Monday, May 29, 2006

By Faith... Abraham - Part I, Part 50 of 56

TEXT: "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8).

IDEA: It takes courage to give yourself to Christ.

PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that if they are going to follow Christ, it will take a great deal of courage.

Do you think of yourself as a courageous person?

Do you think you had more courage in the past than you have today?

I. Young people often show greater courage in responding to Christ's call in their lives than do older people.

Many of the great missionary heroes were young when they made their commitment to follow Christ.

At a seminary there are young people who leave everything to go to other parts of the world.

II. Abraham made the choice to follow God when he was 75 and his wife was 65.

It takes a special kind of courage to make a leap where you leave the securities that you have piled up to go to a position that is insecure.

III. Whether you're young or old, to follow the call of God means to give up the security you have for the security of doing what God wants you to do.