Jesus in Genesis: A Sermon About Circumcision on Mother's Day?

OUTLINE

• New Signature (Genesis 17:1-8; 15-16)

• New Sign (Genesis 17:9-14; 21-27)

• New Story (Genesis 17:17-20)

QUESTIONS:

1. What stuck out to you from today’s passage?

2. (Genesis 17:1) God reveals Himself as ‘El Shaddai’, the Almighty God. We all need power to overcome our problems. What power source do you draw from to deal with your problems? What has it looked like for you to draw from His power?

3. (Genesis 17:1-8; 15-16) We believe that Jesus changes everything. He begins by changing us and giving us a new name. What old names, labels and titles do you carry, wear and believe about yourself? How is the truth of the Gospel setting you free? Where do you struggle to believe your new names?

4. (Genesis 17:9-14; 21-27) When God makes a covenant promise He gives us a sign so that we will remember His promise. Circumcision is personal and permanent, just like His love for us. Where do you struggle to believe and apply His love for you? Are you convinced that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:31-39)?

5. (Genesis 17:17-20) God is writing and directing a story. He is inviting us to join His story, which means letting go of our own story. Letting go of our own agendas, desires, accomplishments and passions to adopt His. Where have you struggled to let go of your own story? What would He have you let go of today?

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:

Genesis 17

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision
1Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lordappeared to Abram and said to him,“I am God Almighty;Walk before Me, and be blameless.2I will establish My covenant between Me and you,And I will multiply you exceedingly.”3Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,4“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you,And you will be the father of a multitude of nations.5No longer shall your name be called Abram,But your name shall be Abraham;For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 7I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”9God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. 11And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. 13A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”15Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” 17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” 19But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.” 22When He finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.23Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him. 24Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son. 27All the men of his household, who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.