Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read Genesis 44. Who is the main character in this chapter? Who speaks the most? Why do you think this is, given what we have seen in the previous chapters?
• Why do you think Joseph did all of this instead of revealing himself? What have we seen in his brothers that he might have perceived?
• What does Judah’s response in vv. 16, 18-34 reveal about his mind and heart? What was he concerned with? What was central to him?

Prayerfully Meditate

• What is the main point of this chapter?
• Consider Joseph’s dealings with his brothers. How might his dealings be exemplary (positive or negative)?
• What does Judah advocate for? How is this exemplary for us?
• How does this chapter push forward the narrative of the larger section of Genesis?