A Finale of Faithfulness

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

Genesis 25:1-18

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A Finale Of Faith — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 25:1-18
Sermon Series: Genesis
April 28, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  Discuss the many ways we’ve seen God’s faithfulness demonstrated in the story of Abraham. What has stood out the most to you?
2.  How do the many earthly nations that came from Abraham point to us?
3.  How is Isaac contrasted with the other sons of Abraham in this passage? What does that tell us about God’s plan?
4.  How has the theme of the Seed, as it has played out so far, deepened your faith in Christ?
5.  How does Abraham’s burial show God’s faithfulness to the land promises? What does it say about Abraham’s faith?
6.  What does it mean to say that Abraham’s inheritance is our inheritance, that his story is our story?

References: Genesis 12:4; 24:27; 17:4-6, 20; Romans 4:20-21; Revelation 7:9-10; Genesis 3:15; 21:12; 22:17-18; 35:28-29; 15:15; 23:17; 12:1, 7; 13:14-15; Luke 16:22; Matthew 22:32; 5:5; 8:11; Hebrews 11:13; Revelation 21:1-4.

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.

The Two Sons, Part 1

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

Genesis 21:1-21

1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
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 1 — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 21:1-21
17 February 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  How does the birth of Isaac mark both the beginning and the continuation of the line to Christ?
2.  In what ways has God clarified and confirmed his promises to Abraham between chapters 12 and 21?
3.  How do these verses encourage us to put theology at the center of the church? Why might some be uncomfortable with saying that the church is about theology?
4.  How do vv. 1-2 teach us that God meets his people, keeps his promises, and accomplishes his purposes? In what ways are these truths foundational throughout the Bible and in the Christian life?
5.  How does this passage show us that God does everything for his glory? How does he establish his praise in our lives?

References: Genesis 12:1-3, 7; 15:2, 4; 16:1-2; 17:16-21; Titus 1:1-2; Exodus 4:31; Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 14:27; 46:9-10.

Offspring for Abram? Part 2

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

Genesis 16:1-16

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Offspring for Abram? Part 2 — Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 16:1-16
25 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.  Discuss the failures of major biblical characters.  What role do these play in pointing us to the Savior?
2.  Discuss the identity of the angel of the LORD.  What are some of the various ways we see Christ at work and referred to in the Old Testament?
3.  Why does God tell Hagar to return?
4.  What does this story teach us about God’s attitude towards people?
5.  How do you think Hagar’s report of this encounter would have affected Abram and Sarai?

References: Romans 11:32; Ephesians 2:7; Exodus 3:2, 4; Genesis 31:11, 13; Deuteronomy 32:10; Isaiah 32:14; Jeremiah 14:6; Ezekiel 33:11.

Offspring for Abram? Part 1

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

Genesis 16:1-16

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Offspring for Abram? Part 1 — Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 16:1-16
11 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.  In what ways do you need to hear the message that nothing is impossible with God?
2.  What was wrong with Sarai’s plan? To what extent is Abram worthy of blame in this story?
3.  What does it look like in practice for us to live according to the promise rather than according to the flesh?
4.  What were the negative effects of Abram and Sarai’s actions?
5.  What does this text teach us about the seriousness of our own choices?

References: Jeremiah 32:27; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; Genesis 18:14; 2:24; 3:17; Galatians 4:23; 2:20.