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Nik was unable to be at RRCC on Sunday to give his talk on 'Where are you going'.  Paul Hanley preached instead on 'A life worthy of the call'. 

Discovery

Read Genesis 11:27-32 & 12:1-5  & Hebrews 11:1-10

Understanding

The following points summarise the sermon:

1) We/you are called to be a blessing – it’s a big calling.     

2) God expects us/you to obey his calling.

3) God expects our/your obedience to be the ‘obedience of faith’.

Hebrews 11 commenting on this OT passage says that it was by faith that Abram obeyed God (Hebrews 11 : 8-10) even though he didn’t know where he was going.  By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country.

Q: What would that have looked like for Abram and his wife Sarai?  

Q: What motivated Abram to obey God? (the clue is in verse 10 of Heb 11)

Q: What things might have stopped Abram from obeying God?

Some questions for group / personal application & discussion

• What motivates you to obey God – what are you looking forward to?

• What things might stop you from obeying God?  

• Do you need to have all the steps clearly laid out before you before you step out?

• What does the ‘obedience of faith' mean for you right now?

Application

The scriptures encourage and urge us to ‘live a life worthy of the calling we’ve been called to’. For Abram to walk in a way worthy of his calling he had to leave behind him a culture and life he was comfortable with and become comfortable with a new culture of walking with God.   Paul identified a few aspects of our 21st century western culture that God requires us to leave behind us as individuals and as a church if we are to live a life worthy of our calling (ie to be a blessing);

• Culture of self–centred idolatry   (materialism, greed & celebrity, self-entitlement)

• Culture of distrust of authority  (Parents, Teachers, Governments, Church, God)

• Culture of unbelief, doubt and ungracious cynical critical judging (evidenced in Media)

• Culture of darkness, of opaqueness, secrets & lies

• Culture of risk aversion,  (cautious pragmatism overriding faith in action)

Seeking to ensure you’ve left behind our ungodly culture is in some respects a lifelong task.

Q : What areas do you struggle with leaving behind?  

Discuss together and make time to pray for one another and the church as a whole.