At the time God calls Abraham to father the nation Israel, civilization prospers and grows; so does idolatory. Abraham takes time to respond and build faith but eventually goes all out in faith and obedience.
Presentation Overview
- Background of Abraham
- Abraham’s journey
- Abraham’s faith chart – soaring faith
- Lot’s faith chart – staggering faith
- Abraham vs. Lot – A common start, an opposite finish
- God fulfils his promises
- Discussion
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Presentation Overview
- Background of Abraham
- Abraham’s journey
- Abraham’s faith chart – soaring faith
- Lot’s faith chart – staggering faith
- Abraham vs. Lot – A common start, an opposite finish
- God fulfils his promises
- Discussion
Abraham – Soaring Faith-Objectives
To:
- Appreciate the consistently growing faith of Abraham
- Differentiate between Abraham and Lot’s approach to the same journey
- Believe God fulfils His promises
Background of Abraham
- Called from Ur of the Chaldees (probably in his mid sixties).
- Went to Haran with his father. Blessed by God.
- Answered God’s call on his father’s death at age 75.
- Continues to experience God’s providence.
- Gives birth to Ishmael in his mid 80s
- Finally gives birth to Isaac around the age of 100.
- Asked by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac as a test of faith.
Gen 12-23
Abraham’s Faith chart
1.God calls Abraham
2.Abraham takes his time to respond
3.Abraham moves but in a different direction – towards Haran
4.God confirms his call to Abraham
5.God confirms Abrahams call
6.Abraham and Pharoah
7.Abraham and Lot
8.God confirms Abraham’s descendants Abraham believes
9.Sarah asks Abraham to have son via Hagar
10.God confirms Abraham’s descendants
11.3 angels confirm Abraham’s descendents
12.Sodom and Gomorrah
13.Abraham and Abimelech
14.Isaac is born
15.Abraham sacrifices Isaac
16.Abraham gets a bride for Isaac
Lot – Staggering Faith
1.Lot goes with Abraham
2.Lot claims Sodom and Gomorrah
3.Lot risks daughters to stand for angel of God against localites
4.Lot’s daughters commit incest – Moabites and Ammonites are born
While our faith may be erratic, God’s faithfulness is always constant/consistent
Abraham and Lot – A Common Start, an Opposite Finish!
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Abraham |
Lot |
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Environment |
Both started out on the same journey |
Lot could have been a part of Abraham’s great heritage but chose a different path |
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Motive |
Abraham looked for a city with foundations whose builder and maker was God |
Lot chose the lush, prosperous plains of Sodom and Gomorrah also rich in sin |
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Leadership |
Abraham exposes to the family to his faith and maintains the heritage of God. |
Lot exposes his family to sin and drunkenness destroying them in the process. |
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Growth |
Abraham quickly corrects his errors and grows |
Lot repeats his errors and falls |
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Legacy |
Abraham’s descendants maintain his faith. |
Lot’s descendants (Moabites and Ammonites) quickly turn away from God. |
God Fulfils His Promises
- God took 36 years to fulfil his promise. During which time, he:
- Led Abraham to the promised land
- Built Abraham’s faith
- Enlarged Abraham’s territories
- Strengthened his equation with neighbours
- Prepared Abraham to father the nation of God
Activity
- As for two volunteers. Blindfold one and ask the other to lead the first on a walk
- When walk is done ask feelings of both
- Both volunteers share experience
- Others talk about how they felt when they surrendered phones
- Talk about surrender to God….
- Summarize with importance of surrendering to Lordship of Christ
Discussion
- What do we learn about God?
- What do we learn about faith?
Are we ready to wait for the fulfilment of God’s promises?
While we are waiting God is working