Up to this point in Abraham's story we have seen him time and time again try to provide for himself in difficult times. Whether it be going to Egypt, offering his wife to pharaoh, having a child with Hagar, or many other examples, Abraham has a pattern of abandoning God's provision for his own efforts when times get tough. So why would he fully obey the most difficult test God could have given him? Maybe Abraham has finally learned the lesson God has been teaching him his whole life.

Up to this point in Abraham's story we have seen him time and time again try to provide for himself in difficult times. Whether it be going to Egypt, offering his wife to pharaoh, having a child with Hagar, or many other examples, Abraham has a pattern of abandoning God's provision for his own efforts when times get tough. So why would he fully obey the most difficult test God could have given him? Maybe Abraham has finally learned the lesson God has been teaching him his whole life. 

From the early church onward, followers of Jesus have accepted symbolic meanings behind certain things such as the bread and wine for communion or submersion in baptism. Could God also use things in our day to day life to speak to us symbolically? Revelation 13 has a lot to say about two beasts that demand complete allegiance and sound terrifying. What kind of symbolism might these two beasts represent? How could God possibly speak to you in symbolic ways as well?

On one hand, the story of Hagar and Ishmael is a tragic tale of human disobedience and lack of trust in God. On the other hand, it's also a story of God's faithfulness and compassion towards humanity. In Genesis 21, after the birth of Isaac, Sarah asks Abraham to force Hagar and Ishmael to leave. This causes suffering for Hagar and Ishmael who were forced in the first place to go through with Abraham and Sarah's plan which disobeyed God. When God sees this He steps in to save Hagar and Ishmael while fulfilling his promise to bless Abraham and the world through him.

On one hand, the story of Hagar and Ishmael is a tragic tale of human disobedience and lack of trust in God. On the other hand, it's also a story of God's faithfulness and compassion towards humanity. In Genesis 21, after the birth of Isaac, Sarah asks Abraham to force Hagar and Ishmael to leave. This causes suffering for Hagar and Ishmael who were forced in the first place to go through with Abraham and Sarah's plan which disobeyed God. When God sees this He steps in to save Hagar and Ishmael while fulfilling his promise to bless Abraham and the world through him. 

In revelation ch. 7 John hears about a great army of Israelites that will be sealed from the tribulation, but when he opens his eyes he sees a vast multitude from every tribe and nation waving palm branches of peace and worshipping God. Similarly, in ch. 5 John hears of a conquering lion from the seed of David who will conquer his enemies and open the scroll, but when he looks he sees a bloody lamb. What can we learn from these two pictures? Was John surprised at the difference between what he saw and what he heard? What could we possibly have heard and believed but seen differently in light of spending time with God?

This week Mission City Church met for the first time at the Merriam Community Center. We took a brief break from our Abraham series to discuss the next season in the life of our church. Using the story of the Israelites in Joshua 3, we looked at how we can participate in the mission of God as a church. Our desire is not to watch from the sidelines, but to actively participate. We also want to set ourselves apart to Jesus. If you were to review your connection with God, what kind of things should you start, stop, or keep doing? Finally we want to make sure that we help someone along the way. The priests that stood in the Jordan for the waters to separate stayed there until the entire nation had made their way across.

This week Mission City Church met for the first time at the Merriam Community Center. We took a brief break from our Abraham series to discuss the next season in the life of our church. Using the story of the Israelites in Joshua 3, we looked at how we can participate in the mission of God as a church. Our desire is not to watch from the sidelines, but to actively participate. We also want to set ourselves apart to Jesus. If you were to review your connection with God, what kind of things should you start, stop, or keep doing? Finally we want to make sure that we help someone along the way. The priests that stood in the Jordan for the waters to separate stayed there until the entire nation had made their way across. 

The breaking of seals, sounding of trumpets, and pouring of bowls in the book of Revelation describe some terrifying events. The world is described as going dark, losing one third of it's population, water turning to blood, and many other overwhelming events. Each of the three sevens ends in the same way, the kingdom of heaven collides with earth and God's victory begins. As a church that received this letter, these terrifying events would have sprung up hope for their future. God is ultimately victorious and his power is shown in the midst of hardship. God also wants to reveal his victory to us today. In the midst of a difficult season we may not receive the exact thing we desire, but God is present and He will ultimately share His victory with us. 

In our secular culture it is easy to become overly focused on what applies directly to us and what we can explain. However, our christian faith calls us to see what's beyond ourselves and physical explanation. In Genesis 18, Abraham is visited by three men which he immediately recognizes are God with him. Not only does Abraham see more than just their physical appearance but when one man tells him that he will have a son in the next year at an age beyond natural child bearing, he believes it and his faith is counted to him as righteousness. Abraham gives us a portrait of how to show faith in a supernatural God while being surrounded by unbelief.