Embracing Faith: The Call and Covenant of Christ

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we took a moment to pause amidst the busyness of life to reflect on the profound significance of the Lord's Supper. This sacred act is a reminder of the new life, better life, and eternal life that Jesus has given us through His sacrifice. As we partake in communion, we remember that Jesus left His perfect existence in heaven to join us in our struggles, offering us healing, purpose, and a glimpse of His kingdom. This act of remembrance is not just about looking back at what Jesus did but also looking forward to the promise of a future where every tear will be wiped away, and all things will be made new.

We also explored the concept of the new covenant, a divine agreement sealed with the blood of Jesus. This covenant signifies a new way for us to have a relationship with God, not based on our ability to follow laws but on faith in Jesus. Through His sacrifice, we are seen as righteous and holy, allowing us to have an eternal relationship with God.

The sermon delved into the story of Abraham, highlighting the significance of his call in Genesis 12. God chose Abraham, not because of his perfection, but because of his faith. This call was not just for Abraham but extends to us as followers of Jesus. We are part of Abraham's spiritual family, chosen by God to be a blessing to the world. This call requires us to live out our faith actively, taking steps of faith even when the path is unclear.

As we reflect on this call, we are reminded that God chose us, not because of our righteousness, but because of our faith in Jesus. We are invited into His family, blessed to be a blessing, and called to present Jesus to the world. This call is an invitation to a life of purpose, where our faith is demonstrated through our actions, and we step out in trust, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.

Key Takeaways:

- The Significance of Communion: Communion is a sacred time to remember Jesus' sacrifice and the new life He offers. It is a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the eternal life and kingdom glimpses we experience now and will fully realize in the future. [23:04]

- The New Covenant: The new covenant, sealed with Jesus' blood, signifies a relationship with God based on faith, not law. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are seen as righteous and holy, allowing us to have an eternal relationship with God. [25:43]

- The Call of Abraham: Abraham's call in Genesis 12 is a pivotal moment in history, marking the beginning of God's plan to rescue humanity. Abraham was chosen for his faith, not his perfection, and his story is a reminder that God calls us to be part of His redemptive plan. [48:44]

- Our Spiritual Heritage: As followers of Jesus, we are part of Abraham's spiritual family, chosen by God to be a blessing to the world. This call requires us to live out our faith actively, taking steps of faith even when the path is unclear. [55:47]

- Living Out Our Faith: Real faith is demonstrated through our actions, not just words. We are called to step out in faith, trusting God even when we don't see the whole path. This journey requires courage, risk, and a willingness to be used by God to present Jesus to the world. [01:03:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [23:04] - Communion: The Body of Christ
- [24:09] - Communion: The Blood of Christ
- [25:43] - The New Covenant
- [27:54] - The Uniqueness of God
- [37:37] - Community and Vision
- [39:39] - The Significance of "The"
- [41:56] - The Call of Abraham
- [44:21] - The Fall and Promise
- [45:53] - The Promise Fulfilled in Jesus
- [48:44] - Abraham's Faith and Call
- [51:43] - Real Faith in Action
- [55:47] - Our Spiritual Heritage
- [57:13] - Chosen by Faith
- [01:03:23] - Walking in Faith
- [01:10:10] - Invitation to Faith

