Faith Group Lesson and Personal Reflection Guide
Based on the message, “Pursuing God: Lessons from Abraham”

Today in our sermon series “Pursuing God”, we look at the life of Abraham, a man whose faith story is both inspiring and relatable. His journey, from Genesis 12-22, has both victories and struggles, making him a great example of what it means to follow God. Abraham’s faith wasn’t perfect—he faced doubts and failures—but his pursuit of God shows us that faith is about persistence, not perfection. Even when he stumbled, his trust in God's grace helped him keep going. His story reminds us that faith gives us the strength to move forward, no matter how many challenges we face.

Abraham’s journey of faith began when God called him to leave everything behind and venture to an unknown land, promising to make him the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:1-2). Abraham responded by leaving his homeland and setting out for Canaan, trusting in God’s word, despite the impossibility of the promise. His faith wasn’t just a belief in words; it was faith that led to action, as he obeyed God’s call without hesitation. Abraham’s faith was not passive—he stepped out in obedience, which is what ultimately defined him as the father of faith (Genesis 12:4-5, Galatians 3:9).

Abraham’s life wasn’t without struggles. There are three key moments that show this. First, when fear overcame his faith. Despite his strong belief in God, Abraham faced times of fear and doubt. In Genesis 12:10-13 and 20:1-18, Abraham lied about his wife Sarah because he was afraid for his life, failing to trust that God could protect him. Second, when reality made it hard for him to trust God. Sarah couldn’t have children, and because of this, Abraham agreed to Sarah’s plan and had a child, Ishmael, with Hagar (Genesis 16:1-4). Third, when the situation seemed impossible. In Genesis 17, God reaffirms His promise to Abraham that he will have a son with Sarah and become the father of many nations. But at nearly 100 years old, Abraham struggled to believe, especially since Sarah was 90 and had never been able to have children. The idea of becoming a father at his age made Abraham laugh (Genesis 17:15-17). These moments show that even those with great faith can be challenged by fear, reality, and impossibility.

Abraham’s ultimate test of faith came in Genesis 22 when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac, the child through whom God’s promise was to be fulfilled. In this moment, Abraham’s faith reached its peak, as he obeyed without hesitation, trusting that God would provide. Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, God intervened, providing a ram in his place. This act of obedience, even in the face of impossible circumstances, demonstrated the depth of Abraham’s faith in God’s plan.

Abraham’s life teaches us valuable lessons about the significant role of faith in pursuing God. Abraham’s life illustrates that pursuing God is not a straight path; it’s filled with ups and downs, moments of faith and moments of doubt. Faith requires perseverance and obedience, even when the road is tough. It’s not just about believing; it’s about acting on that belief, as Abraham did. Ultimately, Abraham’s journey reminds us that faith is rooted in God’s grace. His imperfections didn’t disqualify him from God’s promises, and neither do ours. God’s grace sustains us through our failures, just as it did with Abraham. Like him, we can keep pursuing God, trusting that His promises will always stand firm, no matter how many times we stumble and fail.