God Builds A New Nation

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Before the start of a new episode in a television series, the show will begin with a review of the previous episode.

• Let’s do a review of The Story revealed in the Bible.

• Last week we discovered that God’s vision in creation was to be with us. Adam and Eve chose a different vision and sin was introduced into the human race. Once sin sunk its teeth into mankind it was not going to leave.

• The choice Adam and Eve made cost them everything, their relationship with God, each other, the earth, and creation in general.

• Sin caused them to be banished from the garden they enjoyed for so long.

• Even with this happening God passionately pursues us at a great cost. God relentlessly pursues you because you are the point of the Story.

• WE know that God has a vision to be with us and sin threw a wrench in that vision but God has a plan.

• In Chapter 2 of The Story, we start to see that plan unfold as we discover that God decides to build a nation and through that new nation win us back to Him!

• As we know when God does something those of us with a lower story mentality cannot understand why God makes the choices He does. As The Story unfolds today we will see this will ring true.

• God builds a new nation to reveal God and God’s plan to get us back.

• As we examine this new nation together, let us first look at…

• SLIDE #2

SERMON

I. The people God chooses to build a new nation.

• If you own a business and have a job opening, one of the things a good business person will do is to look for the most qualified person to fill the job.

• As an employer you want the best you can get!

• Imagine you are looking for a person to do your network security at your bank. You would look at the resumes of the applicants; you would look at their education, their certifications and their experience.

• That is how those of us with a lower story mentality would go about our search. It is logical. I mean would you hire a person to secure your bank network who knows NOTHING about network security? Maybe at Target. 

• Let’s see how God goes about choosing the people with whom He will build a new nation.

• First let us look where these people will come from.

• The City of Ur.

• SLIDE #3

• On the map in the front cover of the story you can draw a person at the city of Ur.

• On your Bible map find the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. In this area the Tower of Babel was being built by many nations who all had one language.

• God confounded their language and the nations scattered. God chose to create a new nation in this area of the world.

• When God scanned the city of Ur, He did not use the whole city to start His new nation; instead His focus was centered on one couple.

• Our logic would tell us to pick the whole city because with a whole city you can more quickly build a nation.

• Let’s look at the people God chose to begin the new nation with.

• If you are God and you decided you were going to build a new nation and you decided you were not going to choose a whole city, but a couple, what would you look for?

• I personally would look for a fertile young couple who were full of life and who were as spiritually perfect as can be.

• What does God do?

• God chose a couple, Abram and Sarai. Later to be known as Abraham and Sarah.

• Abraham was 75 years old and his wife Sarah was 65 years old when God chose them and by the way, Sarah was barren, in other words without child.

• As a side note Abraham’s parents and grandparents worshipped pagan gods.

• God made a stunning statement and choice by choosing the AARP couple to begin the nation with.

• From God’s upper story perspective, He intervened and did the miraculous. God did with Abraham as promised.

• God called Abraham to follow Him.

• SLIDE #4

• Genesis 12:1–4 (NIV) The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.