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 12:1-3
- Galatians 3:7-9

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Genesis 12:1-3 reveal about God's promise to Abraham and his descendants? How does this promise extend to all families on earth?
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the new covenant mentioned during communion? [25:43]
3. How does the sermon describe Abraham's faith, and what actions did he take that demonstrated this faith? [51:43]
4. What role does the concept of being part of Abraham's spiritual family play in the sermon? How are believers today connected to this heritage? [55:47]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the new covenant, as described in the sermon, change the way believers relate to God compared to the old covenant? [25:43]
2. In what ways does the call of Abraham serve as a model for believers today in terms of faith and action? [48:44]
3. How does the sermon suggest that believers can actively live out their faith in the context of being a blessing to the world? [57:13]
4. What does it mean for believers to be part of God's plan to rescue humanity, as mentioned in the sermon? How does this impact their daily lives? [59:05]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the significance of communion in your life. How can you make this sacred act a more meaningful part of your spiritual journey? [23:04]
2. The sermon emphasizes stepping out in faith even when the path is unclear. Can you identify a situation in your life where you need to take a step of faith? What might that look like? [52:41]
3. How can you actively demonstrate your faith through actions this week, following the example of Abraham's obedience? [51:43]
4. Consider your role in being a blessing to others. What specific actions can you take to bless someone in your community this week? [57:13]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of being part of a spiritual family. How can you engage more deeply with your church community to support and be supported in your faith journey? [01:07:06]
6. What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to make a change or take a risk? How can you prepare yourself to respond to this call? [01:00:00]
7. Reflect on the idea of presenting Jesus to the world. How can you share your faith with someone who may not know Jesus yet? What steps can you take to initiate that conversation? [01:05:23]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Communion as a Gateway to New Life
In the midst of life's chaos, communion serves as a sacred pause, a moment to reflect on the profound gift of new life that Jesus offers through His sacrifice. This act of remembrance is not merely a backward glance at what Jesus accomplished but a forward-looking anticipation of the eternal life and kingdom glimpses we experience now and will fully realize in the future. As we partake in communion, we are reminded that Jesus left His perfect existence in heaven to join us in our struggles, offering healing, purpose, and a promise of a future where every tear will be wiped away, and all things will be made new. [23:04]

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV)

Reflection: As you prepare for your next communion, what specific aspect of Jesus' sacrifice and promise of new life do you feel most grateful for today?


Day 2: Embracing the New Covenant
The new covenant, sealed with the blood of Jesus, signifies a transformative relationship with God based on faith rather than adherence to the law. Through Jesus' sacrifice, believers are seen as righteous and holy, allowing them to enter into an eternal relationship with God. This covenant invites us to live in the freedom of grace, knowing that our standing with God is secure not because of our actions but because of our faith in Jesus. It is a call to embrace a life of faith, trusting in the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. [25:43]

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Hebrews 8:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you more fully embrace the freedom and grace of the new covenant in your daily life today?


Day 3: The Call of Abraham and Our Role in God's Plan
Abraham's call in Genesis 12 marks a pivotal moment in history, initiating God's plan to rescue humanity. Chosen for his faith rather than his perfection, Abraham's story serves as a reminder that God calls individuals to be part of His redemptive plan. As followers of Jesus, we are part of Abraham's spiritual family, chosen by God to be a blessing to the world. This call requires us to live out our faith actively, taking steps of faith even when the path is unclear, trusting that God is with us every step of the way. [48:44]

"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.'" (Genesis 12:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one step of faith you feel God is calling you to take today, even if the path is unclear?


Day 4: Our Spiritual Heritage and Identity
As part of Abraham's spiritual family, believers are chosen by God to be a blessing to the world. This spiritual heritage is not based on personal righteousness but on faith in Jesus. It is an invitation to live a life of purpose, where faith is demonstrated through actions. This identity calls us to step out in trust, knowing that God is with us, and to present Jesus to the world through our lives. [55:47]

"And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:29, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively live out your identity as part of Abraham's spiritual family today, being a blessing to those around you?


Day 5: Living Out Our Faith with Courage
Real faith is demonstrated through actions, not just words. Believers are called to step out in faith, trusting God even when the whole path is not visible. This journey requires courage, risk, and a willingness to be used by God to present Jesus to the world. It is a call to live a life of purpose, where faith is not just a belief but a lived experience that impacts the world around us. [01:03:23]

"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can take a courageous step of faith today, trusting God to guide you?

