Sons and Sacrifices (Genesis 22)
Sermon Blurb: We’ve been following the story of God and Abraham through Genesis, and now we reach the climax: Genesis 22, the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith, the sacrifice of Isaac. It’s one of the most famous stories in the Bible. For some people it’s the most beautiful picture of trust and obedience. For other […]
Old Habits (Genesis 20-21)
As we near the end of Abraham’s life, we finally meet his promised son, Isaac. But the story of his birth is sandwiched between the repeated sins of his parents, as if to insist that God blesses us by his grace, in spite of our faithfulness, most of all in the free gift of his […]
Justice & Mercy (Genesis 18:16-19:38)
Today we continue our teaching series in Genesis. We’ve heard God make great promises to Abraham, and seen God show great mercy to Abraham and his family through all their stuff ups. But this focus on God’s mercy raises the question: Doesn’t God also care about justice? What about the victims of injustice? How can […]
Impossible Promises (Genesis 17-18)
In this passage, God gives Abram a new name, expands his promises for Abraham’s offspring, and gives Abraham a covenant sign for his offspring, in circumcision. Sam helps us to see what God is saying to us here, and how we are called to faithfulness to Christ in light of this passage.
From Fear to Faith (Genesis 15-16)
In this passage, we hear God’s great promises, and the faithless plans that Abram and Sarai make in response. Jeremy helps us to see what we can learn here, and how we can see Jesus in this passage.
Two Paths Ahead – Genesis 13
Today we’re continuing our series in Genesis, looking at Genesis 13 and 14. As we follow the stories of Abram and Lot, we’ll see two very different ways of living: one driven by what can be seen, and the other by trust in God’s promises. Ultimately, we’ll be challenged to ask ourselves, What is shaping […]
Abraham’s Promises (Genesis 12)
We continue in Genesis with a voice and a promise. God calls Abram an old man with no children and nothing special about him. God calls him to leave everything familiar behind: his country, his people, his father’s household. In return, God offers nothing tangible, just a promise: I will bless you, and through you, […]
Genesis 10-11
We’ve spent the past term walking through the opening chapters of Genesis: creation and the purpose of relationships and work, the nature of sin, Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, and now the scattering of the nations. It’s the story of Babel: humanity uniting to build a tower and make a name for itself, […]
Genesis 9: New Beginning, New Fall
In Genesis 9, humanity has a fresh start. After God has flooded the world, and preserved this one family, they step off the ark with all the optimism of new beginnings. The passage itself even sounds like we’re back in the garden. But it quickly becomes clear that not much has changed; that humanity is […]
Judgement and Restoration | Genesis 5-8
We’re moving into chapter 5-8, where we encounter a world so corrupt that God’s response is swift and total – judgement in the form of a flood that covers the entire earth. It’s a confronting passage. But it doesn’t end there. Because in the middle of that judgement, there is an ark. There is mercy. […]