Sermon Outline Title: Never Give up, Give out, or Give in
Text, Theme, Big Idea
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Text: Genesis 37:1
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Theme: Persevering faith in times of testing
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Big Idea: Don’t give up, don’t give out, don’t give in — faith that endures will always rise to victory
1. Don’t Give Up on God
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Joseph was a dreamer and visionary — God gave him purpose and promise.
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When life fell apart, he never quit on his faith.
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AA. Life’s setbacks are often setups for God’s plans — pain produces growth.
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BB. Every believer will face moments of discouragement, but perseverance brings promotion.
2. Don’t Give Out Doing Right
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Joseph didn’t grow weary in righteousness even when wronged.
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He made the best of every situation — servant, prisoner, ruler.
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AA. Some say they must “set aside their Christianity” to survive the world — Joseph proves that’s false.
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BB. True strength is staying faithful when things go bad — that’s how God shapes endurance.
3. Don’t Give In to Temptation
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Joseph faced seduction, betrayal, and injustice — yet he ran from sin.
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AA. The devil lays traps to steal your destiny — resist, and you’ll rise higher.
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BB. Temptations reveal character; endurance builds integrity and peace.
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Alliterated Points: Purpose, Perseverance, Purity — these are the pillars of Joseph’s faith.
3. Illustration / Example
A young sailor once asked an old captain, “How do you stay calm through every storm?” The captain replied, “You can’t stop the wind, son, but you can set your sail toward home.” — Like Joseph, we can’t control the storm, but we can keep our faith aimed toward God.
4. Conclusion / Invitation
Joseph’s story teaches that God never stops working behind the scenes. Even in betrayal and prison, His plan was unfolding. Don’t give up, don’t give out, and don’t give in — because your ship will come in. Turn every stumbling block into a stepping stone by trusting that God is steering your course.