Genesis 12:1-9
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This is the first week in our series on Genesis: The Story of Abraham. This sermon is “The Call of Abraham“.
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
Connect What is one way you can be intentional in making disciples on your frontlines?
Warm-Up
1. Have you ever moved towns or countries before? What was the experience like?
2. Do you find new places exciting or daunting? Why?
Read Genesis 12:1-3
3. What is God’s first command to Abram? What was he to leave behind?
4. Why might leaving your country, your people, and your household be more difficult and significant
than moving today?
5. Who calls and who makes promises to Abram? Why should we remember who initiates everything?
6. What does God promise Abram? Who benefits from God’s blessing to Abraham?
7. Where do we see the seeds that God intends for all peopleon earthto be blessed and welcomed into
his kingdom?
8. What clue do we have already that this might be difficult and require faith? (Hint Genesis 11:30)
9. How do you think Abram felt about the call and promise? How would you feel?
10. Are there any promises of God that you find hard to believe or that require faith to believe?
What are they?
11. How does Abram’s call compare with the call of Jesus’ disciples?
12. How can we be part of God’s plan of salvation on our frontlines?
Read Genesis 12:4-9
13. What does Abram do in response to God’s call and promise?
14. Locate on a map the journey Abram undertook. You might find a map in a study Bible or online.
15. Do you think Abram knew the final destination? (Hint read Hebrews 11:8)
16. What does this tell us about faith and obedience?
17. What promise did the Lord make again at Shechem?
18. What challenges were there in this promise being fulfilled?
19. Would Abram see all God’s promises made to him being fulfilled in his lifetime?
20. What promises of God might we not see fulfilled in our lifetime?
21. How can we persevere in obedience to God, when we are unsure of the direction God is taking us?
Apply How can we persevere in obedience to God, when we are unsure of the direction God is taking us?
Prayer
Gracious Father, we thank you for your plan of salvation that began through the story and obedience of Abram. Thank you that you are a covenant making God, who longs for all nations to be blessed. Please help us to respond in faith and obedience, wherever you may call us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Going deeper resources
On Your Front Line this Week
How can you demonstrate generosity this week to someone on your frontline?
For Families
• Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org
Listen, Watch, and Read
• Listen: “Called to be a Blessing” by Hugh Palmer:
https://bit.ly/4cMGwZb
• Listen: “Genesis 11:27-12:20” by Andrew Sach:
https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/talk/53633/
• Listen: “The Patriarch (Abraham and Christ)” by John Stott:
https://bit.ly/3U9T4CY
• Listen: “The Cost of Mission” by Tim Keller:
https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/the-cost-of-mission/
Series Resources
• Website: All of the resources from our earlier series on Genesis Part I: The Beginnings of Grace:
https://www.stbarts.com.au/sermon-series/genesis
• Watch: “Genesis 12-50” by the Bible Project:
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/genesis-12-50/
• Watch: “How should we read the Old Testament? with Chris Wright” by Questioning Christianity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJtba-JyPVg
• Read: “Genesis - Kidner Classic Commentary Series” by Derek Kidner:
https://koorong.com/product/genesis-kidner-classic-commentaries-series--derek-kidner_9781789741001
