Dennis Williamson preaches on how we can find hope in the midst of a hopeless world. In this sermon, he arms us with multiple passages of Scripture to ground our hope in the Lord.

Text: Genesis 12:1-9

God’s Sovereign Call to Abram (Gen. 12:1-3)

• God called Abram to turn away from idol worship and leave his homeland, never to return.
• God called Abram to trust in His Word and believe His promises.

Abram’s Obedient Faith in God (Gen. 12:4-6)

• Abram obeyed God in faith, taking God at His Word to guide and protect him.

Abram’s Dedicated Worship to God (Gen. 12:7-9)

• God appeared to Abram, reaffirming His promise to give him the land of Canaan.
• Abram responded in worship as he built an altar and called upon the name of the Lord.

Text: Romans 8:1-11

Freedom From Slavery (v.2)

• Former law, Mosaic law, was never meant to save us.
• Former law was meant to point to our need for a savior.

Freedom From Condemnation (v.3)

• God knew the former law was unable to save us.
• In response, He sent His Son to us to do what the law could not do.

Freedom From Being Controlled (v.4)

• Because Christ is in us and we are in Christ, all of God’s requirements are fulfilled in us.
• We must live out who we are in Christ, not by doing good works in itself, but, by focusing on what God has done.

Freedom From Defeat (v.5-8)

• Paul is comparing the saved and the unsaved.
• One lives for the flesh and the other The Spirit.
• Living a life for the flesh IS death.
• If you are unsaved, you are not battling sin.
• If you are fleshly, then you are trying to please yourself, not God.

Texts: Genesis 11; Acts 2:1-11, 37-39

Man’s Arrogant Defiance to God’s Reign (Gen. 11:1-4)

• In Babel, there was unity without obedience to God and ambition without submission to God.
• In Babel, man’s goal was self-exaltation, not God's glory.

God’s Authoritative Response to Man’s Pride (Gen. 11:5-9)

• God condescended to earth to see the “big” tower that man had constructed.
• God confused their language and scattered them throughout the earth.

God’s All-Encompassing Blessing to the Nations (Gen. 11:10-32; Acts 2:1-11, 37-39)

• In this list of Shem’s descendants, we see God’s unfolding promise to bless the nations through Abraham’s lineage.
• Despite Sarai’s barrenness, God’s plan to bless the nations would not be thwarted.
• In Acts 2, we see God’s plan to bless the nations in the proclamation of the Gospel in everyone’s language.

Text: Genesis 10

Introduction: The Table of Nations

• It is a testament to the accuracy of the Bible as true revelation from God.
• It connects us to the story of redemption.
• It underscores the sovereignty of God over all nations.
• It sets the stage for the holy war between the seed of the serpent vs. the seed of the woman.

God is Sovereign Over the Gentile Nations (Gen. 10:1-5)

• God established the line of Japheth, which included the Gentile Indo-European nations who settled in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.
• The Gentiles would be scattered throughout the earth, but God ensured that the Gospel would spread to the ends of the earth.

God is Sovereign Over the Warrior Nations (Gen. 10:6-20)

• The line of Ham reveals all of Israel’s enemies who would seek to revolt against God and destroy His people.
• Despite the challenges to His sovereignty and His people, God remains undaunted in fulfilling His plan.

God is Sovereign Over the Hebrew Nation (Gen. 10:21-31)

• The line of Shem includes several people groups, but specifically the nation of Israel – God’s chosen people.
• In Genesis 12, God makes a covenant with Abraham, which declares that through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

God’s Sovereign Plan For All Nations (Gen. 10:32; Rev. 7:9-12)

• From the Table of Nations, we see the oneness of the human race; we are all descendants from Adam and Noah.
• From the Table of Nations, the stage is set for God redeem sinners from every nation for His glory.

Text: Genesis 9

God’s Commission Declared (Gen. 9:1-7)

• God commands Noah be fruitful and multiply His image on the earth.
• God grants permission to eat meat, but not the blood.
• God declares that life must be protected and preserved.

God’s Covenant of Grace Displayed (Gen. 9:8-17)

• God’s covenant explained in terms of His unconditional commitment to His creation.
• God’s covenant portrayed in the sky as His unconditional sign of grace.

Man’s Sinfulness Demonstrated (Gen. 9:18-25)

• Noah’s sin of drunkenness serves as a warning.
• Ham’s sin of mockery and scorn led to a far-reaching curse upon his family.

God’s Blessing Determined (Gen. 9:26-29)

• God’s blessing rests on the line of Shem, from whom would come Christ, the Messiah who would redeem us from our sin.

Text: Genesis 7-8

God’s Global Judgment (Genesis 7)

• Noah believed God’s Word and obeyed His command.
• God uncreated what He created through a worldwide flood due to man’s sin

God’s Gracious Deliverance (Genesis 8)

• God mercifully protected and delivered Noah and his family from judgment.
• God covenants with Noah to never destroy the world in the same way again.