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Snohomish Community Church

False Starts, Trials, and a God Who Sticks with Us (9/21/25)

·37 min·3 clips
Why does a pastor title his sermon 'False Starts, Trials, and a God Who Sticks With Us' to describe Abraham's faith journey?
This episode is a sermon from Snohomish Community Church, part of a series on Genesis. The host begins with church announcements, including a pastor's dessert event and a call for volunteers for the mothers ministry. He then transitions to the sermon, introducing Abraham as a key biblical figure. The sermon is structured around four questions: why Abraham was chosen, why God called him to leave his homeland, whether God called him twice, and why Abraham is called God's friend. The host explains that Abraham was a pagan idol worshipper, chosen by God solely for His glory, not due to any merit. He details the call to leave Ur, describing it as a radical reorientation of identity and security, with spiritual growth often occurring in uncertainty. The host suggests God called Abraham twice, citing Genesis 12:1 and Acts 7, and uses Jonah as an example of God's persistent grace. Finally, he discusses Abraham's friendship with God, referencing James 2 to show it results from genuine faith evidenced by obedience. The sermon encourages listeners to reflect on their own faith journeys, emphasizing God's faithfulness despite human failures.

As heard by us

A clear sermon on Abraham's uncertain obedience, God's grace, and following God while questions remain unanswered.

Abraham enters this sermon as a man called from Ur without being told where he is going, and that unsettled start becomes the way into a larger question: why God calls and saves people who have nothing in themselves to earn his favor.

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Why you'd press play

When Abraham is called out of Ur toward a land God has not yet shown him, you get a sermon for faith's awkward in-between.

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