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Quotes

"So man the Lord's Supper is a really important thing that we do And we don't do it all the time We only do this thing usually once a month And it just strikes me today We have so much going on at church right now We have so much going on in this service right now It's a really busy day It's a crazy day It's an active day It's a hectic day It's a fun day You know a lot of us are going through really hard days But this is a time that we just set aside As much as we're able We just kind of clear out all the other stuff And we try to forget about what's going on on the outside And we focus on this one thing What he's done That Jesus has come for us That he's given us new life And he's given us better life And he's given us eternal life He's given us a life Where we can experience his kingdom In little taste now We can experience healing We can experience purpose And his power In little taste now And someday we all know It's like that song says Our future's in heaven Someday Because of what Jesus has done We'll be in the kingdom of heaven And all the hard stuff That we're dealing with right now Maybe you're sick Maybe someone you love is sick Maybe you're struggling financially Or with a relationship Someday we'll be in a place Jesus promised us Where he will dry every tear He'll make everything new And everything will be just like it was In the garden He will make all things new again Every wrong thing will be undone There'll be no hate or evil Or betrayal in the world We're gonna be part of that And as hard as this life sometimes is It's great to look forward to that And then look backward At how we got there And how we earned this spot And it's not by anything we did" [00:19:14] (110 seconds)


"In all of history, in all the universe that was perfect, he sent his son, Jesus, our Messiah, to come and become that sacrifice for us and to open up this pathway so that we could have a relationship with God in spite of us, in spite of what we've done and what we've said and what we've thought and what we've forgotten and the failures that we've had. In spite of all that, God looks at us through the blood of Jesus and he sees us as pure and he sees us as righteous and he sees us as holy. And he sees us as pure and he sees us as righteous and he sees us as holy. Like Jesus, he sees us as good enough to have a relationship with him. So yeah, this is the new covenant, the new covenant, that if we'll just put our faith in Jesus and his blood, that we will be made righteous in God's eyes. We'll be made holy like Jesus and we can have a relationship with God that lasts forever." [00:24:30] (52 seconds)


"Father, right now we're reminded of your incredible love for us, that you wanted to be with us. You wanted this relationship with us so much that you changed the rules. You came up with a new covenant, a new deal, a new way that we can be with you. And I want you to do that. I want you to do that. I want you to be seen by you as righteous and good and pure and holy like Jesus. You created a new way for us to have a relationship with you. And you sealed that deal, not with a handshake, not with a contract, but with the blood of your son. So in this blood, we see your perfection. We see your holiness. We see your forgiveness. We see your love for us." [00:25:43] (40 seconds)


"So the first couple of chapters of Genesis, the first book in the Bible tell this amazing story of God creating this incredible world and his plan to partner with his favorite part of his creation, which is mankind, which in Hebrew is Adom. Very good. Okay. And the plan was that God and man would would rule the world together in this beautiful relationship, in this beautiful, perfect paradise garden. And that was God's plan. But God gave Adam the choice that Adam could remain in God's presence and fully trust God for his provision and his protection and his power and his purpose and his peace. He could depend completely on God and have this amazing relationship with him and trust God for what God called good and evil. And that choice was represented from eating from the tree of life because God promised that that choice would lead to real life. Or Adam could trust himself and try to find his own provision and protection and peace and power and purpose apart from the presence of God and create his own version of good and evil. And that was represented by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And that choice, God promised, would lead to death." [00:42:35] (80 seconds)


"And they just keep caving in to sin and temptation and pride and choosing their own version of good and evil and destroying their lives and destroying God's world and this amazing relationship that he wants to have with them. And really, the rest of Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament and the rest of the Bible and the rest of history is all about God's plan to rescue humanity and rescue his world. And that rescue starts in Genesis 12. When he does, something to me kind of surprising. He picks one man in his family and he invites him into this covenant relationship. He invites him to this partnership to be part of his plan to rescue humanity and to rescue the world through the seed, through the descendant, through the son of man that he had promised back in the garden. And Bible scholars refer to this invitation as the call of Abraham. The call. Because it's that big a deal. And here it is. Genesis 12, verse 1. The Lord said to Abraham, Leave your native country and your relatives and your father's family and go to the land that I will show you." [00:48:44] (69 seconds)


"So a couple of things that I just think are amazing in this passage. Number one, God just picked him. He just chose Abraham out of all the people on the planet, right? And there weren't 7 billion people in the world at that time, but there was a whole bunch of people, and God just selected him. God just chose him and his family to be blessed and to be part of the plan to rescue the world. Now, just like, how awesome is it to be chosen by God, of all the people on earth, to be his chosen family, to be blessed by him and to be used by him to rescue humanity and save the world? That's the call." [00:50:30] (39 seconds)


