This week in our Genesis sermon series, Kevin takes us through the story of Hagar and her encounter with God in the wilderness. Though God had promised Abram an heir, Sarai disbelieves and cruelly uses her servant Hagar to marry Abram and bring this to pass. Hagar flees to the desert and is met by the angel of the Lord, who promises to take care of her if she returns to Abram and Sarai. Hagar is the only one in Genesis to give God a name: El Roi, "God who sees." How does the omniscience and omnipresence of God minister to us? How has Christ won for us adoption through His experience of abandonment on the cross? What would it look like if we truly believed God moves toward broken people before they are all cleaned up?

This week, we continue our journey through Abram's story in Genesis 15. In this passage, Abram experiences doubt that God will fulfill His promises to him, and brings those before God. God then establishes a covenant with Abram to show His steadfast faithfulness toward him. This covenant agreement is enacted entirely by God while Abram is asleep. How does this illustrate the grace of God toward us? What can we learn from Abram's posture toward his doubt? How is Christ our covenant protector?

This week, our Pastoral Resident, Elijah Elmer, unpacks the narrative of Abram's victorious rescue of Lot in Genesis 14. Not only do we see Abram as a type of Christ's victory in rescuing sinners, but we are introduced to the righteous king-priest Melchizedek, who points to Christ as well. How does Abram's faith in God's promises teach us to rely on the Lord? How does the significance of Melchizedek carry forward throughout scripture and resonate the grace of Jesus?

This week, Kevin walks us through the beginnings of Abram's story in Genesis. Abram's story shows us much about the mercy and kindness of God. We see God bestow grace on Abram, calling him out from the land of Ur to follow the Lord in faith. God chooses Abram not because of Abram's own goodness, but because God Himself is good. How does our understanding of God's sovereignty over our salvation impact our faith? How might we grow in our trust of the Lord and His promises to us? What might our lives look like in return?

This week in our sermon series through Genesis, we see demonstrations of God's grace through the flood narrative and the characterization of Noah. Even in these early pages of Genesis, we see the doctrine of justification on display. The order of justification before sanctification sets Christianity apart from all other religions: God sets His grace and favor on us, and then He begins His work in us. How does understanding this strengthen our comprehension of the gospel? How does the ark remind us of the safety we have "in Christ?"