In Genesis 25 we see God sovereignly-chooses which son preserves the line of promise and inherits his covenant-blessings. God chooses Isaac over Ishmael and the sons of Keturah and God chooses Jacob over Esau. None of these individuals did anything to earn or deserve God’s choice. All this highlights God’s electing-mercy in salvation – that you might grow in humble-confidence before our sovereign God. We see this in two parts: 1) the Sons of Abraham and 2) the Sons of Jacob.

In Genesis 23, we find Abraham honoring, the life, death, and legacy of Sarah, his bride. This story reminds us that all of us will leave a legacy behind when we’re gone. Sarah left behind a legacy of faith. The question is what will our legacy be? We walk through this narrative in four parts: 1) Sarah’s death, 2) Abraham’s possession, 3) Sarah’s burial, and 4) Sarah’s legacy.

In Genesis 22, we find God testing Abraham in order to confirm and strengthen his faith. This test will require the difficult act of obedience God had ever asked of Abraham. What we learn here is that God always graciously provides what he requires from his people. We walk through this story in three parts: 1) An Agonizing Obedience, 2) A Proven Faith, and 3) A Substitutionary Sacrifice.

In this world, we will continually be disappointed by broken promises. But in Genesis 21, God keeps his word to Abraham. We see this in each part of this story: 1) Isaac’s Birth, 2) Ishmael’s Exile, and 3) Abraham’s Sojourning. Through it all Genesis 21 teaches us that the everlasting God is the only perfect promise keeper, worthy of our complete trust.

In Genesis 20, we find one of the lowest points in Abraham’s spiritual life as he commits the same sin as he did in Genesis 12. Abraham’s failures are meant to drive the point home that salvation ultimately depends not on our faithfulness, but on God’s. Praise God that we are not saved by our own righteousness but by grace through faith. We walk through this story in four parts: 1) Abraham deceives Abimelech, 2) God warns Abimelech, 3) Abimelech obeys God, 4) God heals Abimelech.

This Sunday we jump back into Genesis 17 to consider seven crucial implications concerning the relationship between circumcision with regeneration and baptism in the New Covenant. 1) Circumcision Anticipated Regeneration, 2) the New Covenant consists of only the regenerate, 3) New Covenant members are identified by baptism, 4) Baptism is only for those with credible professions, 5) if you profess, be baptized, 6) If you’re baptized, join a local church, and 7) if you’re baptized, share in the covenant meal.

In Genesis 17, as a formal way to mark off God’s covenant people from the world, God gives Abraham the covenant sign of circumcision. Circumcision positively symbolizes the removal of sin and consecration to God and negatively a threat of judgement and disinheritance. In the New Covenant God also has marked off the church from the world as his new covenant people. It is our responsiblity to help one another be who God has called us to be. In this sermon we walk through this narrative in four parts: 1) God’s covenant-promises (1-8), 2) God’s covenant-stipulation (9-14), 3) God’s covenant-son (15-21), 4) Abraham’s covenant-obedience (23-27).

Today we jumped back into our Genesis series. In Genesis 15, God formalizes his covenant through a covenant ceremony, specifically through covenant sanctions. God’s covenant with Abraham doesn’t come together all at once but rather over the course of several chapters. Genesis 12: the initiation of the covenant through promises, Genesis 15: the formalization of the covenant through ceremony, Genesis 17: the signification of the covenant through circumcision. Genesis 15 can be broken down into two major guarantees: 1) God guarantees the promised seed (1-6) and 2) God guarantees the promised land (7-21).

As we begin the new year, we return to our Genesis series. There is no more important resolve to make in 2025 than to commit to growing more and more in the love of God. In Genesis 12 we find the covenantal-love of God demonstrated towards Abraham in three specific ways: 1) the Call of Abraham, 2) the Faith of Abraham, and 3) the Folly Abraham.