October 14, 2018

Renewed Faith

59 minutes

Genesis 13:1-18

[1] So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

[2] Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. [3] And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, [4] to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD. [5] And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, [6] so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, [7] and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

[8] Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. [9] Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if youtake the right hand, then I will go to the left.” [10] And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) [11] So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. [12] Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. [13] Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.

[14] The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, [15] for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. [16] I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. [17] Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” [18] So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions

1. Describe times in your life when God renewed your faith. What were some of the means he used?

2. What does it mean to acknowledge the Lord, and how do we see Abram doing this in our passage? How does this differ from the previous passage?

3. What would it look like for you to “return and recognize”?

4. How is Abram portrayed as a peacemaker? Where do we find this quality emphasized in the New Testament, and how does it challenge you?

5. How did Abram renounce self in his dealings with Lot? Why was he able to do this?

6. What does it mean to live by faith and not by sight?

References: Proverbs 3:5-6; Revelation 2:4-5; Matthew 7:7-11; James 3:17-18; Matthew 5:9; 1 Corinthians 3:21; Romans 8:32; Matthew 5:5; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 5:7.

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By Four Corners Church

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