Joseph’s story in Genesis shows that God is “the God of the ultimate comeback,” working even through betrayal, injustice, and suffering to accomplish His purposes. Joseph’s brothers intended evil when they sold him into slavery, yet God used those events to elevate Joseph, save many lives, and fulfill His promises. Neither the wickedness of others nor our own failures can stop God’s faithfulness, even when He seems silent or hidden. Ultimately, Joseph’s story points to Jesus, whose suffering and resurrection…
Jacob’s wrestling with God in Genesis 32 is a picture of the spiritual journey from merely having a concept of God to experiencing a real relationship with God. Sermon preached by Peter Tepper on 2 AUG 2026 at St Peter the Fisherman, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
The story of Leah, Rachel, and Jacob reveals how human longings, even for good things such as love, family, and acceptance, can never fully satisfy when they take the place of God. Both Jacob and Leah learn through disappointment that misplaced hopes lead to heartache, while God uses their struggles to shape their character and draw them closer to Himself. Leah’s journey culminates when she shifts her focus from seeking Jacob’s love to praising God, naming her son Judah, meaning…
This sermon uses the story of Jacob’s dream at Bethel (Genesis 28) to explore three themes: the hiddenness, openness, and givenness of heaven. Jacob, a lifelong trickster who tried to secure blessing and status through his own efforts, discovers that heaven is not earned through achievement but opened by God’s grace. Sermon preached by Peter Tepper on 19 July 2026 at St Peter the Fisherman, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
