Faith in Action: Abraham's Journey and Our Calling
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound narrative of faith as exemplified in the life of Abraham, particularly focusing on Genesis chapter 12, verses 1 through 9. We delved into the pattern of God's instruction, human rebellion, divine correction, and redemptive promises that is evident throughout Scripture. This pattern is crucial to understanding God's relationship with humanity and His plan for our flourishing.
We began by examining the importance of inviting others to experience the transformative power of the Gospel, especially as we approach Easter. We discussed the significance of personal invitations to church and the impact of engaging with others in a missional way, sharing life and exploring faith together.
The heart of the message centered on the call of Abraham. God's command to Abraham to leave his homeland and go to an unknown land serves as a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative. This call required Abraham to step out in faith, trusting God's word over his own understanding. Abraham's obedience to God's command, despite the uncertainty and potential discomfort, is a powerful testament to his faith.
We reflected on the implications of Abraham's journey for our own lives. The call to leave the familiar and step into the unknown is a call to trust God's promises over our own perceptions of security and comfort. Abraham's story challenges us to consider where we place our trust and whether we are willing to follow God's leading, even when it doesn't make sense to us.
The message concluded with a reminder that the promises made to Abraham find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Through Christ, all nations are blessed, and we, as believers, are called to extend that blessing to others. The Great Commission is rooted in the Abrahamic promise, and we are invited to participate in God's redemptive plan for the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith requires us to trust in God's word more than our own understanding. Like Abraham, we are often called to step out into the unknown, relying on the promises of God rather than the visible and tangible. This trust is not passive but active, leading us to make decisions that align with God's will, even when it contradicts our logic or comfort. [12:51]
- The pattern of God's instruction, human rebellion, divine correction, and redemptive promise is a recurring theme in Scripture. It teaches us that God's plans for us are for our good and flourishing, but our sinful nature often leads us astray. God's correction is not punitive but restorative, guiding us back to the path of life He has designed for us. [05:40]
- The story of Abraham is not just a historical account but a narrative that speaks to the broader scope of God's redemptive work. Abraham's faith and obedience foreshadow the coming of Christ, through whom the promises to Abraham are fulfilled. As believers, we are part of this story, called to live by faith in the reality of God's promises. [11:38]
- Our lives are meant to build altars to God, not monuments to ourselves. The way we live, the decisions we make, and the legacy we leave should point others to God's faithfulness and grace, not our own achievements. This perspective shifts our priorities and shapes our identity around God's purposes rather than our own. [28:23]
- The Great Commission is deeply connected to the Abrahamic blessing. As followers of Christ, we are entrusted with the mission to bless all nations by sharing the Gospel. This mission is not an afterthought but is woven into the fabric of God's plan from the beginning. Our participation in this mission is a response to God's call to be a blessing to others, just as Abraham was. [35:36]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Genesis 12:1-9
- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-10
- Galatians 3:16, 26-29
#### Observation Questions
1. What did God command Abraham to do in Genesis 12:1, and what were the four aspects of this command? ([13:02])
2. How did Abraham respond to God's command, and what does this reveal about his faith? ([22:25])
3. According to the sermon, what is the recurring pattern seen throughout Scripture that involves God's instruction, human rebellion, divine correction, and redemptive promise? ([04:17])
4. How does the story of Abraham connect to the Great Commission and the broader narrative of God's redemptive plan? ([35:01])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is Abraham's willingness to leave his homeland significant, and what does it teach us about faith? ([16:00])
2. How does the pattern of God's instruction, human rebellion, divine correction, and redemptive promise help us understand God's relationship with humanity? ([04:17])
3. In what ways does Abraham's story foreshadow the coming of Christ and the fulfillment of God's promises? ([33:25])
4. How does the Great Commission relate to the Abrahamic blessing, and what implications does this have for believers today? ([35:01])
#### Application Questions
1. Abraham trusted God's word over his own understanding. Reflect on a time when you had to trust God despite uncertainty. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([12:01])
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of personal invitations to church and engaging with others missionally. Who is one person you can invite to church or engage with in a spiritual conversation this week? ([00:47])
3. Abraham built altars to God rather than monuments to himself. In what ways can you shift your focus from self-glorification to glorifying God in your daily life? ([24:29])
4. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples of all nations. What practical steps can you take to participate in this mission within your community? ([35:01])
5. Consider the pattern of God's instruction, human rebellion, divine correction, and redemptive promise. How have you experienced this pattern in your own spiritual journey, and what lessons have you learned from it? ([04:17])
6. Reflect on the idea that our lives should build altars to God, not monuments to ourselves. What specific actions can you take this week to point others to God's faithfulness and grace? ([24:29])
7. The sermon highlighted the fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ. How does this understanding impact your faith and your approach to sharing the Gospel with others? ([33:25])
Devotional
Day 1: Trust Surpasses Understanding
Faith is not merely a feeling; it is an active choice to trust in what God says above what one might think or understand. Like Abraham, who was called to leave everything familiar behind, individuals today are also called to step out into the unknown, holding onto the promises of God. This requires a trust that goes beyond the visible and tangible, a trust that is willing to follow God's will even when it contradicts human logic or personal comfort. It is a trust that acts, making decisions that align with God's will, and it is a trust that is willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of faithfulness to God's word. [12:51]
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Reflection: What is one decision you are currently facing where you can choose to trust God's promises over your own understanding?
