Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 20 March 2021

Call to Worship Pastor Charles Tan

Opening Prayer

Scripture Reading:

1. Genesis 11:27-32

2. Genesis 12:1-6

3. Hebrews 11:1-4

4. Romans 12:1-4

Scripture Readers: Chloe Tang, Bethany Toong, Asia Tan and Tessa Kang

Pastoral Prayer: Intern-Pastor Moses Kwek

Message: “Abraham believed God” Romans 4:3

Speaker: Pastor Charles Tan

Closing Prayer

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 20 March 2021

Texts:

1. Genesis 11:27-32

2. Genesis 12:1-6

3. Hebrews 11:1-4

4. Romans 12:1-4

Title: “Abraham believed God” Romans 4:3

INTRODUCTION

1. Faith in God

a) This is often taken for granted

b) To many, “Faith in God” is little more than a vague idea/ concept

2. Consequently

a) Faith in God does not seem very important

b) It may not even seem relevant

c) Many end up discarding a Faith that they do not understand

3. Our Conviction

a) Faith in God is Vital

b) Faith in the Lord can be Vibrant

c) Faith in God can help us live Victoriously

4. Our Goals

a) To study the life and the faith of Abraham

b) To understand the Biblical teaching about “Faith in God”

c) To have a clear personal “Faith in God”

d) To explore how we may enrich our “Faith in God”

e) To share our faith with others meaningfully

A WORKING DEFINITION OF FAITH

“Faith is substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”
Hebrews 11:1

1. The different elements that make up “Faith”

a) “The substance”

i) The basis

ii) The ground upon which one stands

b) “Things hoped for”

i) Hope is an important element of Faith

ii) There are many features to be found in Faith

iii) These are things that make up “Hope”

c) “The evidence”

i) Faith expresses itself

ii) There will be some indications of the existence of faith

d) “Things not seen”

i) Faith is the ability to “see the invisible”

ii) These things remain invisible to others

iii) To the one who has faith, there will be evidence of the things
believed in and hoped for

ABRAHAM: A BRIEF BACKGROUND

1. His father was called Terah Genesis 11:27

2. He had three sons: Genesis 11:27

a) Abram

b) Nahor

c) Haran

(Not necessarily ranked chronologically)

3. Death of Haran Genesis 11:28

4. Native land

a) Ur of Chaldea (Mesopotamia)

b) Chaldea was later absorbed and became part of Babylonia

5. Family Emigration to the land of Canaan Genesis 11:31

a) Terah

b) Abram and Sarai

c) Lot, Terah’s grandson

d) Nahor did not go with Terah, Abram, Sarai and Lot

6. Biblical Geography

a) From Ur to Haran
8043 km

b) From Haran to Canaan
12, 180 km

c) Terah died in Haran

THE LORD’S WORD TO ABRAM

1. A great Challenge

“Get out of”

a) Your country Genesis 12:1a

b) Your family Genesis 12:1b

c) From your father’s house Genesis 12:1c

d) To a land that I will show you Genesis 12:1d

2. A great Promise
“I will”

a) Make you a great nation Genesis 12:2a

b) Bless you Genesis 12:2b

c) And make your name great Genesis 12:2c

d) And you shall be a blessing Genesis 12:2d

3. A further Promise
“I will”

a) Bless those who bless you Genesis 12:3a

b) And curse him who curses you Genesis 12:3a

c) And in you all the families of the earth
shall be blessed Genesis 12:3c

THE RESPONSE OF ABRAM

1. A heartfelt response of Faith

So Abram departed as the LORD
Had spoken to him Genesis 12:4a

2. Unknown reasons for following Abram

And Lot went with him Genesis 12:4b

3. A significant response of Faith

And Abram was seventy-five years old
When he departed from Haran Genesis 12:4c

THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF FAITH APPLIED
Hebrews 11:1

1. Substance
God’s word to Abram

2. Things hoped for
The fulfilment of God’s word (promises)

2. Evidence
Left Haran to go to Canaan

3. Things not seen
The promises of God

OUR CHALLENGE TO CHECK

1. Basis of Faith
What is our faith based on?

2. Hope in the heart
Is there hope in our heart?

3. Evidence of Faith
What evidence of faith can we speak of?

4. Believing in God’s Word
Can we speak of believing in the Word of God?