Sunday PM Service
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class centered on the biblical teaching that forgiveness, though challenging, is a divine command. The teacher used the real-life story of Steve Saint and the mission to the Wadani tribe from *End of the Spear* to illustrate the weight of unforgiveness and the transformative power of letting go. This was paired with an in-depth analysis of Genesis 42:6-17, where Joseph’s unresolved grudge against his brothers led him to test them harshly, despite having already been shown mercy. Key arguments emphasized the difficulty of forgiveness, the necessity of obedience to Jesus’ example, and the spiritual freedom that comes when we release grudges. The central message was that forgiveness is not a passive act but a deliberate choice to mirror God’s grace, even in the face of deep pain.
Key Scriptures
Now Joseph was the ruler over all the land, and he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them. But he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, Where have you come from? And they said, From the land of Canaan, to buy food. But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them and said to them, You are spies. You have come to look at the undefended parts of our land. Then he said to them, No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. We are sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants are not spies. Yea, he said to them, No, but you have come into the land to look at the undefended parts. But they said, Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. And behold, the youngest is with our father today, and the one is no longer. Joseph said to them, It is as I had said to you. You are spies. But by this you will be tested. By the life of Pharaoh you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you that he may get your brother while you remain confined that your words may be tested whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies. So he put them all together in prison for three days.