Genesis - The Book of Beginnings
Something To Be Thankful For
November 19, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
Giving thanks may be the most important discipline of the Christian life. It is a discipline. We tend to think of it as a feeling that comes from getting or having good things. But biblical giving of thanks is a choice in all things; a daily choice that enables us to see God, love life and people. A daily choice that gives strength, hope, and the ability to endure. We see all this in the life of Joseph.
The Life God Is With
November 5, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
Today we come to our 4th message on the life of Joseph, of course is a part of our study of Genesis. We have seen that Joseph’s life is a special life. It should make us want to watch, ask questions, learn. He has a profound ability to hold onto God regardless of his circumstances. He seems to enjoy a great relationship with the Lord, and the Lord enjoys a great relationship with Joseph. I know the Lord enjoyed being with Joseph because everyone could see it!
What Is God Doing?
October 29, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
More times than I can count I have wondered what God is doing. Funny thing, I don’t usually wonder that when things are going well. Shouldn’t we always want to know what God is doing? But we tend to be most concerned when we aren’t happy, when things are not going well. And we especially wonder that when we have been good, been praying, because then we have done our part, right, and now God, You do Your thing. It is so hard not to want to reduce God to a formula. I do this, You do this, and then good thing happens. We’ve all had times where we feel like, 'God You should have done this, and You didn’t.' Great faith to hold onto Him in that moment. But God has not left us in the dark on where He is or what He is doing, especially in those places where we feel most in the dark. The life of Joseph gives us great insight to this.
Is God Worth That?
October 22, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
The Bible gives to us several provocative, sensual, steamy stories: David and Bathsheba, Samson and Delilah, and our story today Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. The first two stories give us lessons from failure. Joseph though, from success. Filled with sexual tension, possibly even wondering if God’s way even matters, we see with incredible clarity a path through temptation. Let’s read yet another of the well-known stories of Genesis and the Bible.
The Invisible Hand of God
October 8, 2023 • Rev. Shay Osborne
God doesn't cause people to sin. God doesn't make people sin. God isn't a bad God, but people sin of their own choosing, but God is bigger than they are. And God is able to take even sinful people and things, and he, through providence, is able to work that out for his glory and our good.
Hold On To God
October 1, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
Even when we know the blessing of trusting in God, we can slide right back to trusting in ourselves. As a matter of fact, we all do it, all the time. Self-sufficiency is our default mode when the alarm goes off every morning. In chapter 32 Jacob is returning home and in awe of what God has done for him and particularly now in God sending him home, but Jacob is also afraid of a reunion with his brother Esau. It’s been 20 years since they were together, and Esau wanted to kill him for how Jacob had deceived him. Jacob sends a message to Esau that he is coming home. He wants to test the waters. The messenger returns saying Esau and 400 men are on the way. This is Jacob’s nightmare coming true.
Does It Even Matter?
September 24, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
It is all God’s grace. I have said that over and over through the lives of Abraham and now Isaac as God gives great promises and blessings. As we saw last week, even when Abraham and Isaac fail, God still comes through. It is His goodness, not ours. His grace, not our deservedness. He is faithful even when we are not. Which means at some point we might ask, Does it even matter how I live? I mean God is going to do what God is going to do, right? Our study in Genesis today brings us to chapters 29-30 and it is just a mess of humanity, and God by His grace uses all of it.
I Will Be With You, So ...
September 17, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
Our study today in Genesis brings us to one of the great promises of God: I will be with You. I hope we can understand what that means in Genesis 26, throughout the Bible, and what it means for us here today. So, turn to Genesis 26.
God Tests
September 10, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
Last week we learned that God is comfortable with our discomfort. It can be a way of testing our faith, our obedience. And today we will see that God does test. God tested Abraham and is going to test you; you, me, all of us. It is not a multiple-choice, or true/false test. We’re not going to guess our way to a right answer. As a matter of fact, probably the hardest tests you have ever taken, whether you even know you are being tested, were given by God.
This Faith Thing Is Pretty Big
September 3, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
In Genesis 12 and 15 Abram is called Abram, but when we read the passage in Romans 4, he’s called Abraham. Why the name change? Also, from Romans 4, Paul describes Abraham as never wavering in his faith, so what is going on when he jumps the gun and has a child with Hagar. Good questions in which the answers have some real value to our faith walk today.
God Is Able
August 27, 2023 • Rev. RIco Patterson
If God took the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus, which was the most wicked act conducted in the history of mankind and used it for His glory, the same thing is true for anything else we may go through in this world. God is sovereign and in complete control. God is able.
God's Way Is The Only Way
August 13, 2023 • Rev. RIco Patterson
God made the heavens all by Himself… earth… animals… trees… you… me… everything, therefore He doesn’t need fleshly help in order to accomplish His will. All He wants us to do is simply believe/trust/wait on God. This is what Abraham & Sarah needed to learn, and same thing that we need learn. God’s way is the only way.
The Abrahamic Covenant
August 6, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
Genesis 1-11 is the big view of where everything came from and why things are the way they are. In Genesis 12 we shift. Moses has led the Jews out of Egypt and is introducing them to their God. Not a first introduction, but now a very thorough introduction from Genesis to Deuteronomy. God is going to use Genesis 12-50 to tell them where they came from and why there are His special people. And that starts today with understanding God’s covenant with Abraham and the Jews. The verses we are about to read referred to as the Abrahamic Covenant. Read Genesis 12:1-5; 15:6-18.
Together Again
July 30, 2023 • Dr. Randall T. Hahn
Sometimes things just work out. It was not on purpose that I am preaching Genesis 10-11 today and doing the Lord’s Supper, and yet, wow! These two things landed on this day separately and they absolutely go together. At the Tower God divided us up and at the Table He made us one again. Let’s look today at Genesis 11:1-9.