"Real faith is not just saying yes with our lips. It's saying it with our lives. Real faith means we live differently. Real faith shows up in the way we live. And it did for Abraham. I mean, in verse 1 through 3, God says, Pack up everything you own and move. And verse 4 says, So Abraham went. That is a big deal for him, man, because this dude is dug in. Right? He's 75 years old. He's got this big old ranch. He's got all kinds of livestock. He's got aunts and uncles and cousins and servants. He's probably a member of the Chamber of Commerce. You know, his punch cart at Subway is almost full. This is his home, you know. And he has so much faith in spite of how dug in he was there. When God says go, he just goes. He doesn't even know where they're going." [00:52:43] (56 seconds)


"And I love this image. It's like he's stepping out in faith, and he doesn't know where his foot's going to land. Now, that is an incredible. That's faith, man. And that faith was his ticket and his family's ticket to life and to God and to blessing and to this one specific huge blessing of being used by God to save the world by presenting the Messiah. And then a couple thousand years later, yeah, that Messiah, the Messiah, Jesus would come to a broken world and to a broken humanity. And yeah, he would feel the bite of the snake and he would experience death. But even through his death, he would crush Satan and sin and separation and death forever. And someday every bad thing will be undone." [00:53:21] (52 seconds)


"Just because of our faith, God chose you. God chose us, just like he chose Abraham, to enjoy his blessing, to enjoy his spirit and his life and his presence and this amazing purpose, this call. And just like Abraham, we qualify for that blessing. We receive that blessing by faith, just by saying yes to Jesus. But remember what James said, and remember what Abraham modeled for us. Real faith is not just saying yes with your lips. It's saying yes with your life. Real faith shows up. Real faith shows up in our actions." [00:58:10] (34 seconds)


"Real faith shows up in the way that we live. It means believing so much that we act on that faith. And this is where Abraham's story and our story gets kind of interesting and fun and hard and exciting and scary and amazing and awesome and terrifying. Look what it says, Genesis 12 .1, Lord said to Abraham, leave your native country and your relatives and your father's family and leave your native country and your relatives and your go to the land that I will show you. And I will make you into a great nation. And I will bless you and I will make you famous and you'll be a blessing to others. I will bless those that bless you, curse those that treat you with contempt." [00:58:23] (39 seconds)


"God is asking Abraham to have enough faith to take that step, right? To step forward without even knowing where his foot. Was going to land. And I'm picturing, now he's a big rich guy at a ranch, right? I'm picturing all the moving trucks. You know, they're all lined up in front of Abraham's house. And a crew of guys is in and out with dollies. And they're inventorying everything. And they're wrapping their boxes. And all the china's getting wrapped up and taping everything. And all that good stuff. And now it's almost the last truck is getting filled. And now here comes the supervisor. He's got a clipboard. You know, they're putting the dollies away now. And he goes to Abraham, he goes, okay, boss, where are we going? Where are we going, man? We're packed up. We're packed up. His life is in these trucks. Where are we going? And Abraham says, I'll let you know when I know. And I'm telling you, that is a big act of faith. To step out and not know how it's going to turn out. To step out and not know exactly where we're going to end up. And the call to follow Jesus is kind of like that. It is a day -by -day faith." [01:02:36] (68 seconds)


"Father first of all just thank you um for choosing us for for calling us just because of our faith um thank you for calling us to be included in your family to be blessed by you and to be part of your amazing plan god i just pray that you'll just show each one of us like what our next step should be to live out our faith not just to say we have faith but to live out our faith and god we can only take those steps in faith because we know who you are so i feel like uh that dad in the book of mark chapter 9 that said look i believe but help my unbelief god we believe but will you increase our faith not by making us better stronger or something like this by showing us who you are remind us of who we are in you remind us of where you are that you're inside of each one of us so that we can answer this call and take our next step with you so that we can enjoy the blessing of your presence and your provision and your peace and your purpose and that purpose is presenting jesus to the world so god thank you for loving us and calling us and choosing us please show us what our next steps are and give us the faith to take those steps not because of who we are because of you who you are in jesus name amen" [01:07:06] (86 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?