PATRIARCHS our Model of Faith Abraham.pptx

this is a presentation about Faith

1. PATRIARCHS: OUR MODELS OF FAITH

2. God’s call to follow Him is not always easy to accept, but great things are in those who heed His call. The Truth of this can be seen in the lives of patriarchs Abraham, Jacob and Joseph who heed God’s call to fulfill His plan of salvation for all HUMAN KIND.

3. Abraham’s Obedience in Faith ABRAHAM, formerly called ABRAM, belonged to a prosperous family of NOMADIC SHEPHERDS and FARMERS from the Babylonian City of UR. HE was descended from SHEM, a son of NOAH.

4. 1. God calls Abraham to make a great nation God established personal relationship with Abraham because He Had a Mission. He will LEAVE his country, kinsfolk, father’s House, BUT HE WILL BE father of all nation, give him numerous descendants, make him a great name and a blessing to others. This was Abraham’s part in God’s plan---he would be a MODEL OF OBEDIENCE and FAITH and a means to fulfill GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION.

5. 2. Abraham responds with Faith. He was to act as God directed Him He was to trust God and the promises God made. He was to obey the promptings of the divine will and believe wholeheartedly in God. God continued to deal with his doubts and insecurities and guided him on his faith journey.

6. God established a covenant with Abraham A covenant is an offer of friendship and mutual commitment It is God’ Consistent way of relating with individuals and communities throughout salvation history. God entered into COVENANT with Abraham The Covenant followed by an ancient rite where in two persons would pass between slaughtered animals In Genesis 17, God entered into another covenant with Abraham and promised him that he would have many DESCENDANTS. As a SIGN of this covenant, God required the rite of CIRCUMCISION to all of Abraham’s Descendants. Circumcision was the sign that they were indeed from Abraham’s line---God’s Chosen People.

7. God test Abraham. God told Abraham to sacrifice his only Son, ISAAC Abraham trusted completely to God. God promised him, “I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore.” Today Abraham is revered as the ancestors of the followers of the three great religion that believe on one God (Monotheism): JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY and ISLAM.

8. Points for Reflection What concrete experience can you give where your faith were tested? Share your experience. What lessons can be learned from the way God related to each of the patriarchs and the way they responded to Him?