NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.
Bible Passage: Genesis 21:1-5, 22:1-14
Discussion Questions:
- How should this biblical account affect our hope in God’s promises?
- What are some truths about God’s tests that we should know?
- How have you seen faith in God lead to extraordinary acts of obedience?
Food for Thought:
For years, Abram lived believing God’s promise that he would have many descendants and become a great nation, and that through his offspring all the peoples of the earth would be blessed. God’s promise carried him through trials and troubles, though at times Abram unwisely tried to help the process along. God even changed Abram’s name as a sign of this promise, and Abram became Abraham. Through many long years, Abraham’s faith in God did not waver. And then one day, Abraham’s faith became sight.
Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, the long-awaited son of promise, because he believed that God could raise him from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). But God provided a substitute at the last minute. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the beloved Son whom God the Father did not spare, the willing sacrifice God provided as a substitute to pay for our sin.
Each and every day, our allegiance to God gets tested. We may see these tests coming, or they may come as a surprise. These tests can take many forms. Some involve resisting temptation; others focus on our obedience, yet these distinctions are not mutually exclusive. For Abraham, one test in particular took him to the extreme of both. Would Abraham obey his God or would he succumb to the personal temptation to disregard the Lord’s command? Faith in God had sustained him to this point; would it be enough to carry him through his test?
The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/gospelproject.
