Audio from Pastor's Class
Slides from Pastor's Class (PDF)
Bringing The Story Home Resource Page (PDF)
The Story in Review- Chapter Two
God Builds a Nation. God uses and chooses the least likely cast of characters to accomplish His purpose. Over and over again He proves His faithfulness and graciousness even as those whom He has chosen to work through reveal their weakness and self-centeredness; yet at the same time showing themselves to be a faithful flock that does desire, and at times rises to the level of, an obedient people.
The question posed by this chapter is what is God really building? Indeed He is building a nation, yet not in the normal way we use that term. The ultimate “group” that God is building is not that which will reside and defend the historic borders of the land promised to Abraham but that which clings to the same God as Abraham, the God of promise who reckons faith as righteousness. In so doing God proves that He is the main character of this story, the one directing the action and moving the plot forward for He chooses the least likely cast of supporting characters: An old man and his barren wife to be the PARENTS of this nation/family, a whiner, a schemer and yet through each and every one God proves Himself to be the gracious, sovereign who will work out His purposes in the end to bless all people through the ultimate heir of this family, who also happens to be His own dear Son.