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.

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.

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.

Evil After Expulsion

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

Genesis 4:1-8

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Evil After Expulsion -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 4:1-8
10 June 2018

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  Where do we continue to see God’s grace in this passage? What do these verses invite us to do?
2.  What was wrong with Cain’s offering, and what are some implications for our worship?
3.  Why was Cain “very angry,” and what does that tell us about his heart?
4.  What is God’s message to Cain in vv. 6-7, and how does he respond?
5.  What are some of the effects of anger that you have witnessed in your life?
6.  What does the story of Cain and Abel tell us about life after the Fall?

References: Isaiah 55:6-7; Genesis 1:28; 3:20; 2 Samuel 24:24; Hebrews 11:4; Proverbs 21:27; James 1:20; 4:7-10; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Ephesians 4:26; 1 John 3:12; Jude 11.