Nov. 01, 2026

What If God's Blessings Have Nothing to Do With You? 

Pastor Dave opened our study of Genesis by introducing Abram, the man we know as Abraham, from Genesis 12:1–9. His heartbeat was simple: God’s blessing does not rest on our merit. It rests on God’s call, God’s promise, and God’s grace. Pastor Dave called this week a foundation for what comes next.

“Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. ² I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” [Genesis 12:1–3, NKJV]

A New Name Means a New Identity - Pastor Dave explained that God changes a name when something significant happens. Abram became Abraham, “father of multitudes,” and Sarai became Sarah. Saul became Paul, and Simon became Peter. Names are identity, he said, and in Christ we receive a new one too. As he put it, “I’m glad I’m not known for who I used to be. I’m glad I’m known for who He is in me.” We are now righteous in God’s eyes, accepted in the beloved. He hoped that the next time we see a name change in Scripture, we remember that something significant happened to us too. If you don’t yet know Christ, he invited you to talk with him, Pastor Lance, or one of the elders.

God Calls - Abram was not sitting around wondering how to find God. God came to him. Pastor Dave let us in on a little secret: we were not called to Salvation because we were so special. He amused us when he said, “You might be the blackest of the black sheep of your family.” God called Abram to Salvation, to a purpose, and to a place. Then he joked that God’s call landed him in North Dakota. “If you have breath in your body, God has a purpose for your life.”

God Covenants - A covenant, he said, is God’s solemn, binding word, the same new covenant we remembered at the Lord’s table that morning. Notice how often God says “I will” to Abram. He did not tell Abram to make himself great. He said, “I will make you a great nation.” God keeps His word even when we do not do all the right things. Pastor Dave then read 2 Peter 1:1–4, where we have “exceedingly great and precious promises.” We have received righteousness, and everything needed to please God. “Even the desire to please Him is His gift to us.”

Pastor Dave said we ran out of time before reaching Abraham’s story, so we will pick it up next week. He reminded us that Abraham’s family worshipped idols, and God chose him anyway. “I’m not near as concerned about what you were as what you are, and in Christ you are righteous.” He closed with a blessing: “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” [1 Thessalonians 5:24, NKJV]