Table Talk | July 4 & 5th

Published July 5, 2026

Growth Group Guide: Waiting Well - Joseph's Example

Week 1: Our Place, Not Our Punishment

OPENING PRAYER & ICEBREAKER

Icebreaker Question: Share a time when doing the right thing didn't go well for you. How did you respond?

SERMON overview

This message explored Joseph's life as an example of being a faithful witness during seasons of waiting. Despite being sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned, and forgotten for over 20 years, Joseph remained engaged and faithful because his life was centered on God's presence rather than his position or circumstances.

Key Takeaways

Presence-Driven, Not Position-Driven

1. Joseph found fulfillment in God's presence, not in his status or circumstances. Whether in Potiphar's house or in prison, "the Lord was with him" and he prospered.

God-Pleasing, Not People-Pleasing

1. Joseph refused to compromise his convictions, even when it cost him dearly. He wouldn't change the message to make people happy or advance his position.

Christ-Centered, Not Self-Centered

1. 1. Joseph saw his life as part of God's bigger story. He told his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."

Discussion Questions

Presence-Driven Living

1. 1. 1. 1. Read Genesis 39:2-6 and 39:20-23. What similarities do you notice in how Joseph's time in Potiphar's house and in prison are described? What does this reveal about Joseph's character?
      2. Pastor Jackson stated: "Fulfillment in life does not come from a position. Fulfillment in life comes from the presence of God." How does our culture contradict this message? Where do you find yourself seeking fulfillment in position rather than God's presence?
      3. Read Colossians 3:23-24. What does it look like practically to "work unto the Lord" in your current circumstances, whether that's your job, school, parenting, or unemployment?
      4. Pastor Jackson mentioned people saying, "God, I will be generous once I'm rich" or "I'll use my platform for your glory once I'm famous." What similar conditional promises have you made to God? What would it look like to be faithful in the small things now?

God-Pleasing vs. People-Pleasing

1. 1. 1. 1. Read Genesis 39:6-12. Joseph had every reason to compromise to protect his position. What gave him the strength to refuse Potiphar's wife, even knowing the potential consequences?
        Read Genesis 40:16-19. Joseph gave the baker terrible news when he could have softened the message to gain favor. When have you been tempted to change or soften a truth to make someone like you? What was the result?
        Pastor Jackson said: "When you aim to please other people, it's a shifting target... you're manipulative." How does people-pleasing actually harm both us and others? How is it different from being kind or loving?
        Read 2 Corinthians 5:9. What would change in your daily life if your primary goal was to please God rather than other people?

Christ-Centered Living

1. 1. 1. 1. Read Genesis 45:7-8 and 50:19-20. Joseph's perspective on his suffering is remarkable. How was he able to see God's hand even in the evil done to him? What does this reveal about what was at the center of his life?
        Pastor Jackson stated: "Waiting is constantly exposing that Christ is not the center of our life, but that we're the center of our life." What has your current season of waiting exposed about what's at the center of your life?
        Read Philippians 3:7-11. Paul says he considers everything "garbage" compared to knowing Christ. What things in your life compete with Jesus for the center position? (This could be career, relationships, comfort, success, etc.)
        Paul wrote from prison: "If I die, I get more Jesus. If I live, I get more Jesus." How does making Christ the center of our lives give us this kind of unshakable strength?

Personal Reflection

Read Psalm 105:17-19: "He had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters. His neck was put in a collar of iron until what he said came to pass. The word of the Lord tested him."
- The Hebrew word for "tested" means "refined." How might God be refining you in your current season of waiting?
- Are you trying to "speed run" your refining, or have you disengaged and drifted to the side? What would it look like to "drive the speed limit" of your current season?
- Where in your life do you need to shift from being:

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

This Week's Challenge:

Drive the Speed Limit Exercise: Actually drive the speed limit this week (not on cruise control, but actively maintaining it). Use this as a reminder to stay actively engaged in your current season rather than rushing through it or coasting.
Daily Reflection: Each day, ask yourself:

"Did I work unto the Lord today, or was I motivated by position/status?"
"Did I compromise truth or convictions to please someone?"
"What evidence is there that Christ is the center of my life today?"

Memorize Scripture: Choose one of these verses to memorize:

Colossians 3:23-24
2 Corinthians 5:9
Philippians 3:8

Identify One Area: Pick one specific area where you're waiting (career, relationship, finances, health, etc.) and write out how you can:

Be presence-driven in it (How can I experience God here?)
Be God-pleasing in it (What does faithfulness look like here?)
Be Christ-centered in it (How is this about God's story, not just mine?)