Order, Words, & Voices
09.15.24, Impossible X2, Genesis 15:1-6
Order
Pre Worship Music – Spotify – Open and Close
Lighting of Christ Candle/Participatory Prayer Rick
Songs Living Hope 7106807 Billy/Linda/Pato
Firm Foundation (He Won’t) 7188203
Passage/Prayer Genesis 15:1-6 Renee
Song Jesus Does 7205247 Billy/Linda/Pato
Impact/Message Food and Shelter/Impossible x2 Rick
Music Jesus Does 7205247 Billy/Linda/Pato
Community Rick
Closing Peace Rick
Closing Music Cornerstone 6158927 Billy/Linda/Pato
Post Worship Music – Spotify – Open and Close
- Please record message on camera memory card.
- On the message Video Leave Room above Speaker’s head for the instagram post.
- Screen Share for entire message
- Beth, notice note on the Opening candle participatory prayer
Lighting of Christ Candle (Slides) Rick (Billy softly playing/team standing)
Note – There is a separate slide for leader and response each time.
Participatory Prayer:
Leader: Lord, we come before you in a season of division, fear, and uncertainty. God, we acknowledge that you are the God of perfect love.
Response: You are the love that casts out fear and is freely given to us by you.
Leader: It is out of this love, the love that is you, we are called to love others, including our neighbors and even our enemies.
Response: We often fall short, O God, and for this, we seek your forgiveness.
Leader: Leader: As we experience another political season, during which divisions deepen, rhetoric intensifies, and the pressure to fully align with a party or candidate increases, we ask You, O God, for your guidance.
Response: May we be more committed to your love and your kingdom than to any political agenda. May we seek your kingdom and righteousness above all else.
Leader: May our focus not be on the pursuit of power, a resource that Jesus did not seek. For power seldom brings lasting fulfillment, instead, it usually acts as a deterrent to happiness, hope, peace, respect, and love.
Response: May our lives be intentional, may we walk with our eyes and ears open to see Your grace.
Leader: May we be aware, O God, that your grace is not just for us, but it has been given freely and generously to all peoples.
Response: Amen.
A Prayer for Civic Renewal, Borrowed from the 2024 Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC)
Music (Slides) Billy/Linda/Pato
Living Hope # 7106807
Verse 1
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished the end is written
Jesus Christ my living hope
Verse 2
Who could imagine so great a mercy
What heart could fathom such boundless grace
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ my living hope
Chorus
Hallelujah praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ my living hope
Verse 3
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Jesus Yours is the victory
Ending
Jesus Christ my living hope
Oh God You are my living hope
Firm Foundation (He Won’t) 7188203
Verse 1
Christ is my firm foundation
The rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken
I’ve never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
‘Cause He’s never let me down
He’s faithful through generations
So why would He fail now
Chorus 1
He won’t He won’t
Verse 2
I’ve still got joy in chaos
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
So I won’t be going under
I’m not held by my own strength
‘Cause I’ve built my life on Jesus
He’s never let me down
He’s faithful in every season
So why would He fail now
Chorus 2
He won’t He won’t
He won’t fail
He won’t fail (no)
Vamp
Yeah I’m going to make it through
‘Cause I’m standing strong on You
Yeah I’m going to make it through
‘Cause my house is built on You
Chorus 3
He won’t He won’t
He won’t fail
He won’t fail no He won’t
Passage (Slides) Genesis 15:1-6 Renee
The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.”
Abram also said, “Since You have given me no son, one who has been born in my house is my heir.”
Then behold, the word of the Lord came to Abram, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
And the Lord took Abram outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.”
And God said to Abram, “So shall your descendants be.”
Then Abram believed in the Lord; and the Lord credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:1-6
Join me in the prayer of Jesus,
Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be your name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses, while we forgive those who trespass against us.
And, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen
Music (Slides) Billy /Linda/Pato
Jesus Does 7205247
Verse 1
Who tells the sun to rise every morning
Colors the sky with the shades of His glory
Wakes us with mercy and love
Jesus does
Verse 2
Who holds the orphan comforts the widow
Cries for injustice feels every sorrow
Carries the pain of His children
Jesus does
Chorus
So we sing
Praise to the Father who gave us the Son
Praise to the Spirit who’s living in us
When I was a sinner He saved me from who I was
(‘Cause) that’s what Jesus does
Verse 3
Who understands the heart of the sinner
Showers His grace over all our mistakes
Washes us clean with His blood
Jesus does
Verse 4
Who sings the song of sweet forgiveness
Who stole the keys to hell and the grave
Who has the power to save
Jesus does
Bridge
Oh what a Friend
Oh what a Savior
He’s always been good
He’s always been faithful
He came to my rescue
When I needed Him most
And saved my soul
Impact Celebration/Prayer Rick (Slides)
[Slide] Food and Shelter. Empowering People in Need of Food, Homes and Hope. The mission of Food and Shelter is very simple. We feed those hungry and wrap our arms around the lost and alone, helping them find their way home. We believe no person can overcome life’s most difficult obstacles if they are hungry and worried constantly about where they will sleep. The services we provide are the most basic physical needs of a human being: food and shelter. Women, children, and men come for food and shelter. They leave with friends, a support system, and acceptance. They find a home.
