Skip to main content

    The Birth of a Nation

Series on Faith
Hebrews 11:8–10; Genesis 12:1–3
          I.      Introduction
         A.      The Three Beginnings
         1.      Genesis 1: Beginning with Adam
         2.      Genesis 6–7: Beginning with Noah
         3.      Genesis 12: Beginning with Abram
         B.      When the World Rebels, God Deals with one Man
         1.      The Tower of Babel
         2.      Out of the confusion comes a call
         3.      God will give birth to the nation Israel through Abram
         4.      Many lessons here for individuals and for any nation longing for God’s blessings
          II.      Body
         A.      God Calls Abram to a Life of Faith (v. 1)
         1.      “Get thee out of thy country”
           a.      Ur of the Chaldees, Abram’s country
           b.      Great surprise to archeologists: an advanced civilization
         2.      Abram, a wealthy man in Ur
         3.      “Unto a land that I will show thee”
           a.      Abram must leave the known for the unknown
           b.      The first great adventurer in the Bible
           c.      He must turn from the wealth that calls him to the Word that calls him
         4.      Reminds us of the faith of the Pilgrims leaving Europe to settle in the New World
         5.      Notice the proofs of Abram’s faith
           a.      He obeyed and went as God had commanded
           b.      He refused to allow strife to grow among brethren (13:8–10)
           c.      He tithed all he had (14:21)
           d.      He refused rewards from the King of Sodom (14:22–23)
         B.        God Calls Abram to a Life of Fruitfulness (v. 2)
         1.      “I will make of thee a great nation”
           a.      Compensation for leaving his country
           b.      Abram’s descendants today
         2.      “I will bless thee”
           a.      Compensation for any earthly joy he might receive
           b.      Only faith can thus be satisfied
         3.      “I will make thy name great”
           a.      Compensation for leaving his kindred
           b.      Name written down in heaven
           c.      Consider Abram’s name carried by millions and revered
         4.      “Thou shalt be a blessing”
           a.      Compensation for putting aside opportunities of service
           b.      Christ born in his line
         5.      We must also return to the faith of our fathers if we are to be blessed
         C.      God Calls Abram to a Life of Divine Friendship (v. 3)
         1.      The friend of God
         2.      “I will bless him that blesseth thee and curse him that curseth thee”
         3.      No nation has ever been able to mistreat Abram’s descendants and survive
         4.      God keeps Abram aware of His plan
         5.      “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”
           a.      The coming Savior through the line of Abram
           b.      We are all blessed through Abram
         6.      We become a blessing to others as we walk closely with God
          III.      Conclusion
         A.      Will You Respond in Faith Like Abram?
         B.      Will You Begin to Pray for a Return to God in America?
         C.      Will You be an Example of the Faith Life to Others?



Roger F. Campbell, Preach for a Year (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1988-). 109-10.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Furnishings of the Tabernacle

Furnishings of the Tabernacle . ‎The book of Exodus details the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. As Yahweh’s sanctuary, the tabernacle served as God’s dwelling place among the Israelites—the expression of the covenant between Yahweh and His people ( Exod 25:8–9 ).
Post a Comment
Read more

A Threshing Floor

A Threshing Floor In the ancient world, farmers used threshing floors to separate grain from its inedible husk (chaff) by beating it with a flail or walking animals on it—sometimes while towing a threshing sledge. Sledges were fitted with flint teeth to dehusk the grain more quickly. Other workers would turn the grain over so that it would be evenly threshed by the sledge.
Post a Comment
Read more

Modern Mount Calvary

Modern Mount Calvary ‎Great authorities are marshaled in favor of both claimants—the church within and the mound without the walls. For a long time, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was the only traditional spot pointed out as the place of burial. But with the growing influence of the Grotto of Jeremiah, the modern Mount Calvary, a picture of which we give, increased in favor. This whole discussion as to the place where Christ was crucified, and as to the tomb in which His body was placed, turns upon the direction which the walls about Jerusalem took at the time of the crucifixion. If the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was outside the wall at that time, as Dean Stanley thinks it might have been, the chances in favor of its being the place of crucifixion and burial are increased. If, however, the site of this church was inside the wall at that time it is sure that the place of burial and crucifixion was not there, for Christ was crucified outside of the walls of Jerusalem. And ...
Post a Comment
Read more