess?

How often do you consider your own responsibility in brokenness you encounter? What is it like for you to explore the question of your part in different types of situations? Where does it feel easier or more natural? Where does it feel most difficult or unhelpful?

What connections do your see to the patterns you’ve just described and the ideas Tim shared about blame? How difficult is it for you to face the idea you have some responsibility in much of the messiness of your life? How do you respond to that? What do you think is meant by that idea? Where is most applicable? Least?

How trust in God factor in? Tim said that we blame each other because it’s hard to trust that God is with us, keeping our world. To what extent does that feel true to you? How aware are you of difficulty you may have trusting in God’s presence during your messy experiences of life’s brokenness?

2. Tim talked about the ways in which we will all spend big chunks of our lives perpetuating darkness w/o even knowing it. He tied this reality to the Christian tradition of nonviolence. Of this he said, “…because what if we kill the wrong people?” He then on to say, “Besides, it might be us next time.”

Can you identify times in your life when you have perpetuated darkness without even knowing it? What has that looked like in the past? How do you feel about those times now? What has been significant for you in moving through and processing those parts of your story?

What’s it like to consider possible situations in the present or the future in which you might again play a similar role in perpetuating darkness?

Reflect on these ideas related to violence. What do you think about the idea that we sometimes blame and kill the wrong person? Is it possible to get your head around the idea, next time, it could be you that’s unfairly blamed? And acted against violently?

If you noticed particular similarities or differences in the way different people in your group responded to this question, what do you think there is to learn from what you observed? What could it teach you?

3. As he wrapped his sermon, Tim said that the story of Joseph dares us to believe that God will weave even the most broken parts of our lives - even the biggest messes and the deepest pain- into a story of redemption.

What’s your initial reaction to this suggestion? Does it feel difficult or easy to believe? Is it easier to believe in some circumstances than it is in others? Is it easier to believe for other people or for yourself?

Have there been times in the past when you’ve seen this to be true? Have you been looking? How has it impacted you to see stories of redemption woven into your life and/or the lives of people around you? What has it taught you about places in your life today where you might have a harder time believing in a coming story of redemption?