Now I Know That You Love Me

Genesis 22 • Abraham, Isaac, and the Cross of Christ

First Sunday - Intergenerational Gospel Service

Sermon Media

Watch & Listen

Full Sermon
The complete message from Genesis 22 on God's love shown through the cross of Christ.
Clip 1: "The Gospel Defined"
"The Gospel Defined" - A brief, Christ-centered explanation of the good news: that God the Father, out of love, sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die a substitutionary death for sinners and rise again, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who repent and believe. The message contrasts human effort and religion with God's free gift of righteousness in Christ, showing that our confidence in God's love rests not on our performance or circumstances, but on the cross.
Clip 2: "Adjusting To Wartime"
"Adjusting To Wartime" is a gospel-centered exhortation calling believers to stop living casually and instead adopt a "wartime lifestyle" of prayer, intercession, and spiritual alertness-especially for the next generation. Using Genesis 22 (Abraham's testing with Isaac on Mount Moriah) as the main text, the message connects Abraham's costly obedience and God's provision of a substitute with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, urging the church to stand in the gap in prayer so that the enemy's plans are thwarted and God's purposes are established. .
Scripture Reading

Genesis 22:1-14

"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love-Isaac-and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.'"

Abraham obeys. Early in the morning he loads his donkey, takes two servants and his son Isaac, and sets out. On the third day he sees the place in the distance and tells the servants:

"Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

Abraham places the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac. He himself carries the fire and the knife. As father and son walk together, Isaac asks:

"The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Abraham answers:

"God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."

At the altar, Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son. The angel of the Lord calls from heaven:

"Abraham! Abraham! … Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Abraham looks up and sees a ram caught by its horns. He sacrifices it instead of his son and names the place:

"The Lord Will Provide." "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."
Opening Prayer & Call

We recognize we are standing on holy ground. The prayer is that no one would stand casually in the presence of God, but that His grace would grant us awareness of His nearness.

The Spirit is moving among our children, youth, and young adults. There is no greater joy than seeing your children serve God. We see God not only as the God of Abraham, but also of Isaac and Jacob- the God of generations.

Intergenerational & Cross-Cultural: This ministry is intentionally intergenerational and cross-cultural. We are stepping out of our comfort zones to make room for God and for the next generation.

In the city, God is at work: youth gathering, playing basketball in the gym, young adults crying out to God in prayer. We feel the urgency of the hour. This is not a time to be casual or careless; it is a time of spiritual war. The call is to put on a wartime lifestyle and intercede-especially for the next generation.

The church gathers in early morning prayer, standing in the gap, asking God to abort the plans of the enemy and establish His purposes. One deep cry: that no more fathers or mothers would have to bury their children.

Review of Previous Messages

From "In the Beginning, God" to the Problem of Sin

The first Sunday of January focused on Genesis 1:

  • In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
  • He is holy, righteous, self-sufficient, creating everything out of nothing.
  • He made humanity in His image, male and female, and blessed them.
  • He placed them in Eden-a place of His presence-with no sin, no thorns or thistles.

In February, the question was: "Then what is this?" We are not in Eden now. We see:

  • Broken hearts and homes.
  • Hatred, murder, wars and rumors of wars.
  • Broken marriages, broken churches.
Every problem is ultimately a problem of sin, not of skin, class, or ethnicity. We are born bent-rebellious against God, unsatisfied with His righteousness, with God Himself and all He does.
Today's Focus

The Plan of God in Abraham and Isaac