[Slide] Prayer For F&S ‘Giving Hope’ Campaign
Message Rick (Slides)
[Title Slide]
Biblical Studies Scholar Sara Koenig in speaking about our today’s text says that ‘The brevity of this text belies its theological weight: in just six verses, we have messages about the reliability and timing of God’s promises, lessons about prayer, and a verse so packed with import that it is quoted in two New Testament passages as a lynchpin for understanding the relationship between faith and works.
This morning however we are going to focus on the promise from God to Abram, as well as the relationship between God and Abram.
[Slide] Divine promise
15:1 “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
[Slide] 15:7 “God said to Abram, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.”
[Slide] Abram’s ‘Questioning’ Response
15:2-3 “Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is my servant Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram also said, “Since You have given me no son, one who has been born in my house, but not my true lineage, is my heir.”
15:8 Abram said, “Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?”
God’s Response to Abram’s ‘Questioning’ Response
15:4-5 Your servant Eliezer will not be your heir.” And God took Abram outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
15:9-12 God said to Abram, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Then Abram brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. And birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.
Notice that each promise from God is followed by a question from Abram, which is a doubtful sounding critique of the promise. God, in turn, responds to each of Abram’s questions/critiques by making a promise about the original promise, with each centering on Abram’s many future descendants and the ultimate possession of the land..
[Title Slide]
This is a relationship where questions and critiques are permitted from the human to the Divine God and it is not an insult nor does it summon up God’s anger. The power differential here is not a hindrance in this engagement. This is a vibrant and maturing relationship held together with dynamics that are truly respectful – leading to a growing and engaging trust. God is not offended by Abram’s doubts, including Abram’s questions that can present as offensive. Here we understand the difference between the one true God and the false gods of the Greeks and Romans. The false human created gods who would have not tolerated critique or question. However, the one true God held, and holds, a space for all to be real and genuine before God. It is a relationship where God is respectful from the start and then humans, even us, grow in our respect.
[Slide] In chapter 15 we see a covenant relationship established between God and man. This was not a covenant agreement, worked out between these two, it was established by God as Abram slept.
Have no false illusions, this is a very real, honest, authentic, and painful two way relationship. Abram expressed his doubt about descendants based on the fact that has been a long time since the promise was first given and there was still not even one descendant. God takes Abram out to look up at the stars and informs Abram that his descendants will outnumber the stars. But, also, God tells Abram that those descendants will spend 400 years in slavery in Egypt. And the response is that it led an imperfect human, Abram, to become even more committed to this God.
[Title Slide]
We have to ask, ‘How can this be a covenant if one of the two parties was asleep through the process?’ Maybe we even ask with some of Abram’s possibly sarcastic candor… The answer…This was not the beginning of his relationship with Abram, nor was this the moment when Abram had the option of saying ‘No’ to God, nor was this the moment that Abram was to decide his response.
The relationship with God is first seen earlier in chapter 12. God called Abram to leave Ur, his home, his vocation, his family, his human hope, his gods. There, Abram said yes to this God he did not know and to this new home he had yet to see. It was decided when Abram recognized God’s provisional rescue out of Egypt and the subsequent restoration of his relationship with his wife Sarai, even though he had betrayed her that covenant was forming. This was the God that Abram chose to follow and trust sealing with his own feet as he turned to leave his home, this was the God that his wife Sarai also had chosen to follow as she stepped out with Abram.
This was the God that Abram chose to worship, follow, and trust as he built an altar to this God shortly into his journey into an unknown land.
See, God had chosen a relationship with Abram and Abram, at that initial moment, chose to have a relationship with God. But now, we see Abram asleep as God seals the relationship. God recognized that Abram was indeed ready for this difficult relationship, for God to act this relationship. This was a final acceptance on God’s part to trust this man, even with Abram’s questions, complaints, and critiques. This was God’s act setting into motion God’s passionate sacrifice of His Son.
