*The Main Idea: God wins the consent of each one of his covenant people under his authority.

*The Big Question: How does God win their consent?

*The Central Point: He wins their consent… by:

1.) Entrusting Covenant Authority Downwardly (vv. 1-5) – (Application: God commands and takes delight in our effort to obey him)

2.) Receiving Covenant Authority Upwardly (vv. 6-8) – (Application: God receives and counts as meaningful the results of our effort to obey him)

3.) Empowering Covenant Authority Horizontally (vv. 9-15) – (Application: God cares for each one he graciously receives under his covenant authority)

*The Main Idea: Circumcision means God MUST take on the cost of our sin to fulfil his covenant of grace.

*The Big Question: How much must God take on to give out?

*The Central Point: He gives until it hurts… showing it by:

1.) Making Promises: His Own Hurt (vv. 1-8) – (Application: It costs him: takes on death to give out life)

2.) Making Impressions: He Must Hurt (vv. 9-21) – (Application: It costs us, but not like it costs him)

3.) Making Room: How Much Must He Hurt? (vv. 22-27) – (Application: Is following him worth it?)

*The Main Idea: God is so sovereign even our sinful ways can’t derail his Great Reclamation Promise.

*The Big Question: How sovereign is he?

*The Central Point: He’s so sovereign our barriers delay, but don’t derail his promise-keeping… Barriers like:

1.) Legal Devices (vv. 1-6) – (Application: Our double-dealings delay, but can’t derail his promise-keeping)

2.) Relational Manipulation (vv. 7-14) – (Application: Our power-scheming delays, but can’t derail his promise-keeping)

3.) Role Laziness (vv. 15-16) – (Application: Our passive-leanings delay, but can’t derail his promise-keeping)

*The Main Idea: God reassures us that he’ll keep every bit of his promises to us.

*The Big Question: When you wonder if God keeps his promises, how does he deal with you?

*The Central Point: He reassures you by his covenant…which he shows you by drawing you:

1.) Into Dialog (vv. 1-11) – (Application: God’s more concerned about your faith than you’ll ever be)

2.) Into Rest (vv. 12-16) – (Application: God’s more in control of your circumstances than you might wonder)

3.) Into Love (vv. 17-21) – (Application: God’s more committed to your salvation than you’d ever dream)

*The Main Idea: God reassures us that he’ll keep every bit of his promises to us.

*The Big Question: When you wonder if God keeps his promises, how does he deal with you?

*The Central Point: He reassures you by his covenant…which he shows you by drawing you:

1.) Into Dialog (vv. 1-11) – (Application: God’s more concerned about your faith than you’ll ever be)

2.) Into Rest (vv. 12-16) – (Application: God’s more in control of your circumstances than you might wonder)

3.) Into Love (vv. 17-21) – (Application: God’s more committed to your salvation than you’d ever dream)

*The Main Idea: In the midst of his people’s sin God goes to war to redeem them.

*The Central Point: God Fights For You Even When…!

*The Big Question: God: What’s he good for?

Warring for Your Soul Even When:

1.) You’re Immature (vv. 1-12) – (Application: God’s Protection Plan: way before “the bed you made”)

2.) You’re In Danger (vv. 13-16) – (Application: God’s Protection Plan: way better than you’d figure it)

3.) You’re In Christ (vv. 17-24) – (Application: God’s Protection Plan: way beyond all you could imagine)

*The Main Idea: God’s worldwide reclamation project also includes Abram’s restoration.

*The Central Point: Walk back into God walking with you.

*The Big Question: What do you do when you’ve “blown it” with God?

You turn around and walk right back into:

1.) God’s Place (vv. 1-4) – (Application: He’s not hard to find – just go to where he lives.)

2.) God’s Preparation (vv. 5-13) – (Application: He prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies.)

3.) God’s Presence (vv. 14-18) – (Application: He’ll come to you if you’ll follow the directions he gives you.)

*The Main Idea: God proves himself to be our blessing.

*The Central Point: Stealthy he goes, keeping his promise to bless and to curse.

*The Big Question: How do you know that God will keep his promises?

Because God is faithful to the faithless, blessing Abram even when:

1.) He Embraces Foolish Notions (vv. 10-13) – (Application: Don’t do dumb things… but when you do, come back to God.)

2.) He Provokes Fearful News (vv. 14-16) – (Application: When you think the sky is falling… remember, he can restore the years the locusts ate.)

3.) He Needs His Fearful Forbearance (vv. 17-20) – (Application: God’s plan makes him patient… but don’t interpret it as license or injustice.)

*The Main Idea: God will attack the prevailing darkness with his reclaiming light!

*The Central Point: God Calls and That’s All!

*The Big Question: What do you do when you hear God’s call?

You listen and go…

1.) Go From… (vv. 1-3) – (Application: Drive a wedge between your comforts and his blessing…)

2.) Go To… (vv. 4-5) – (Application: Take his promises to heart and bring others along…)

3.) Go Into… (vv. 6-7) – (Application: Move into your fear and God will bless your faith…)

4.) Go On… (vv. 8-9) – (Application: Keep going ‘til you have the full blessing…)

*The Main Idea: God will attack the prevailing darkness with his reclaiming light!

*The Central Point: God Calls and That’s All!

*The Big Question: What do you do when you hear God’s call?

You listen and go…

1.) Go From… (vv. 1-3) – (Application: Drive a wedge between your comforts and his blessing…)

2.) Go To… (vv. 4-5) – (Application: Take his promises to heart and bring others along…)

3.) Go Into… (vv. 6-7) – (Application: Move into your fear and God will bless your faith…)

4.) Go On… (vv. 8-9) – (Application: Keep going ‘til you have the full blessing…)