1.   The test of Abraham

     A. He heard the voice of God                                      

     B.   He was available to God                                      

     C.   He was obedient to God                    

2.  The love of Abraham

     A.  No idols, God must be first

     B.  Complete surrender to the will of God

     C. Prophecy and a picture of the gospel 

3.  The provision for Abraham 

     A. Substitute sacrifice for sin

     B. Intercessor for forgiveness

     C. Restorer of life

1.   Sarah believed in Abraham

     A. She believed Abraham was called by God                            

     B.   She believed Abraham was blessed by God                        

     C.    She believed Abraham was to be the father of multitude            

2.  Sarah’s view of herself

     A.  She felt rejected by God

     B.  She felt unworthy  

     C. She felt it was too late for her  

3.  Sarah learns that God is El-Shaddai

     A. We don’t need to give in to desperation and fleshly ideas

     B. Don’t doubt God because your timing is delayed

     C. Don’t give up because you are old 

4. Sarah and faith

     A. Sarah receives a new name      

     B. Sarah knows she is blessed by God

     C. Sarah receives a lasting joy

1.   Faith that is personal

     A.       He heard the call of God      

     B.        He trusted the hand of God     

     C.         He obeyed the will of God                 

2.  Faith and being a stranger here

     A.  A citizen of Heaven

     B.  An ambassador for Heaven  

     C. A journey to Heaven

3.  Faith and my future

     A. Serving the eternal God  

     B. Looking for my eternal home

     C. Storing my eternal reward

1.   The challenge  of passing your faith to your children

     A.       They live in a world gone mad   

     B.        They hear Satan and his great lies    

     C.         The strong sinful desires within us           

2.  A faith worth having

     A.  A faith that truly believes in God

     B.  A faith that is modeled daily  

     C. A faith that they participate in

     D. A faith that is shared with others

3.  A faith that is needed

     A. The judgement of God  

     B. The grace of God

     C. The atonement of God

     D. The security of God

1.  The difficulty of walking with God

     A.        Peers are not walking with God     

     B.        Elders are not walking with God            

     C.        Enemies are not walking with God        

2.  The decision to walk with God

     A.  The birth of a child  

     B.  The purpose of life  

     C. The hand of God

3.  The change of direction (repentance)

     A. Walk in love because of the fellowship of God

     B. Walk in light because of the righteousness of God

     C. Walk in wisdom being a witness for God  

4. The message shared

     A. The coming judgement of God

     B. The good news from God

     C. The picture of the rapture

1.  Faith comes from hearing the Word of God

     A.        Taught by his parents             

     B.        Message by minister                  

     C.        Led by the Holy Spirit                                                                                                            

2.  Reality of sin

     A.        Cursed by sin                                                              

     B.  Death from sin

     C. Sacrifice for sin

     D. Promise of future Savior

3. Two brothers and two choices

     A. Obedient to God’s way  or my way

     B. Faith  in the grace of God or the work of man

     C. Accepted  sacrifice or rejected offering  

4. Worship of God

     A. Obedient to the Word of God

     B. Faith in the way of God

     C. Love for  the worship of God

     D. Believe in the provision of God

5. A witness that lives

    A. A witness of justice

    B. A witness for Christ

    C. A witness for righteousness

1.  The importance of faith

     A.     Life has hard struggles                                                            

     B.     It’s impossible to please God without faith                          

2.  Myths about faith

     A.     All faith is the same                                        

     B.  Faith is only for Sundays

     C. Faith is rejecting science

     D. Faith only impacts you

3. Faith’s description

     A. Faith is an understanding about God as Creator

     B. Faith is a foundation for life

     C. Faith is a conviction about God and the Bible

1.  Sacrificial study

     A.  Daniel’s influence                                                                                  

     B.  Scripture’s prophecies                                                            

     C.  Creation and nature                                                                         

     D. Conscience and morals                                                                    

     E. Christ’s coming

2.  Sacrificial journey

     A.  Great distance to travel  

     B.  Great dangers of travel  

     C. Great humility of asking for help

     D. Great indifference of people 

3. Sacrificial giving

     A. Gold for a king

     B. Frankincense for deity 

     C. Myrrh for anointing one on mission and death

4. “Wisemen” still

     A. Seek God

     B. Learn truth

     C. Worship God 

     D. Serve God and others

1.  The shepherd’s silence

     A.     They were despised and not trusted                                     

     B.     They were outcast and rejected                                            

     C.     They were unclean and unlawful religiously                           

2.  Why angels appear to shepherds

     A.  The goodness of Jesus is for everyone

     B.  Jesus would be called “The Lamb of God”

     C. Jesus would become “The Good Shepherd”

3. The good news shared with the shepherds

     A. The Savior is born

     B. The Christ has come

     C. The Lord has become a man

4. The shepherd’s testimony

     A. A sign to believe   

     B. A song to sing 

     C. The Savior to know

     D. The saying (good news) to share

 1.  What to do while waiting to know the will of God

     A.     Call on the Lord                                                                                  

     B.     Count your blessings                                                             

     C.     Continue to serve                                                                                      

2.  Confirming the will of God (Joseph’s dream)

     A.  Study the scriptures (Be biblical)  

     B.  Confirmed by other Christians

     C. Having a peace and contentment from God

     D. Circumstances (opening and closing doors)

     E. Burden to act

3. Fear will distract from God’s will

     A. People will think I am guilty

     B. People will think I am cursed 

     C. People will think I am a loser

4. Joseph knew the will of God

     A. He heard the angel  

     B. He was obedient