Equipped Workshop hosted by Cumberland Trace church of Christ

Equipped 2026: "Joseph Saves His Family" by Wayne Jones

April 26, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 4 - 6:00 PM Session Wayne Jones delivers a sermon analyzing the last nine chapters of Genesis, focusing on the story of Joseph and Jacob. He argues that the narrative is not primarily about the individual patriarchs but about God's overarching purpose and character. The lecture identifies six key activities of God demonstrated in these chapters: wrapping up previous promises, providing for those in need, healing damaged hearts, restoring broken families, rewarding past actions, and writing the next chapter of His divine plan. These actions are presented as timeless principles, applicable to the lives of believers today, encouraging them to see God as the central character in their own stories and to live out His purpose. Duration 40:09

Equipped 2026: "The Fall and Rise of Joseph" by Parker Webster

April 26, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 4 - 10:30 AM Session   This lecture reframes the biblical story of Joseph from a simple children's tale into a profound narrative about facing life's trials with faith. The speaker argues that Joseph's story is relatable because it mirrors the "roller coaster" of human life, full of ups and downs. The central theme is Joseph's "coat of many trials," representing three key challenges: the trial of persecution (betrayal by family), the trial of perseverance (enduring wrongful imprisonment), and the trial of perspective (resisting pride and bitterness). These trials, though painful, were part of God's providential plan to prepare Joseph for his ultimate role and to show that righteousness does not guarantee an easy life. The lecture urges listeners to learn from Joseph's example: trust God's plan during suffering, maintain a righteous perspective, and find hope in God's power to lift them from their own "pits" of sin and struggle.   Duration 41:53

Equipped 2026: Ladies: "Developing a Courageous Faith Like the Patriarchs" by Rose Crayton

April 26, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 4 - 9:30 AM Session A lesson on "Developing a Courageous Faith Like the Patriarchs." Rose uses the analogy of an anchor line connecting a ship to the anchor (God) to illustrate how faith is developed through the "tension" of life's struggles and trials. The lecture examines the lives of Old Testament patriarchs—Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and briefly Job—as ordinary people who became extraordinary through their active, obedient faith. The core message is that courageous faith is not the absence of fear but an active trust in God, built incrementally through obedience, surrender, and enduring trials. The speaker encourages the audience to embrace their struggles as training grounds, maintain integrity, and cultivate a "pilgrim mentality," always remembering that they are a work in progress, developing their faith to hold onto God's unchanging promises.   Duration 41:34

Equipped 2026: "The Rise and Fall of Joseph" by Keith Kasarjian

April 26, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 4 - 9:30 AM Session   The main content of the lecture analyzed Genesis chapters 37 and 38. The first part focused on Genesis 37, detailing Joseph as Jacob's favored son, the intense hatred from his brothers fueled by this favoritism and Joseph’s prophetic dreams, and their plot to kill him. This led to Reuben's intervention, Joseph being thrown into a pit, and Judah's proposal to sell him to Ishmaelite/Midianite traders for twenty shekels of silver. Joseph was then taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. The second part of the lecture analyzed Genesis 38, shifting focus to Judah and Tamar to explore themes of immorality and hypocrisy. It outlined Judah’s family, the deaths of his sons Er and Onan, the unfulfilled Levirate obligation to Tamar, Tamar's desperate act of disguising herself to conceive by Judah, his hypocritical condemnation, and his eventual confession ("She is more righteous than I"). The narrative concluded with the birth of the twins Perez and Zerah. Throughout the session, Kasarjian emphasized practical applications for modern life, including the dangers of parental favoritism, the difficulty of recognizing divine providence as it unfolds, the tendency to judge others' sins more harshly than our own, the untrustworthiness of feelings as a guide for truth, and the biblical principle of reaping what one sows. Duration 40:08

Equipped 2026: "From the Beginning God" by Dan Winkler - Part 3

April 26, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 4 - 8:30 AM Session   Dan Winkler continues a series centered on the phrase “from the beginning,” which occurs 23 times in the New Testament. This session examines Matthew 19, where the phrase appears twice in the context of marriage, divorce, and remarriage (MDR). The speaker critiques common misreadings of the chapter, stressing that its broader theme is “kingdom living,” and that isolating verse 9 neglects crucial context. The lecture unpacks Matthew 19:1-12: the Pharisees’ test question on divorce, Jesus’ answer anchoring marriage in God’s original intent at creation, and the dialogue on the certificate of divorce and eunuchs for the kingdom’s sake. A thorough analysis of Matthew 19:9 defines “whoever,” “divorce,” and “adultery,” arguing that God’s marriage law applies to all people, not only those in covenant with Him. The session ends with practical lessons for strengthening marriage: using Scripture as the guide, following God’s pattern of leaving and cleaving, cultivating togetherness, tender-heartedness, and prioritizing the kingdom of God.   Duration 47:05