Sunday - God's Covenant with Abram - Genesis 15:1-6,17-21 - 10/1/17

Background Scripture Nehemiah 9 and 10.

Ezra leads the people in confession. The people agree to obey.


Why would Abram be afraid? Perhaps he feared revenge from the kings he had just defeated. God gave him two good reasons for courage: (1) he promised to defend Abram ("I am thy shield"), and (2) he promised to be Abram's "exceeding great reward." When you fear what lies ahead, remember that God will stay with you through difficult times and that he has promised you great blessings.

According to custom, if Abram were to die without a son, his eldest servant would become his heir. Although Abram loved his servant, he wanted a son to carry on the family line.

Abram wanted promised wealth or fame, he already had that. God promised descendants like the stars and the grains of sand by the sea, too numerous to count. To appreciate the vast number of stars scattered through the sky, you need to be, like Abram, away from any interfering lights or buildings. Or pick up a handful of sand and try to count the grains - it can not be done! God's blessings are beyond our imaginations!

Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was believing in the Lord, not actions, that made Abram right with God. We too can have a right relationship with God by trusting him with our lives. Our outward actions - church attendance, prayer, good deeds - will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith - the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. Right actions follow naturally as a by - product.

Why did God send this strange vision to Abram? God's covenant with Abram was serious business. It represented an incredible promise from God and a huge responsibilities for Abram. To confirm his promise, God gave Abram a sign - the smoking furnace and burning lamp. God took the initiative, gave the confirmation and followed through on his promises. The sign to Abram was a visible assurance to him that the covenant with God had made was real.

Reference summary used from The Life Application Bible, KJV, Tyndale Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL

Admitting Shortcomings ... 8/11/2013 Sunday School Lesson

Abrahamic Covenant . Confess/Confession . Repent/Repentance . Abram/Abraham . Ur . Mesopotamia . Sunday School Lesson


I plan to share the previous three Sunday School Lessons next week or week after. I am behind on my writing online due to being under the doctor and "Me Time." I fine though all my test came back normal for Overactive Thyroid.


Nehemiah 9 ... A Solemn Fast & Confession.

The Sunday School Lesson for 8/11/2013 is shared from Nehemiah 9:2, 6-7, 9-10, 30-36 (Background Scripture Nehemiah 9:1-37; Devotional Reading Luke 15:1-10).

Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3; 15; 17:1-22; Exodus 6:4,8; Psalm/Tehillim 105:8-11; Romans 9:7-13; Galatians 3)

Confess/Confession ... denotes confession by acknowledgment of truth. Of a public acknowledgment or confession of sins.

Repent/Repentance ... change. A change for the better, and of repentance of sin. Repentance from evil or sin.

Abram/Abraham .. father of many or exalted father. Canaan given to. Relocates in Egypt because of a famine. Father of Ishmael & Issac. Blessed by Melchizedek. God's convenant with. Children of (Genesis 16:15; 21:2,3; 25:1-4; I Chronicles 32:34)

Ur ... or Urfa (light) an ancient city of Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia ... (between the rivers) Greek name of country between Euphrates & Tigris.


Nehemiah 9:2 ... A solemn fast, & repentance of the people. Duties To God; Confession; Examples of Confession, National Confession... The Hebrews; The Hebrew Polity; Separate

Polity .. a nation as a political entity

(Nehemiah 9:3; Ezra 10 ... Reference Scripture in Sunday School Book





Nehemiah 9:6,7,9,10 ... The Levites make a religious confession of God's goodness, & their wickedness

Verse 6 ... Works Of God; Preservation; God the Preserver of All Things ... A Solemn Fast & Confession

Verse 7 ... The Hebrews; God's Chosen People; References to the Promise

Verse 9 ... The Hebrews; Israel in Egypt; God Remembers HIS Covenant ... A Solemn Fast & Confession

Verse 10 ... Miracles; Miracles Considered; References to the Mosiac Miracles

(Genesis 15:13-16; Exodus 12:40; Exodus 15:19; Exodus 7:3; Exodus 7:14)


Nehemiah 9:30-32 ... The Levites make a religious confession of God's goodness, & their wickedness

Verse 30 ... Mediums & Methods of Revelation; The Prophet's Reception By The People; Disbelieved, Penalty of Disbelief ... A Solemn Fast & Confession

Verse 31 ... God; Attributes Of God As Person; Mercy & Compassion ... A Solemn Fast & Confession

Verse 32 ... Duties To God; Pleading In Prayer; By God's Promises ... A Solemn Fast & Confession

(Daniel 1:3)


Nehemiah 9:33-36 ... The Levites make a religious confession of God's goodness, & their wickedness.

Verses 33,34,35 ... Duties To God; Confession; Examples of Confession, National Confession ... A Solemn Fast & Confession

Verse 36 ... Trials & Persecutions; Persecution Overruled & Avenged; Persecutors Punished


Luke 15:1-10 ... the journeyings toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:48)Luke was a physician, companion of the Apostle Paul... The parable of the lost sheep; of the piece of silver. (Verse 6 ... Pardcn for Sins & Iniquities Promised)


Monday - August 5, 2013 - Repent & Turn to God - Acts 3:17-26

The Name Of The Lord Jesus/Yeshua In Jerusalem (Acts 3:1-5:42) ... Peter (Simon Peter) 2ns speech (Acts 3:11-26)


Tuesday - August 6, 2013 - A Changed Mind - Matthew 21:28-32

The Way to Jerusalem (Matthew 19:1-23:39)


Wednesday - August 7, 2013 - I Repent in Dust & Ashes - Job 42:1-6

Job's second reply (Job 42:1-6)... The Yahweh Speeches (Job 38:1-42:6 ... Dialogue (Job 3:1-4:2)


Thursday - August 8, 2013 - First Be Reconciled - Matthew 5:21-26

Teaching: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29)


Friday - August 9, 2013 - God Be Merciful to Me - Luke 18:9-14

The parable of the tax-collector & the Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14) ... Ministry in Samaria & Galilee (Luke 17:11 - 18:14)


Saturday - August 10, 2013 - Joy in Heaven - Luke 15:1-10

Teaching publicans & sinners (Luke 15:1-32)


Sunday - August 11, 2013 - The Community Confesses Together - Nehemiah 9:2,6-7, 9-10, 30-36

The Renewal Of The Covenant (Nehemiah 9:1-10:39)


Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, KJV Topical Reference Bible, Vine's Expository Dictionary Of Old & New Testament Words, The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, Zondervan Commentary & Reader's Digest Oxford Complete WordFinder
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