DUSTING OFF A TEN YEAR OLD SERMON

TESTING 101-The Life of Faith

From time to time I enjoy revisiting some of my achieved sermons. In 2006 we learned three important principles from James 1:1-12.

1. The life of faith is a series of tests,
2. They each have a definite purpose. (to make us more like Jesus)
3. And certain tests can be expected. 

To learn what tests to expect, we turned to the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 and uncovered these ten tests:

1. The Pride test.
2. The Pit test.
3. The Palace test.
4. The Purity test.
5. The Prison test.
6. The Prophetic test.
7. The Power test.
8. The Prosperity test.
9. The Pardon test.
10. The Purpose test. 

The lessons Joseph learned through each of these distinct tests, made it possible for him to become the man God created Him to be. They were a necessary part of his journey. And we discovered that these tests are a necessary part of our pilgrimage as well.