For You, Your Children, and All Far Off
Faith of Our Fathers
July 24, 2022
Rev. Tim Sharpe
God works through binding covenants—renaming and blessing Sarah as part of his promise to Abraham—renewing and expanding his commitments, and calling his people to pass the faith to their children and to those who are far off.
Summary
The sermon explains that God distributes his blessings through covenants, defined as binding relationships with clear expectations (marriage being the clearest modern example). God renames Sarai to Sarah and promises a son, showing that he sees and includes those who feel like outsiders; he renews and enlarges his promises to Abraham and intends the covenant to continue through his descendants, particularly Isaac. That sovereign promise coexists with human responsibility: the church must invest in the next generation and actively announce God's mighty deeds so relationships and faith can be extended to others who are far off.
Key Points
- Covenants are binding relationships through which God distributes blessings (marriage as a contemporary example)
- God renames Sarai to Sarah and promises she will bear a son, demonstrating God's attention to outsiders and inclusion
- God renews and expands his promises to Abraham, showing ongoing divine initiative and faithfulness
- The covenant continues through Abraham's descendants (especially Isaac), but God's sovereignty does not remove our responsibility
- Christians must invest in children and pass the faith to the next generation
- The covenant promises extend beyond Abraham's family to those who are far off, calling the church to proclaim God's deeds and build relationships rooted in the promise
- Reflective challenge: how will you participate in carrying the gospel to those on the outside?
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