Last week Pastor Jono introduced us to the call of God to Abraham to walk before him blamelessly. At that time it required humility and obedience. Now in chapter 18, as Abraham continues his humble, obedient walk before the Lord we get three examples of what that looks like. Abraham, in his humble walk extends hospitality, receives assurances from the Lord and prays to God for the city of Sodom. As those who, through Jesus Christ, are in a relationship with God we too can express our humble walk with God in similar ways.

Bible Text: Genesis 18

As we continue in our journey with Abram in the book of Genesis, this week we once again have God speaking to him and making profound promises to Abram. However, unlike back in Genesis 15 now God asks Abram to do something, circumcise himself and every male in his household. This must have been a strange and, to some degree, difficult request. And what does it have to do with Abram following God in faith? As we examine this passage we will explore one of the most important facets of following God, humility. For here we see God continuing his work not only to bring salvation to all of His people through the ages, but His careful work to draw the man Abram into closer relationship with Himself.

Bible Text: Genesis 17

Genesis 16 shows the consequences of not waiting for God. God had laid out a clear plan to Abram, but it seems the plan is in jeopardy because of the advancing ages of Abram and Sarai. Anxious to see the fulfilment of God’s promise of a son, they decide to take things into their own hands. It seemed like a good idea, but the consequences were devastating for the family and, later, for the nation of Israel. It is foolish and dangerous to rush ahead of God; wisdom calls for waiting on Him in faith. This is a lesson which is important for us today too. God has made promises to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Yet as we live in the time between promise and fulfilment we too can become impatient and do things our own way. We sit thousands of years after the fact that all our needs and wants have already been fulfilled in Christ, if only we take hold of the promises.

Bible Text: Genesis 16:1-16

Christianity rises or falls on the truth of the resurrection. That is, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, everything we hold to falls away. So on Sunday morning we will examine Luke 24 to see how Luke is demonstrating that we can be sure Jesus rose from the dead. Having seen that, we will also remember what Jesus' resurrection means for us in a world that is often full of trouble, hardship and death, and so celebrate that He will come again and make all things new.

Bible Reading: Luke 24:1-12, 36-53

Against the backdrop of everything going on in our world, Christians dare to say that something pivotal happened over the course of three days early in the first century. In a far-off, forgotten province in a dusty corner of the Roman Empire, a man was unjustly condemned, executed, and buried, and everything changed. The cross and resurrection of Jesus is like the hinge of history, the turning point, that changed everything. It is here at the cross that we find our hope. It is here at the cross the heart and love of God is demonstrated for all to see. This is the heart of the gospel that we will look at on this Good Friday, so we can draw receive inspiration and courage to go forward.

Bible Reading: Like 23:26-49

Last week we saw Abram win a great victory and rescue Lot. It was a victory God had given him and yet it was a victory that could lead to much trouble in the future. So in Genesis 15 God comes to reassure Abram. The problem for Abram is that he is still waiting for God to fulfil other promises, so how can he be confident God will take care of him? The answer God gives is both astounding and encouraging. It is also an answer that can greatly encourage us as people who wait for God to fulfil His promises to us. For here we see God irrevocably commit Himself to His word and in Christ we see that confirmed.

This week we return to Genesis 14 and the life of Abram. On the surface this is, at best, an interesting story of heroic battle and rescue. But even so, we are left wondering what are we to make of such an account. Even in good times it doesn't seem that helpful and in times like these it seems even less relevant. Yet, as we have seen, Abram's story is one of walking by faith in the face of trial and uncertainty. This week we will see Abram acting courageously to do what is right and then resisting the temptation to take the glory for himself. There are great lessons for us as we engage with a world in crisis and uncertainty.

The Church Council thought it would be wise to take a one-week break from our study of Abraham in Genesis to talk about the Coronavirus. You can’t escape hearing about it. The Coronavirus is spreading quickly, and things are changing daily. Because of news saturation, evolving cases and the many unknowns, there are lots of different responses.

Some of you might be completely at peace, because you think it’s nothing, and will all go away soon. You are in the age demographic that will have minor symptoms and wonder what the fuss is about. I hope you are right. That’s what we should be praying for. But the challenge is that even if you are right, that’s not the basis for your peace, nor for being too casual about it all.

But others of you are feeling some level of concern, and some of you are feeling great fear. You might be fearful for your own health, or the health of your children, or loved ones both here and in other countries. Others are worried about travelling, job security, and the world economy.

So what we will do today is ask the question- how should Christians respond to problems like the coronavirus? We will look at some answers from God’s Word, that should bring us comfort, hope and peace.

Today we return to the book of Genesis. Last year we begun right back in Gen 1 where we see God creating a beautiful world, with humans made in His image. A world full of goodness and blessing. However, humanity chose autonomy and what followed was numerous accounts of what happens when humanity rejects God and tries to go it's own way. Yet God has not abandoned his world. He promised to deal with evil through a descendant of Eve. He reiterates that promise to Abram, through one of his descendants God will bless the whole world. In chapter 13, that descendant has not yet arrived, nevertheless God is still teaching Abram about what it means to be blessed and on which path true blessing is found.

We are told that God has a purpose in creating and redeeming us. So, why do we, as a church, exist? We can probably list some of them: to bring the Gospel to the lost; to bring hope to the hurting; to prepare children for life; to solve our pain and problems; to have a comfortable life. These are some of the benefits of life, the side dishes, but not its purpose. They are good, but not the very purpose of our life. If everything in creation exists for the glory of God, including ourselves, then how do we do it? How can someone glorify God?

God is glorified when we acknowledge our dependence on Him for all good things. God is glorified when we express it in every area of our lives: workplace, church, home, and businesses. (1Cor. 10:31) Today we will consider how the glory of God impacts the whole range of Gs we have been looking at over the past weeks.