This is the outline from Sunday’s sermon from our Chronological reading this year.  Our reading text covered Genesis 12 -31.  I found myself amazed at the impact the choices the characters had on their lives.  Enjoy:

-Scott

Abram Chose to Follow God.

• Gen 15:6, “And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

Abram Chose to Take Lot with Him.

• Gen 12:4.
• God’s command, “Go from your country and your kindred . . .” 12:1.
• God said leave your family, Abram took his nephew Lot with him.  This would cause Abraham grief.

Abraham Chose to Lie about Sarah Twice.

• Pharaoh – Gen 12:17-20.
• Abimelech – Gen 20:1-7; 17-18.

Lot Chose the Fertile Lands Near Sodom and Gomorrah.

• Gen 13:10-12.
• Gen 14 – taken captive.
• Gen 19 – Lost home and family (wife, daughter’s sin).
• Lot’s descendants through his daughters would become the enemies of Israel.

Abram and Sarai Chose to “Help” God’s Plan.

• Hagar and Ishmael – Gen 16:1-6.
• This caused problems between Sarai and Abram, Sarai and Hagar, and eventually led to Hagar and Ishmael leaving.
• Ishmael’s descendants would eventually and continually plague Israel.

Abraham Chose to Follow God’s Covenant.

• Gen 17 – Circumcision.
• Note that God did not confirm his promise of Isaac nor was Isaac born until after Abraham kept this covenant.

Abraham Chose to Follow God and Offer Isaac.

• Relate Gen 22:1-19.
• Read Gen 22:17-18.

Do not have time to talk about the choices of:

• Isaac lying about Rebekah
• Esau choosing food over a birthright.
• Jacob deceiving Isaac or working 14 years for Rachel.

Our Choices Determine the Quality of Our Life.

• Job choice – What will I do?  How will I apply myself to my vocation?
• School choice – Will I continue my education?  Will I do my best in school?
• Choice of spouse – Who will I marry?  Will I devote myself to my spouse?
• Choice to have children – When will I have children?  If physically unable, will I adopt?
• Where to live – rural, suburban, urban?
• How to live – What will be the focus of my life?
• Recreation

Your life is NOT your family’s fault. Your life is yours.

• “Many of the people I treat come to me when they find themselves making the same mistake(s) over and over.” – Dr. Jack Brown
• We make the same mistakes because we do NOT choose to change.
• Life is a series of choices.

Apply to Sin

• I can choose to do what is wrong.
• You can choose to do what is right.

You Have a CHOICE!

• Hell or Heaven – Acts 26:27-29.
• This Life or Eternal Life – Col 3:1-4.
• When Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, etc. chose . . .
  • To step in and do things his way trouble followed.
  • To follow God’s way then blessings followed.

Choose Today – 1 Kgs 18:21, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him;”