Saved by Grace - Class Notes

Genesis 17:15-19

1.) Why did God change Sarai’s name to Sarah?

Sarah means princess and she was to become the mother of nations and kings.

2.) Why do you suppose God blessed Sarah even though she had shown such a lack of faith, selfishness and pride in chapter 16? How has God been faithful with you even when you have not been faithful to him?

God is faithful to keep his promises even when we fail him. We also know from Hebrews 11:11 that with Sarah’s faults, she was a woman of faith.

3.) Did Abraham laugh at God in verse 17? Abraham again appears to doubt God can deliver on his promise through Sarah. He asks God to bless Ishmael so that Ishmael can be the son of promise. Yet, we know Abraham was counted as righteous because of his faith (Gen 15:6). Did Abraham have faith or not?

That is what Abraham did here. God’s promise was beyond what Abraham could conceive so he naturally had doubts. However, he brought his doubts to God and God reassured him.

4.) How did Abraham respond to this latest encounter with God?

He immediately obeyed and had every males member of his household circumcised.

5.) What kind of man, father, master must Abraham been?

Discuss what it must have been like back at camp when Abraham returned and explained what everyone had to do. Note that circumcision was common in the ancient near east as a rite of puberty, fertility or marriage. However, there had to be love, respect, fear, or something for the entire household to do this without a fuss (at least as far as we know).

Genesis 18:1-8

6.) Abraham refers to God as Lord but this is not the Jehovah name. It is just a respectful name to a stranger that is visiting. Why do you think Abraham was so hospital to these strangers?

It could have been Abraham’s nature. It could have been he noticed something special about them. Regardless of the reason, he did more than just welcomed them, he attended to their cares himself. Abraham was a wealthy man. He could have called his servants to prepare a meal for his visitors. In fact, he could have done this to show off to these royal looking visitors that he could snap his fingers and have people get things done for him. However, this 99 year old man, saw to his guests’ comforts himself.

7.) How are Christians called to be hospitable?

Hebrews 13:1-2
1 Peter 4:9
1 Timothy 3:2Titus 1:8

8.) Some of us are more hospitable than others. Why is this hard for us sometimes?

Discuss how busy we have become. We clutter ourselves with activities that we have little time for community and fellowship.We often just don’t think about hospitality or make it a priority in our life.

9.) What other passage speaks to hospitality?

Matthew 25:34-46

10.) Based on these scriptures, is hospitality important to God? So what are you going to do about it?