Sermons on Genesis 17:5
The various sermons below converge on the central theme of God’s renaming of Abram to Abraham as a profound transformation of identity that carries both personal and communal significance. They collectively emphasize that this new name is not merely a label but a declaration of destiny and purpose, reflecting a shift from old limitations to a God-ordained future. A common thread is the idea that embracing this new identity requires active participation—whether through confession, abiding in Scripture, or surrender—highlighting that transformation is a process rather than a one-time event. Several sermons draw rich analogies, such as the mirror metaphor for self-perception, the cultural weight of names in the ancient Near East, and even contemporary references like a film’s portrayal of internal narratives, to illustrate how God’s naming reorients believers away from past trauma or negative self-talk toward a hope-filled identity. The theological themes underscore that this renaming is both an act of grace and a call to faithful devotion, with implications for legacy, community, and the believer’s ongoing relationship with God. Additionally, the significance of names as encapsulating essence and mission is linked to the New Testament practice of renaming, reinforcing the continuity of God’s transformative work across Scripture.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their focal points and theological nuances. Some emphasize the internal, psychological process of transformation, focusing on confession and the battle against distorted self-images shaped by trauma or past failures, while others highlight the public and communal dimensions of naming as a declaration of God’s covenant and legacy across generations. One approach stresses surrender as the gateway to receiving a new identity, balancing emotional and intellectual engagement, whereas another underscores the deeply personal and intimate nature of God’s naming as a unique secret between the believer and God. There is also a distinction between viewing the name as a private internal reality versus a public proclamation of God’s fame and mission, with one sermon particularly emphasizing the global recognition and proclamation of Jesus’s name as central to understanding biblical naming practices. Some sermons incorporate cultural and historical context to explain the weight of names, while others use contemporary analogies to connect the ancient text to modern experiences of identity and self-perception.
Genesis 17:5 Interpretation:
Embracing Our Identity in Christ for Transformation (Faith Family Church) offers a unique interpretation of Genesis 17:5 by focusing on the power of identification and confession. The sermon draws a direct analogy between Abraham's name change and the believer's need to repeatedly confess and internalize their new identity in Christ. The preacher uses the metaphor of looking into a mirror (the Word of God) to see one's true self, paralleling Abraham's transformation from "exalted father" to "father of many nations" with the Christian's journey from old self to new creation. The sermon also introduces the idea that identification precedes multiplication—Abraham only began to multiply when he identified as the father of many, not before. This is extended to believers: what you identify with, you become. The preacher further uses the analogy of trauma as a lens that distorts the mirror, suggesting that only by abiding in the Word can one see their true, God-given identity, free from the distortions of past experiences.
Building a Legacy of Faith for Future Generations (Victory Fellowship Church) interprets Genesis 17:5 by emphasizing the significance of the name change from Abram to Abraham as a transformation of identity and destiny. The sermon highlights the cultural weight of names in the ancient Near East, explaining that names were deeply tied to identity and destiny. The preacher draws a parallel between God renaming Abram and God giving believers a new identity in Christ, referencing Revelation 2:17 to suggest that God will give each believer a new name in heaven. The sermon also uses personal anecdotes about nicknames and labels to illustrate how names can shape or distort identity, but insists that God's naming brings true, liberating identity.
Transforming Identity Through Faith and Surrender (weareresonate) provides a fresh perspective by connecting Genesis 17:5 to the theme of a "miracle-filled future" that is not defined by past experiences. The sermon uses the story of Abraham's name change as a paradigm for how God speaks a new identity over people, not based on their past or present limitations, but on the miraculous future He intends. The preacher draws a direct analogy to the Pixar film "Inside Out 2," likening the internal "soundtrack" of negative self-talk to the old name "Abram," and God's renaming to the introduction of a new, hope-filled narrative. The sermon also notes the significance of God naming Sarai "Sarah" (princess), emphasizing that God speaks dignity and destiny over those who feel barren or overlooked.
Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) interprets Genesis 17:5 as a profound moment where God confers not just a new name but a new identity and relationship, using the act of renaming Abram to Abraham as a template for how God gives new names to express new hope and purpose. The sermon draws a unique analogy between the biblical act of naming and the way parents name children, emphasizing that names are "abbreviations of a sentence about God" and that each new name in Scripture (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel) encapsulates a unique facet of God's relationship with His people—love, laughter, and wrestling. The preacher extends this to the New Testament and early church, noting how Jesus and the apostles continued this tradition of renaming (e.g., Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul), and applies it to believers today, suggesting that God desires to give each person a new, divinely inspired identity that reflects a unique aspect of His character.