Day 2: The Cycle of Divine Restoration
The Bible repeatedly shows a pattern of God's instruction, human rebellion, divine correction, and redemptive promise. This pattern teaches that God's plans are for human flourishing, but human nature often leads astray. Divine correction is not meant to be punitive but restorative, guiding back to the life path God has designed. Understanding this cycle helps to see God's hand not as a disciplinarian but as a loving parent who corrects to bring His children back to a place of blessing and growth. [05:40]
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word." - Psalm 119:67
Reflection: Can you identify a time when God's correction in your life led to a deeper understanding or a more profound sense of His love?
Day 3: Abraham's Legacy of Faith
The story of Abraham is more than a historical account; it is a narrative that speaks to the broader scope of God's redemptive work. Abraham's faith and obedience foreshadow the coming of Christ, through whom the promises to Abraham are fulfilled. Believers are part of this story, called to live by faith in the reality of God's promises. This connection to Abraham's story provides a rich heritage of faith and a model for trusting in God's promises, even when the fulfillment of those promises is not yet seen. [11:38]
"And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise." - Hebrews 6:15
Reflection: How does seeing yourself as part of the ongoing story of faith, beginning with Abraham, change your perspective on your current challenges?
Day 4: Altars Not Monuments
Life is meant to be lived in a way that builds altars to God rather than monuments to oneself. The decisions made and the legacy left should point others to God's faithfulness and grace, not to personal achievements. This perspective shifts priorities and shapes identity around God's purposes rather than personal ambitions. It is a call to humility and a reminder that the true measure of a life is found in how it reflects God's glory and love to the world. [28:23]
"Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you." - 1 Samuel 12:24
Reflection: What is one way you can build an 'altar' to God in your life this week, rather than a 'monument' to yourself?
Day 5: Commissioned to Bless
The Great Commission is deeply connected to the Abrahamic blessing. Followers of Christ are entrusted with the mission to bless all nations by sharing the Gospel. This mission is integral to God's plan from the beginning, and participation in this mission is a response to God's call to be a blessing to others. As Abraham was blessed to be a blessing, so are believers today called to extend the reach of God's grace through the Gospel to every corner of the earth. [35:36]
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" - Mark 16:15
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can intentionally bless this week with the love and message of the Gospel?
Quotes
1) "Everything in us, if we're honest, tells us to seek safety and security... And here we are, God's like, I want you to go and leave all of that to go someplace. Someplace. Think about the crisis of belief that this would have led him to." [15:50]
2) "The reality is this, 42% of Orlando is what's called de-churched... The majority of those, life just got busy... all they need is an invitation from someone who cares for them to come." [00:47]
3) "If you remember, there's kind of this first step of God's instruction, God's decreed will for our good and for our flourishing... But then what happens is mankind, now because of sin, we don't want to depend on God... And then you see God's correction." [04:45]
4) "God said, go. I'll show you along the way. And he went. I'll make you into a great nation. That's what God said. I will. I will. I will... Sometimes looking in the mirror, he's, I don't know where I'm going. You're going to make me into a great nation?" [18:49]
5) "It was a prosperous, peaceful city. It was a prominent city in its time... And Abraham was a shepherd, but God's like, I want you to leave that. I want you to leave the comfort, and I want you to move into discomfort." [14:54]
6) "We talked about this some last week and even with the Tower of Babel, but what is our goal in life as parents?... We can build a monument to ourselves of how our kids see us, how we're seen at work, or we can build an altar to God." [28:23]
7) "The authentic life of faith demands that we're pilgrims in this world... Our hearts yearn for it, and I think that's what it's saying with Abraham. It was more than just a physical plot of land. There was that, yes, but there was something more." [32:59]
8) "Through Christ, the promises spoken to Abraham would become true to all peoples in all nations... And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise." [34:02]
9) "The call to go to all the world exists because the nations have been scattered, their languages were confused... And then God's instruction was for his disciples to now go, go back into all those nations." [37:12]
10) "He built an altar to God... And Abraham listened and trusted God. And then when God moved, he didn't build a monument to himself... We built an altar to God. This is where God met with me." [25:06]
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