18/06/2023 – Morning Service: Abraham – his Call from God

Bible Readings:

Genesis 12:1 – 9

Galatians 3:13 – 29

Sermon Outline:

1. A call to leave everything behind and go into the unknown
   • Jesus’ call: “follow me”
     • Mark 1:17 – Simon Peter and his brother Andrew
     • Luke 5:27 – Levi, the Tax Collector (Matthew)
     • Luke 9:23 – the disciples, after Peter’s confession
     • Luke 9:59 – the 3 with other pressing commitments
     • Luke 14:27 – after the parable of the Wedding Feast
     • Luke 18:22 – the Rich Young Ruler
   • His call to us
2. The Promise
   • “I will make you into a greater nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great,…” (1a)
   • the history of the descendants of Abraham for 2,000 years
   • the change of their identity/definition because of Jesus – Galatians 3:16 – ‘seeds’ and ‘Seed’ (some translated as offspring)
     • cf – John’s warning (Luke 3:8)
     • Jesus foretelling (Matthew 8:11)
     • Paul’s exegesis (Galatians 3:29; Romans 4:16)
   • the history of Christ’s Church
3. The Purpose
   • “… and you will be blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (2b)
   • the main purpose in God’s blessing us, to BE a blessing to the world!
   • our responsibility for Jewish Evangelism
   • Are we fulfilling this purpose?