God’s Promise To Abram

Pastor Kevin Rutledge - 9/22/2024 10:00 AM

In this powerful exploration of faith and doubt, we dive into the story of Abram (later Abraham) from Genesis. We're reminded that even biblical heroes struggled with uncertainty. Abram, despite receiving God's promises, found himself questioning when these promises would be fulfilled. This narrative teaches us that doubt isn't the opposite of faith, but often a part of it. God's response to Abram - pointing to the countless stars - shows us that sometimes we need to look at our surroundings with fresh eyes to see God's work. This message encourages us to embrace our questions and doubts, bringing them to God rather than suppressing them. It's a call to recognize that our very act of questioning can be an expression of deep faith, trusting that God is present and cares about our struggles. As we navigate our own periods of waiting and uncertainty, we're invited to seek out signs of God's promises being fulfilled in unexpected ways in our communities and world.

Scripture:

  • First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6
  • Second Reading: Hebrews 11:8-16
View Order of Worship View Message Transcript View Small Group Discussion Guide

This Week's Reading Plan

Day: Reading:
Monday God Changes Abram’s Name: Genesis 17:1-8
Tuesday A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah: Genesis 18:1-15
Wednesday The Birth of Isaac: Genesis 21:1-7
Thursday The Command to Sacrifice Isaac: Genesis 22:1-14
Friday Isaac Blesses Jacob: Genesis 27:1-17, 30-38
Saturday God's Promise Passed to Jacob: Genesis 35:9-15
Sunday Joseph and His Brothers: Genesis 37:3-8, 17b-22, 26-34; 50:15-21

Each podcast episode features portions of our worship service and a deep dive conversation about its themes.

Reflections and Caring Conversations

Please use the prompts and prayers below to aid you in your devotions for this week.

  • How do you personally relate to Abram's experience of doubt and questioning God's promises? In what ways have you struggled with similar feelings in your own faith journey?

  • How can we, like Abram, learn to see the 'stars' - the signs of God's presence and faithfulness - in our everyday lives, especially during times of uncertainty?

  • In what areas of your life do you need to trust God's promises even when you can't see their immediate fulfillment? How can you cultivate that trust?

  • How can we maintain hope and perseverance in our faith, like Abram, even when God's promises seem distant or unlikely to be fulfilled in our lifetime?

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