Sermons on Faith
Genesis 22:1-19 (Part 1)
In Genesis 22:1-19 we come to the great climax of the Abrahamic narrative. God tests Abraham by telling him to sacrifice the child of promise. How does Abraham respond? In faith. Abraham’s faith entails obedience of the most difficult kind, but Abraham’s faith also entails hope in the resurrection. This is because all the promises of God for Abraham are related to Isaac. Therefore, Isaac must die because he is required for sacrifice, but he must live because of the…
Genesis 14:1-16
In Genesis 14:1-16 Abram is able to take down the giant slayers Chedorlaomer and his allied kings. Abram conquers where the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, and three others fail. Why? Because God fights for him. As Psalm 33 says, the king is not saved by the strength of his army, but the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him.
Genesis 13:1-18
In Genesis 13:1-18 conflict leads to the separation of Lot and Abram. Abram lets Lot choose what land he wants to use for his flock. The choice is between a land filled with the wicked that looks like the garden of Eden and a land with God’s promised blessing that is less impressive. Lot chooses according to what his eyes see, not walking by faith, but by sight. We, however, like Abram ought to walk by faith, trusting that God’s…
Genesis 12:4-9
In Genesis 12:4-9 Abram makes it to Canaan. His faith is seen in his simple obedience to the command of God. As he enters the land, God promises He will give the land to his descendants. This promise ultimately points to the restoration of fellowship mankind had with God in Eden. Such a promise naturally leads Abram to worship God, and it ought to do the same for us.
Genesis 12:1-3 (Part 1)
In Genesis 12:1-3 Abraham is called out of Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. This movement from “Babylon” to Canaan is the call of the gospel. If you leave all that is dear for sake of Christ, you will receive great blessing from God as you walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham.
Philippians 1:9-11
In Philippians 1:9-11 Paul prays that the Philippians would grow in love, knowledge, and discernment in view of the return of Christ. Paul’s prayer is a reminder that we must all live with the return of Christ in view.
1 Samuel 17:1-58 (Part 1)
1 Samuel 17:1-58 tells the well-known story of David and Goliath. David’s courageous faith is an example to us in today’s world. In the face of great opposition, David trusts in God and enters the battle with Goliath with the confidence that God is with him. Today, as the church is opposed more and more, there is a great need for such courageous faith.
Matthew 16:13-17
In Matthew 16:13-17 Peter makes the climactic confession of the first half of Matthew’s Gospel: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. As Christ, Jesus is the anointed Prophet, Priest, and King, the promised Savior spoken of by the Prophets. As the Son of God, He is the second person of the Trinity existing forever with the Father and of the same substance as Him. All those who make this confession are blessed.
1 Samuel 13:16-14:23
In 1 Samuel 13:16-14:23 God gives deliverance to His people through Jonathan. Jonathan believed in God, and his trust is seen in the fact that he states God can save by many or by few. It is such faith that is needed today.
Matthew 15:21-28
In Matthew 15:21-28 Christ heals a Canaanite woman’s daughter. Before the healing happens Christ implicitly calls her a dog, since she is a Canaanite. Rather than taking offense, she continues to plead with Christ for healing. Her humble faith amazes Christ and is a model for us today.
1 Samuel 7:3-17
In 1 Samuel 7:3-17 Samuel leads the people at the battle of Ebenezer. The account of this battle parallels the account of the devastating battle of Aphek, and the point is to contrast these battles. In the one God’s people are routed. They put their confidence in the ark of God rather than the God of the ark. In the second, God wins a great victory for His people. Why? Because they showed true repentance.
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