Obedience: When You Can’t See the End of a Matter and Must Trust and Obey
June 18, 2023
Preached by Ben Bechtel
Scripture Reading
Genesis 12:1-9
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.” 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lordappeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lordand called upon the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
Sermon Discussion Questions
Take some time to meditate on Genesis 12:1 this week and answer these questions: Where might God be calling you right now? Where do his commands in Scripture meet your heart’s desires and passions? What might you have to sacrifice and risk to fulfill that call?
In what ways are you slow to obey God’s call right now in your life? What prohibits obedience in your life?
Look back over your life so far. How have you seen God use your faith-filled obedience for the good of others? Look ahead at his promises in Jesus. How does God promise to use your faith-filled obedience for the good of his world?
