December 6, 2020
Pastor Frank Bowden

Sermon Notes

“God Loves to Use Ordinary People to Share the Story of Jesus”

I. God’s time is the right time all the time

Genesis 21:1
The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.

God didn’t forget Sarah and He hasn’t forgotten you.

II. It’s okay to be a work in progress

Genesis 21:2
2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

III. Remember to rejoice

Genesis 21:3-7
3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

“When God Fulfills His Promise, He Never Disappoints.”

Next Steps

• Today I put my faith and hope in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior
• I feel I’m in a season of waiting on God; pray for me to remain faithful and trust Him through this
• I pray for an opportunity to bless others this week with the good news of Jesus.

Deep Dive

1. In Genesis 21:1-2, we read that Sarah finally became pregnant and eventually gave birth to a son, whom God had promised them. What attributes of God does this passage reveal.
2. Look back at Genesis 18:10-15. Today’s passage points out that Sarah laughed (again) at what God had done in her life.. How is her laughter different this time in 21:6-7?
3. When God answers your prayers or fulfills a promise in your life, what should your reaction be? How can that be a witness to others?
4. Read Philippians 4:4-7. What do you think it means to “rejoice always?” In what ways can a spirit of rejoicing help combat worry and stress?

Springboard

1. What does it mean to live in a covenant relationship?
2. Read Ephesians 6:10-20 and discuss what it means to stand firm?
3. 1 Kings 18:17-39 warns us of the dangers of mixing two religious worldviews. Discuss ways that today’s culture may normalize this and tempt us to do the same.