A promise, an impossible promise, an impossible two promises of a people and a land, a deliverer, a Messiah, a Savior..
[Slide]
One more thing about this covenant relationship, this promise of people and land. Regarding God’s promise to him, Abram asked God, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” Abram was asking how he could be sure that God would deliver, to which God answers with this same aforementioned covenant. God responded to Abram that God was the proof. Abram now trusted and he had only to look to God, the God that Abram now knew, to have the proof of the promise.
would receive and God made a covenant with Abram as proof. The proof was the relationship, the covenant, with God himself. Basically, God said to Abraham, ‘You will know, you already know, because it is a promise from me, God, God the Father. I am the proof of my promise.’
[Slide] Abram struggled with the same faith doubt that most humans do. Abram has already had several victories but each of those involved a lot of his own strength – physical strength and wise leadership strength in battle, however, achieving God’s promise is not doable with his own ability. Doubt comes when we face a fulfillment that is not possible in our own strength. A promise that is only possible completely outside or ourself. Only there can we know that this is God’s work, not our own work. This is why some of God’s greatest works take so long, because sometime or full reach of trust takes a long time as well.
This is why God calls us to a growing faith in God that requies a righteous patience. A determined waiting patience, sometimes a long, long, patience that often absorbs a long, long, time.
[Slide] God works in our reality, the reality of God’s creation. His work flows out of an already created humanity. It take time, and sometimes creates a lot of questions and tears. Sometimes the waiting goes even beyond our moment on earth. Sometimes the fulfillment of God’s promise is not ever seen by us.
[Slide] Along the way…
we realize that God’s work is much greater than just us, it is for, and about,those that come after us. We waiting and trusting the God we know is trustworth.
God is the prove of His promise.
[Title Slide]
Trees We’ll Never See
Michael White and Marshall Altman, describing the long term development of nature, especially trees, write…
Good sweet earth, sleeves rolled up and hands buried in the dirt.
Good straight lines, you need seed and sweat and soil and sweet sunshine. And once those roots take hold, you’ll be just fine, it’s a beautiful design. It just takes love and faith and grace, a little time.
First day of spring the whole world’s wakin’ up and turnin’ green and everything connects to everything it’s a beautiful design. It just takes love and faith and grace, a little time.
We’re all sons and daughters, just ripples on the water tryna’ to make it matter until our time to leave. One day, they’ll carve your name in stone and send your soul on home. ‘Til then it’s prayin’ for rain and pullin’ up the weeds, plantin’ trees we’ll never see
Statues fall and glory fades but a 100-year-old oak tree still gives shade.
Prayin’ for rain and pullin’ up the weeds
‘Til then it’s prayin’ for rain and pullin’ up the weeds. Plantin’ trees we’ll never see.
Michael White / Marshall Altman
[Slide] God’s call to us, God promise to us, is a promise that is proven in his relationship with each of us. His sacrifice for us. His love that holds us. We may not always see and recognize God’s hand, but his promise to us is steady and proven in the fact that he sticks around, cheering for us, picking us up when we fall. Even in our imperfection, the perfect God is passionate in His love for us.
[Title Slide]
Illustration of morning stars, looking deep and seeing more.
Music (Slides) Lynn /Linda/Pato
Jesus Does 7205247
Verse 1
Who tells the sun to rise every morning
Colors the sky with the shades of His glory
Wakes us with mercy and love
Jesus does
Verse 2
Who holds the orphan comforts the widow
Cries for injustice feels every sorrow
Carries the pain of His children
Jesus does
Chorus
So we sing
Praise to the Father who gave us the Son
Praise to the Spirit who’s living in us
When I was a sinner He saved me from who I was
(‘Cause) that’s what Jesus does
Community (Slides) Rick
- Fall-Advent Sermon Series, ‘My Eyes Have Seen”, – Next Sunday- 09.22.24 Genesis 37:3-8, 26-34, 50:15-21; FAMILY, Jacob & Joseph,
- CC Crop Walk, Sunday, October 20, 2:00pm, Ruby Grant Park (register for team Grace Fellowship on Web page)
- Instagram, GF link on website (follow @gracefellowshipnorman)
Closing Peace (Slides) Rick
Leader: May the peace of the Lord go with you.
Response: And also with you.
Closing Music Billy/Linda/Pato
Cornerstone CCLI Song # 6158927
Verse 1
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name
Chorus
Christ alone cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love
Through the storm He is Lord
Lord of all
Verse 2
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil
Chorus
Christ alone cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love
Through the storm He is Lord
Lord of all
Order, Words, & Voices 