Summary of Sermon: Faith's High Point This sermon, titled "Faith's High Point," explores the story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22 and how it relates to trusting God. Key Points: The story is read from the perspective of 21st-century readers, acknowledging the strangeness of the idea of child sacrifice. The original readers would have been shocked by God providing the sacrifice, not by the request itself. We prioritize things in our lives and spend effort providing for them. This passage explores how God tests Abraham's priorities. The test is not about Abraham's abilities, but about his trust in God. The things God provides us in life can become more important to us than God himself. When we die, only our trust in God goes with us. The phrase "The Lord will provide" is significant and suggests sacrifice is involved in seeing God provide. God himself provides the ultimate sacrifice - Jesus Christ - not to appease him, but out of love. The question is asked: Do we trust God? As we trust God, He provides purpose for our lives. Abraham's obedience to God leads to blessing, not just for him, but for many nations. Our obedience to God can bring blessing to others. Passages Referenced: Genesis 22 Additional Notes: There is audience participation where the attendees name their priorities in life. The speaker mentions the "Mothers and Toddlers" group and the "Impact" holiday clubs as examples of obedience to God impacting others. Transcript Morning, everybody. So, I grew up in 146 this morning, so I just come from there, greetings from the church at 146, to the church at Unit 3, and we brought our gifts and offerings with us as well, so. That's good. They did want to know if I was going to speak there, and we were going to video it back to here. So, I did get asked that question. So, we're in Genesis chapter 22, if you're following this, Genesis the first book in the Bible. I'm just going to move this over here. Can no PowerPoint today? We've gone back to old school technology. Put it there, sort of a better chance of it appearing on the camera. Is that right, Mike? Can we see that? Brilliant. Fabulous. What? Let's pop that in there. I'm probably going to kick it and knock it over. Let's see how we get on. So, Genesis 22, I'm just going to start by reading most of the chapter together. If you want to follow along, I'm reading from the new international version, and we read this. Sometime later, God tested Abraham. He said to him, Abraham, here I am, he replied, then God said, take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Mariah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about. Early the next morning, Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son, Isaac. When he'd cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place, God had told him about. On the third day, Abraham looked up. He did? I lost my place. He looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, stay here with the donkey. While I and the boy go over there, we will worship, and then we will come back to you. Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son, Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father, Abraham, father, yes, my son, Abraham replied. The fire and the wood are here, Isaac said. But where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place, God had told him about Abraham, built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven. Abraham! Abraham! Here I am, he replied. Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place, the Lord will provide. And to this day is said, on the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided. The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me. Then Abraham returned to his servants and they sat off together for Bersheba and Abraham stayed in ...
