Second Sunday in Lent

 Sermon Text: Genesis 12:1-8

 Other Readings: Romans 4:1-5,13-17 and John 3:1-17


 

  1. What sorts of things would make this a difficult journey for Abraham?
     
  1. In one sentence, explain how God would bless “all peoples on earth” through Abraham (v. 3).
     
  2. When we look at the life and faith of Abraham, what is perhaps the key thing we are to discover? Consult Romans 4:1-3.
     
  3. What do you notice about Abraham’s worship life in this text? How can you apply that to your own life?

 

  1. Abraham would be separating himself from familiar territory (his country), his culture (his people), and his family. Additionally, Abraham is old at this point, seventy-five years in age. Plus, he was overseeing not just himself, Sarai, and Lot; he was also overseeing his entire household which included other people and many animals. It was quite the production… and to a place he had never seen and to a destination he still did not yet know. Even when he got there, he still had to deal with the locals, i.e., the Canaanites.
     
  2. Abraham’s descendant is Jesus Christ who earned forgiveness of sins for all people of all time. Genesis 12:3 is a clear prophecy of Jesus.
     
  3. We discover that we are saved by grace as received through faith. We don’t earn righteousness; rather, righteousness is credited to us through faith in Jesus.
     
  4. Abraham’s worship life is filled with thankfulness. It is motivated by God’s promises. It is spontaneous; God didn’t directly command it, at least not that we know of. It is public; constructing an altar was a public testament to his faith. In the same way, our worship should focus on God’s promises to us, be moved by thankfulness to God’s faithfulness, and should be at least somewhat public in nature.