Homework
• Read back through the life of Abraham this week
(Genesis 12-25) asking God to show one specific way
to put faith in Him as you read.
• Write down some of the “Isaacs” in your life. What
would never be there except for the grace and the
power of God?
• Take 20 minutes to pray and ask two questions of God:
- Where am I settling for less, afraid of what God wants
to do?
- What am I withholding from God, afraid that He will
not provide?
Abraham’s great challenge meets life’s great paradox –
the cross and the resurrection!
Matthew 10:39 (NIV’84) (Jesus) “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and
whoever loses his life will find it.”
Crosses are always followed by Resurrections!!
Tweet what you like from today’s sermon! @SonRiseC #Genesis
The Life of Abraham (Part 2)
Last Week
God Did Two Great Things In Abraham’s Life
• He moved him to the Promised Land.
• He gave him a son.
Abraham’s called “The Father of Faith”
Genesis 12-25 is the story of Abraham built around six
conversations.
How Do I Manage Defining Moments?
I. My Greatest ________________________ (Genesis 15:1-21)
Hebrews 11:11 (GN) “It was faith that made Abraham able to become a
father, even though he was too old and Sarah herself could not have children.
He trusted God to keep His promise.”
3 Ways of Handling God’s Promise
Eliezer = ____________________________ (Genesis 15:1-6)
• Why do I settle for less? ____________________
• I settle for less because I’m afraid of __________________.
How Do I Change?
• _________________________________ (Genesis 15:4-5)
• ________________________________ (Genesis 15:9-11)
Ishmael = _______________________ (Genesis 16:1-15)
Ishmael represents D.I.Y. faith.
How do I recognize D.I.Y. faith?
• Shortcuts
• Short term
• Shortsighted
• Short-changed
III. My Greatest ____________________ (Genesis 22:1-19)
God helps Abraham with human powered faith:
• He game him a ______________________ (Genesis 17:5)
• He game him a _____________________ (Genesis 17:11)
Isaac = _____________________________ (Genesis 18:1-15)
Genesis 18:14-15 (NIV’84) (God) “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will
return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.’
15
Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, ‘I did not laugh.’”
Sarah’s problem wasn’t her laughing – it was her lying!
Genesis 21:1-2 (NIV’84) “Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had
said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He has promised. 2Sarah became
pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had
promised him.”
The greatest challenge is always the challenge
of ____________________.
When the challenge came Abraham acted with:
• ____________________ action – Got up next morning
Genesis 22:3 (NIV’84)
• ____________________ action – Brought wood, knife, etc.
Genesis 22:6 (NIV’84)
• ____________________ action – Traveled three days
• Promises always come
(Genesis 21:1)
• Promises always come
(Genesis 21:2)
• Promises always come
(Genesis 21:4-7)
Mt. Moriah was the place in later years King David bought the
threshing floor of Araunah as a place to build the temple
(1 Chronicles 21:18). On that very place where Abraham
offered Isaac, Solomon’s temple was built. (2 Chronicles 3:1)
Today stands in that place the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim
mosque. This may be THE most significant place in all the
world!
• Promises always come
(Genesis 21:9-13)
The Foundation of Abraham’s Actions – Trust
Hebrews 6:15 (NCV) “Abraham waited patiently for this to happen, and he
received what God promised.”
1) Trust is not
.
II. My Greatest ____________________ (Genesis 20:1-18)
2) Trust is knowing that
.
Abraham made the same great mistake – even after his name
was changed!
Abimelech asks one of the best questions in the Bible:
“What was your reason for doing this?” (Genesis 20:10)
The lesson in a repeated sin:
I don’t need to be improved, I need to be __________________.
Hebrews 11:17-19 (NIV’84) “By faith Abraham, when God tested him,
offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was
about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to
him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ 19Abraham
reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he
did receive Isaac back from death.”