Like Father, Like Son, Part 1

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 26:1-11

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Like Father, Like Son, Part 1 — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 26:1-11
Sermon Series: Genesis
May 19, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What are the priceless treasures of friendship with God that were discussed in the sermon? How do we experience these in the Christian life?
2.  Where do we see Isaac’s faith, and how does it reflect that of his father? What does this brief description teach us about the nature of faith?
3.  Where do we see “generational folly” in this passage? How should this affect our parenting?
4.  How would you describe the various facets of Isaac’s sin in this passage?
5.  How does Isaac’s frailty point us to God’s grace in and through Christ?

References: Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23; Galatians 3:29; John 15:14-15; Hebrews 1:2; 1 John 1:1; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Peter 1:4; James 2:21-22; Deuteronomy 11:1; Genesis 12; 20.

The Prosperous Patriarch

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 21:22-34

22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.

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The Prosperous Patriarch — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 21:22-34
Sermon Series: Genesis
March 3, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What basic truths does Abimelech recognize about the God of Abraham?
2.  Abimelech tells Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.” How does this encourage us as Christians?
3.  What is the significance of the treaty and the well in the larger narrative of Abraham’s life?
4.  What does this story teach us about how we should relate to our neighbors?
5.  Why does Abraham call on the LORD as “the Everlasting God”?
6.  Why do you think Abraham plants a tree? What does it mean to say that we are planted in Christ?

References: Genesis 20:1-18; 1 Peter 1:5-9; Genesis 15:1, 15; Hebrews 11:9, 13; Romans 12:18; Titus 3:2; Genesis 17:8; John 15:4-5; Jeremiah 17:7-8.

The Two Sons, Part 2

Genesis 21:8-21

8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

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The Two Sons, Part 2 — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 21:8-21
Sermon Series: Genesis
24 February 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  Discuss how God meets his people, keeps his promises, accomplishes his purposes, and establishes his praise in and through Jesus Christ.
2.  How do we see Sarah’s sin and God’s sovereignty in this passage?
3.  Where do we see God’s grace in how he relates to Abraham in particular?
4.  How are faith and obedience linked together in Abraham’s response to God?
5.  Why did God separate Ishmael from Isaac?  What does this have to do with our salvation?
6.  Discuss Paul’s use of this passage in Galatians 4.  What is he trying to teach his readers?
7.  What does God’s care for Ishmael teach us about his character?

References:Matthew 1:23; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 4:4; Acts 2:23; Ephesians 1:12; Genesis 16; Galatians 4:21-31.

Abraham's Three Visitors, Part 2

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 18:16-33

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

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Abraham’s Three Visitors, Part 2
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 18:16-33
20 January 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  How is Abraham portrayed as a “friend of God”?
2.  How does this passage teach us that as Christians we are close to God whether we feel it or not?
3.  What does v. 19 teach us about parenting?
4.  What is Abraham’s concern, and how does God respond to it? What does this teach us about God’s character?
5.  How does this passage encourage intercessory prayer?

References: Genesis 13:12; 14:12; James 2:23; Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7; John 15:15; 1 Samuel 6:20; John 17:9; Psalm 1:5-6; Micah 6:8.

Abraham's Three Visitors, Part 1

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 18:1-15

1And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

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Abraham’s Three Visitors, Part 1
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 18:1-15
13 January 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How do we see the outworking of the Christian life in the life of Abraham?
2.  How do the appearances of God in the Old Testament prepare his people for the Incarnation?
3.  Why is it significant that the Lord had a meal with Abraham? How does this enhance the way we think about Communion?
4.  What do the Lord’s words concerning Sarah teach us about his nature and character?
5.  In what ways have you been tempted to doubt that nothing is “too hard for the LORD”?
6.  Discuss God’s grace in meeting Sarah where she is. How have you seen him do this in your life?

References: Genesis 12:7; 17:1; 19:1; John 14:9; Hebrews 13:2; Revelation 3:20; James 2:23; Genesis 11:30; 17:15-16; Psalm 9:1; Luke 1:37; Romans 8:30; John 6:39-40; Hebrews 11:11.

The Covenant Confirmed and Sealed

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 17:1-27

1When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”
22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

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The Covenant Confirmed and Sealed
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 17:1-27
6 January 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What is a covenant, and how is this passage a continuation of what we saw in chapter 15?
2.  Why does God begin his speech to Abram by naming himself? What is the significance of this particular name?
3.  Which elements of God’s promise are repeated in chapter 17 and which are new?
4.  How does this passage reassure us that as Christians God will never leave us?
5.  What does circumcision symbolize? What does it mean that Christians have a circumcised heart?
6.  What does it mean to say that Isaac is the son of human impossibility and divine power? What does this teach us about the Christian life?
7.  How do promise and awe fuel obedience?

References: Genesis 12:3; 15:1; Revelation 5:5; 19:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Deuteronomy 10:16; Colossians 2:11-13; Romans 4:11-12; Galatians 5:6; 6:15.

Seed and Land Confirmed

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 15:1-21

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Seed and Land Confirmed — Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 15:1-21
4 November 2018
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FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission
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DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What can we do to constantly remind ourselves of God’s character? Why is this the only answer to a fearful heart?
2.  How would you summarize v. 6? How does Paul in particular highlight this verse in his description of the gospel?
3.  What are the clarifications given to Abram in this passage? Why does God make Abram wait for this information?
4.  Describe some of your experiences waiting on God. How have these times deepened your faith?
5.  How would you describe what is going on at the end of this chapter with the making of a covenant? What is God communicating to Abram?

References: Psalm 18:2; 28:7; Galatians 3:6-14; Romans 4; James 2:18-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Matthew 8:11.

After the Ark, Part 1

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 9:1-17

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After the Ark, Part 1 -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 9:1-17
19 August 2018

Deep Sheet: Sermon Study Questions
1.  In what ways do vv. 1-7 echo Genesis 1?  How do the differences remind us of the Fall?
2.  How does this passage speak to issues like the treatment of animals and the death penalty?
3.  What is God’s attitude towards creation in general and life in particular?  What are some of the implications for us?
4.  What is a covenant, and what are some characteristics of the covenant that God established in Genesis 9?
5.  Why do you think God chose to mark this covenant with a rainbow?  How might this passage influence the way you view rainbows in the future?
6.  How does the fact that God is a covenant-maker and covenant-keeper affect the way we relate to him in our Christian lives?

References: Genesis 1:26-29; Romans 13:1-5; Romans 8:19-22; Revelation 21:1; Ezekiel 1:28; Revelation 4:3; Titus 1:2; Romans 3:25; Luke 22:20. 

Noah and the Ark

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 6:9-22

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Noah and the Ark -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 6:9-22
29 July 2018

DEEP SHEET:  Sermon Study Questions
1.  How would you describe Noah based on the text? How does Noah’s character challenge us in the midst of our generation?
2.  How would you characterize the relationship between God and Noah?
3.  What does it mean to say that God destroyed what man had already destroyed?
4.  How does God’s judgment in the past point us to the future? According to Peter, what practical effect should this have on the Christian?
5.  In what ways does the ark serve as a picture of Christ?

References: Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 15:6; Proverbs 11:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 2 Peter 2:5; John 5:24; Genesis 18:17-21; John 15:15; 2 Peter 2:5; 3:11-12; 1 John 2:17; Exodus 2:3, 5.