s20050102msap_The Call To Follow

Sermon Application Pyramid

Title: The Call To Follow Scripture: Genesis 11:31-12:20 Date: January 2, 2005

1. People:Who are the people in this passage and how are they like us today?	There are two persons involved. First there is God. Jehovah is the term used to describe him. This not the more generic term Elohim. This is the same one who called Moses at Sinai. God is not like me. He is not weak or limited. He is the Almighty. The other person in this passage is Abram the son of Terah. Abram began as a Chaldean living in the city of Ur. Joshua 24 says he was an idolater that a lot like me. Secondly, Abram wasn’t a good listener. It took him a life time to become obedient instantly. He was told to leave Ur, his relatives, and his father’s house (business). He only obeyed a part. He left Ur when his father decided to do so. Abram was also a manipulator of the truth. Sarai was his half sister, but he lied to Pharaoh. Abram is a lot like me.
2. Place:What is the setting and what are the similarities to our world?	The setting begins in the Ur and ends up in Canaan. Both places were filled with wicked people. God called Abram to follow, and he dwelt in Canaan as a stranger his whole life. Both of these localities are different, but strangely the same. We live one wicked place and journey through to another. However, it is who you are traveling with that makes all the difference in the world.
3. Plot:What is happening? Is there any conflict or tension? How would I have acted in that situation	The conflict of leaving that which is comfortable, safe, and familiar creates tension. Abram’s life is a process of following God to that which is uncomfortable, dangerous, and strange. The call to leave my idols, to leave my country, to leave my family, and to leave my business (father’s house) would have caused me second thoughts. However, God make to Abram some promises that cannot be ignored.

| 4. Point:What was the intended message for the first people to hear this passage? What did God want them to learn or feel or do? | God wanted them to see the faith that Abram had to have in order to commit to follow God.#. We see the commitment of faith because Sarai was barren.

We see the commitment of faith in Abram’ trusting to follow because of God’s promises.
We see the commitment of faith in Abram’s worship.
We see God’s commitment To His Promises In Abram’s deception.

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5. Principles: What are the timeless truths?	1. Faith Is the commitment to follow God because I’m imperfect.2. Faith Is the Commitment to Follow God when life is stacked against me.3. Faith Is the commitment to follow God because I trust his promises.4. Faith Is the commitment to follow God because I worship him.5. Faith Is the commitment to keep going when I fail.
6. Present: How is this relevant in our world today?	We are all on a journey to follow God. We are motivated by a variety of reasons. Most of them begin with our deepest desires and needs. It’s not revealed exactly what Abram’s needs were, but I think you could surmise that they have some connection to his experience with God. Abram was a man who wanted a family. He was a person who desired to be well thought of. He was someone who loved God and wanted to serve him. He wanted to bless others.
7. Parallels: Where does this truth apply to my life? At home, at work, at school, in church, in the neighborhood.	I am very much like Abram and to follow God in all of my life’s particular segments. What is most important to me. Do I follow God at home, at work, school, in church, or in my neighborhood? This is what faith is all about. To trust God in my imperfection, when life says you can’t. To trust what he says in the word. To worship him because of his promises. To get up and go back to God’s path when I fail.
8. Personal: What attitude, action, value or belief needs to change in me?	I need to stop thinking in terms of limitations. God can and does marvelous things through my life and ministry when I allow my faith to reside in Him.

| 9. Plan:What would be my first step of action? | #. Accept that God is more concerned with my faith than my imperfections.

Stop thinking in terms of my box of human limitations.
Trust the Bible as God personal word of faith to me.
Worship or adore God with all my being.
Never give up no matter how often or how great I fail.

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