Response Work:
Ok, this is real simple...I want you to do this week is bring your parents to this site and explain to them what we went over during our night (including the new videos we weren't able to get to). So this should be real easy since there's so much material right here online and you know so much anyway! You're essentially TEACHING your parents :) Then, I want you to ask them for a time in their lives when God has shown up or provided in a way that was unexpected...both in what He did and when He did it.


Lastly, re-read the verses underneath each point (Covenant, Grace, Timing, Provision) and re-read it at least 15 times throughout the week before we meet again. What does that verse mean to you? Journal your thoughts. Come prepared to share both of these things next week!


God’s Love Story: Genesis 12:1-3, 22

Truth about God, ourselves and life:


God’s Covenant:

Our relationship with God is based on HIS faithfulness rather than OUR efforts/actions/good works. In the story of Abraham, we looked at Genesis 12 and how God promises 4 things to Abraham...What were they??


This video gives a modern day telling of the story of God's Covenant with Abraham:





(God promised Abraham would be a 1) great nation 2) have his own land 3) have a great name and 4) the whole world would be blessed through his descendants.)

God saved you by His GRACE, when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this because it is the free gift from God. Relationship with Him is not a reward for the good things we have done! (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Covenant vs. Contract
A contract is an agreed upon set of expectations between two parties. It is an IF, THEN relationship. Our example was: IF Mac cleans up the Youth Room, THEN I will pay him some cash. If either side doesn't hold up their end of the bargain, the contract is broken.



Your parents are a good way to remember the difference that a covenant is: They provide food, clothes, shelter and protection to you not based upon how well you do your chores, get good grades, or even obey them. They provide those things based on their love for you. If they set up a contract relationship, you'd probably all be living on the streets by the time you were 8.


Your parents still have expectations, rules, and responsibilities for you to follow. Thankfully, however, their relationship with you is based not on how well you live up to some of those rules.

What is grace?
A free and undeserved gift.


The relationship we have with God is based on grace, which is a gift from Him, nothing that we can earn. Remember the differences between JUSTICE, MERCY, and GRACE? What were they?


Those who have remained faithful because of God’s grace—which is His undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. (Romans 11:5-6)




God's Timing

We often want God to work on our schedule, but sometimes God’s plan is a longer road that helps us develop into the people He wants. Do you remember how long Abraham and Sarah waited for God's promise of a son? Can you imagine waiting and waiting and waiting for something like that!? But it was all apart of God's plan and His timing was perfect.

This is also true for all of humanity and His plan to win us back:

At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for those who had been separated from Him. (Romans 5:6)





God's Provision

God doesn’t promise life will be easy, but He promises He will provide His presence during the hard times. We read this really strange request that God makes of Abraham in Genesis 22. He asks that Abraham sacrifice his one and only son...The son he waited and hoped for 25 years...And now God wants him killed?! Why does God ask him that?


But God always provides and in Isaac's place, He provides a SUBSTITUTE SACRIFICE.



For Jesus Christ is the sacrifice that covers our sins, not just ours, but the sins of all the world. (1 John 2:2)