Family Guest Service - Genesis 12

This is a family service talk by Peter Birnie from the Riverside Church service on 8th March 2026.

Click here to read the bible passage. Click here to use larger text.

Family Guest service so sections instead of a regular sermon. 

 

1) Section 1, God’s faithfulness in life:

Pictures of hope – uniformed orgs with a chance to come up and explain their picture, what makes them hopeful.

Intro: There is an amazing chapter in the bible that lists loads of people who demonstrated faith in God throughout history. At the end of the encouraging list is an even more encouraging couple of verses, here is what Hebrews 11v39-40 read;

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned to do something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Those verses are brilliant news for us here today because they tell us that God had always planned for there to be better yet to come. God’s people were always commanded and invited to put their faith in God throughout life, and because God is completely faithful, keeping his promises and doing what he said he would do, they knew that this faith didn’t just keep them in the present but it meant that their future was bright, an eternal future where death was not the end.  

In this service today we are going to meet a few of these people who pop up throughout the bible, and we are going to see that God’s faithfulness changes both life and death. Near the end of the service we will hear from a couple of people in this church family and see the same life and death transforming faith that is offered to anyone who would simply put their faith in the faithful God, Jesus Christ. Let’s begin by meeting our first characters and seeing how God’s faithfulness affects our life. (Kay)

  • Bible reading 1 (Gen 12 v 1-3) and character 1 (beard) – Abraham (Amazing promises to Abraham yet he messed up lots but God faithful to forgive, use and bless)

 

  • Bible reading 2 (Ruth 4 v 11-12) and character 2 (corn sheaves) – Ruth (full of joy, about to get married – tells the story of hard times, being a foreigner, yet God faithful in compassion and care)

 

Summary of part 1: God’s faithfulness means that our sin and failure don’t stop his plans to love us and bless us. He is the God who forgives sin and keeps his promises – that is what he did for Abraham and that is what he offers to us in Jesus. And God’s faithfulness means that terrible circumstances and suffering don’t stop his plans to love us and bless us. He is the God who is with his people in trouble, caring for them and providing what they need – that is what he did for Ruth and that is what he offers to us in Jesus.

 

2) Section 2, God’s faithfulness in death;

 

  • Bible reading 3 (Daniel 6v16-23) and character 3 (Lion) – Daniel (opposition, enemies, persecution, threat of death – God is faithful)

 

  • Bible reading 4 (John 11 v 21-26) and characters 4 (toilet roll) – Mary, Martha and Lazarus (actual death and mourning and deep sadness – God is faithful)

 

Summary of part 2: God’s faithfulness means that opposition and persecution and even the threat of death don’t stop his plans to love us and bless us. He is the God who holds on to his people and protects them even under the worst pressure and threats – that is what he did for Daniel and that is what he offers to us in Jesus.  And God’s faithfulness means that even death itself doesn’t stop his plans to love us and bless us. He is the God who created life, who gives life, who defeated death and offers eternal life to all who would put their trust in him – that is what he did for Mary, Martha and Lazarus and that is what he offers to us in Jesus.

 

 

          3) Testimony slot

The gospel of Jesus Christ: Incarnation, perfect life, passion, crucifixion, death and burial, resurrection, appearance to hundreds of people over 40 days, ascension to heaven, reigning now, will return. In Jesus, we are offered certain hope in life and in death. God is faithful, he keeps his promises! The faith of Abraham and Ruth and Daniel and Mary, Martha and Lazarus, is the faith that is offered to all of us here in North Hull today – it is a faith that will change our lives now, it is a faith that guarantees eternal life in God’s presence.

 

  • Gillian, how does God’s faithfulness change your life?

 

 

Pray – thank God for his faithfulness, for Jesus dying and rising, for the promise of eternal life for those who put their faith in Jesus. Bless those here today with the gift of knowing you and living as your children. Amen.

 

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