The Power and Significance of Jesus's Name (Desiring God) offers a linguistic and theological interpretation of Genesis 17:5, focusing on the Hebrew practice of names encapsulating essence and destiny. The sermon highlights that the change from Abram to Abraham is not arbitrary but is a deliberate act by God to link Abraham’s identity to his calling as "father of many nations." The preacher draws a direct line from this Old Testament practice to the New Testament, where Jesus’s name (and other biblical names) are imbued with meaning that reflects the person’s essence and mission. The sermon uniquely emphasizes that the act of naming is about making the person’s identity and purpose public and globally recognized, not hidden or private, and that the name is a vehicle for the fame and proclamation of God’s work.
Genesis 17:5 Theological Themes:
Embracing Our Identity in Christ for Transformation (Faith Family Church) introduces the theological theme that identification with Christ is not a one-time event but a process of continual transformation through abiding in the Word. The sermon uniquely connects the concept of "abiding" versus "visiting" God to the process of internalizing one's new identity, arguing that only through persistent engagement with Scripture does the believer truly become what God has declared. The preacher also explores the idea that confession and repetition (repeatedly declaring one's identity in Christ) are necessary for revelation and transformation, paralleling Abraham's repeated use of his new name with the believer's confession of being a new creation.
Building a Legacy of Faith for Future Generations (Victory Fellowship Church) presents the theme that God's act of renaming Abram is both an act of grace and a call to faithful devotion. The sermon adds a new facet by connecting the name change to the believer's ongoing struggle with past labels and failures, asserting that God's naming breaks the power of the past and establishes a new, unshakeable identity. The preacher also ties the theme of legacy to the covenant, suggesting that the new identity is not just personal but generational, meant to be passed down as a legacy of faith.
Transforming Identity Through Faith and Surrender (weareresonate) brings a distinct theological emphasis on surrender as the gateway to receiving a new, God-given identity. The sermon asserts that God does not define people by their past or their pain, but by the future He has prepared for them, and that full surrender is required to step into this new identity. The preacher also highlights the tension between emotionalism and stoicism, arguing that true transformation involves both heart and mind, and that God's naming speaks to the whole person.
Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) introduces the theme that God’s act of renaming is not just about personal transformation but about being blessed to be a blessing to all nations, reflecting the inclusivity of God’s love as seen in Abraham’s new name. The sermon also presents the idea that each believer’s new name is a unique, intimate secret between them and God, suggesting a deeply personal and individualized relationship with the divine that is both communal (as part of the people of God) and singular.
The Power and Significance of Jesus's Name (Desiring God) presents the distinct theological theme that the biblical emphasis on names is about making the essence and fame of God and Jesus public and globally acknowledged. The sermon adds the angle that the name is not a magical incantation but a pointer to the person’s true nature and mission, and that the frequent invocation of Jesus’s name in the New Testament is about ensuring His identity and work are proclaimed and recognized among all nations.
Genesis 17:5 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Building a Legacy of Faith for Future Generations (Victory Fellowship Church) provides detailed historical context by explaining the cultural significance of names in the ancient Near East, noting that names were not just labels but carried deep meaning and were believed to shape a person's destiny. The sermon also discusses the practice of circumcision as an outward sign of the covenant, explaining its role as a marker of being set apart for God and its generational implications for Abraham's descendants.
The Power and Significance of Jesus's Name (Desiring God) provides historical context by explaining the ancient Near Eastern and Hebrew practice of names being deeply tied to a person’s essence, destiny, or defining reality. The sermon notes that in the Old Testament, God’s own name (Yahweh) is given with a meaning that reflects His eternal, unchanging nature, and that the act of renaming (as with Abram to Abraham) was a significant cultural marker of a new covenant, mission, or relationship. The preacher also references the importance of public naming in ancient societies as a way to establish identity and legacy.
Genesis 17:5 Cross-References in the Bible:
Embracing Our Identity in Christ for Transformation (Faith Family Church) references several passages to expand on Genesis 17:5: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (new creation in Christ), Numbers 13:33 (the Israelites' self-perception as grasshoppers), Romans 12:2 (transformation by renewing the mind), James 1:23-24 (the Word as a mirror), Philippians 3:20 (citizenship in heaven), John 15:4 (abiding in Christ), Matthew 16:15-19 (Peter's revelation and renaming), Romans 6:6 (co-crucifixion with Christ), Ephesians 2:4-6 (being raised with Christ), John 10:10 (abundant life), Romans 8:11 (the Spirit giving life), and Galatians 3:13 (redemption from the curse). Each reference is used to reinforce the idea that the believer's identity is rooted in Christ's work and must be continually confessed and internalized, just as Abraham had to embrace his new name.
