To start our new series, God is Faithful, we delve into the life of Abraham, a powerful testament of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises. The story in Genesis 15 reminds us that even in moments of doubt, God reaffirms His covenant. As we navigate our own waiting rooms of life – be it in family, health, career, or spiritual growth – we’re called to remember and believe God’s promises. This isn’t passive waiting; it’s an active engagement through remembrance, prayer, obedience, and community. Just as Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness, our trust in God’s timing and character can anchor us in life’s uncertainties. The covenant God made with Abraham, passing through the sacrificial animals without Abraham, foreshadows Christ’s ultimate fulfillment of all God’s promises. In our moments of impatience or doubt, we’re reminded that God’s faithfulness surpasses our weaknesses, inviting us to lean into His unbreakable covenant love.

Main Points:

- God’s faithfulness means He always keeps His promises

- Waiting is a common experience in the Christian life

- We can trust God’s timing by remembering His promises, praying, walking in obedience, and living in community

- God’s covenant with Abraham points forward to Jesus Christ

- All of God’s promises find their “yes” in Jesus

Scripture Referenced:

Numbers 23:19; Luke 19:10; Deuteronomy 7:9; Lamentations 3:22-23; Genesis 15:1-21; Genesis 6-7 (Noah’s ark story); Exodus 3 and 12 (Moses and the Exodus); Genesis 3 (Promise of a deliverer); Isaiah 7:14 (Virgin birth prophecy); Micah 5:2 (Bethlehem prophecy); Colossians 4:2; John 14:15; Genesis 12 (Abram leaving his homeland); Genesis 17 (Circumcision covenant); Genesis 22 (Abraham offering Isaac); Genesis 16 (Hagar and Ishmael story); James 1:6; Galatians 6:9; Romans 11:35; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Hebrews 11 (Hall of Faith); 2 Corinthians 1:20; Proverbs 22:6

Discussion Questions:

1) How has God demonstrated His faithfulness in your life, even during times of waiting or uncertainty?

2) What specific promises of God do you find yourself clinging to in your current circumstances, and why?

3) How does understanding God’s covenant with Abraham deepen your appreciation for Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises?

4) In what area of your life do you need to surrender control and trust in God’s faithfulness, even when you can’t see the outcome?

5) The sermon highlighted four ways to trust God in waiting: remembering His promises, praying, obeying, and living in community. Which of these do you find most challenging and why?

Practical Application:

1) Spend some time reflecting on God’s faithfulness in your own life. Thank Him for specific times you have seen His promises prove true. If you are in a season of uncertainty and find this difficult, spend some time reading the list of God’s promises below and ask God to help you see His faithfulness in real, tangible ways.

2) Be willing to let others in. If you are in a community group, Bible study group, recovery group, or have a believing friend you can turn to, be honest when you are struggling to persevere. Ask for prayer.

3) If you are not currently in a season of uncertainty, waiting, or hardship, (or even if you are) ask the Spirit to lead you in comforting someone you know who is struggling. Send them a text or voice memo of prayer, praying over their current situation.

4) Choose one of God’s promises from the list shared in the sermon (below). Look up the scripture reference. Write the scripture and the promise down and place it somewhere you’ll see daily as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

Promises of God Shared in the Sermon

-God’s Presence — In Christ, Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), God is no longer distant. Through His Spirit, He is with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

-God’s Strength — Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you,” for His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). His resurrection power strengthens us to endure (Philippians 4:13).

- God’s Guidance — Christ is the Good Shepherd who goes before His sheep, and His Spirit leads us into all truth (John 10:3–4; John 16:13).

- God’s Peace — Through the cross, He reconciled us to God, making peace by His blood (Colossians 1:20). That’s why He promises, “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27).

- God’s Provision — Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35). He satisfies our deepest need and supplies all others.

- God’s Forgiveness — By His blood shed on the cross, we have complete cleansing from sin (Ephesians 1:7).

- God’s Purpose — In Christ, God is working all things together for our good and shaping us into His image (Romans 8:28-29).

- God’s Renewal — Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). By His Spirit, He renews our strength and makes us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17).

- God’s Salvation — He is the Savior who rescues all who call upon His name (Acts 4:12).

- God’s Coming Kingdom — Jesus promised, “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3).

Worship Setlist:

Resurrection Hope; Great is Thy Faithfulness; Promises; Who Else; Agnus Dei; In Christ Alone