1-2-22 Sermon Notes “Who We Are”

A brand new year… How will we start out this new year? My prayer is that we will build this year on a foundation of integrity! The theme for January is “Integrity of Heart.” We will look at: (1) Who We Are, (2) What We Want to Become, (3) What We Want to Do, and (4) Where We Want to Go. I hope you will join us each Sunday, and ponder all these things in your heart for yourself, and for our church.

What is integrity? My definition is: “being authentically who we say we are.” Do you think having integrity of heart is important for us? I believe it is absolutely vital, because it is what God desires for us, the world is dying for us to be authentic, and because we will never thrive as a people or as a church without integrity of heart.

The Scripture for this Sunday will be Genesis 20: 1-7.

From there Abraham journeyed toward the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While residing in Gerar as an alien, 2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” And King Abimelech of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “You are about to die because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a married woman.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her; so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I did this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; furthermore it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all that are yours.”

Here we have Abraham (who is known for his faith) not showing much faith at all. We also see a polytheistic Philistine king – Abimelech – showing more integrity that Abraham. This sounds a little strange… Maybe it deserves a closer look!

See you Sunday,
Pastor Sam