Building a Legacy of Faith for Future Generations (Victory Fellowship Church) cross-references Revelation 2:17, which promises believers a new name in heaven, to draw a parallel between Abraham's name change and the believer's ultimate identity in Christ. The sermon also references the broader Abrahamic covenant narrative in Genesis 17 and ties it to the New Testament concept of being set apart and given a new identity in Christ.
Transforming Identity Through Faith and Surrender (weareresonate) references Genesis 17 (Abraham and Sarah's name changes), Proverbs 22 (training children in the way they should go), Philippians 4:6-7 (peace of God overcoming anxiety), Romans 7 (Paul's struggle with self-control and the need for deliverance), and 1 John 1:9 (forgiveness and cleansing from sin). These passages are used to illustrate the process of transformation from old identity to new, and the necessity of surrender and faith in God's promises.
Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) cross-references several biblical stories of renaming to support the interpretation of Genesis 17:5: Sarai to Sarah (promise of motherhood), Jacob to Israel (wrestling with God), Simon to Peter (the rock), Saul to Paul (mission to the Gentiles), and the giving of new names in Revelation 2:17 (white stone with a new name). Each reference is used to illustrate how God’s act of renaming marks a new phase of relationship, mission, or identity, and how this pattern continues throughout Scripture.
The Power and Significance of Jesus's Name (Desiring God) references Genesis 17:5 (Abram to Abraham), Genesis 17:15 (Sarai to Sarah), Genesis 32:28 (Jacob to Israel), Exodus 3:13-14 (God naming Himself Yahweh), Matthew 1:21 (Jesus’s name meaning Savior), Matthew 16:16 (Jesus as Christ), Philippians 2:10 (every knee bowing to Jesus), Isaiah 45:23 (every knee bowing to Yahweh), Colossians 3:17 (doing everything in Jesus’s name), and several passages in Romans (Romans 1:5, 9:17, 15:19, 10:13) to show the continuity and escalation of the theme of naming from the Old Testament to the New Testament, culminating in the global proclamation of Jesus’s name and identity.
Genesis 17:5 Christian References outside the Bible:
Embracing Our Identity in Christ for Transformation (Faith Family Church) explicitly references several Christian leaders and authors: Reverend Mark Hankins is quoted as saying, "If the devil can challenge your identity, he will hinder your destiny," emphasizing the spiritual warfare aspect of identity. The sermon also references Kenneth E. Hagin ("Brother Hagin"), particularly his teaching on the believer's authority and the importance of finding every "in Christ" scripture to build faith and identity. The preacher notes that Hagin read the Bible multiple times a year, focusing especially on the epistles to understand the believer's position in Christ. These references are used to support the sermon's argument that revelation of identity comes through persistent engagement with Scripture and confession.
Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) explicitly references C.S. Lewis, quoting his analogy that God is like a diamond with infinite facets, and each person is created to reflect and praise a unique facet of God. This is used to reinforce the idea that each believer’s new name and identity is a unique reflection of God’s character, and that the diversity of names and identities in the community of faith helps others see and love God more fully.
Genesis 17:5 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Transforming Identity Through Faith and Surrender (weareresonate) uses the Pixar film "Inside Out 2" as a central metaphor for understanding identity and transformation. The preacher draws parallels between the movie's depiction of internal "soundtracks" and belief systems and the biblical concept of God giving a new name and identity. The film's portrayal of emotions at the "console" of the mind is used to illustrate the struggle between fear, anxiety, and faith, and the need to let God take control of one's life. The sermon also references the impact of front-facing cameras and selfies (citing a 139% increase in youth anxiety since 2010) to highlight the cultural pressures that shape identity and the need for a God-given, future-oriented identity. The preacher's personal story of anxiety and counseling is woven in as a real-life example of the journey from self-driven identity to surrender and transformation through faith.
Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) uses several detailed secular illustrations to make Genesis 17:5 relatable: the preacher describes how at funerals, people rarely talk about accomplishments but rather about what the deceased loved, such as a friend’s lifelong devotion to the Dodgers (referencing Sandy Koufax), another’s passion for the arts and theater, a son’s love of surfing, and a brother’s elaborate Halloween decorations that attract busloads of visitors. These examples are used to illustrate how what we love and are passionate about becomes a defining part of our identity—paralleling how God gives new names that reflect what He loves and purposes in us. The preacher also humorously references buying both Pampers and Depends for Sarah’s late-in-life motherhood, and the idea of going to bed at 7:30, to bring the story of Abraham and Sarah into a modern, relatable context.