Morning Service Live Stream

This week’s service delivers a challenging message titled “Here We Go Again,” focusing on the consequences of impatience and disobedience in Genesis 16. The sermon draws a powerful parallel between Abram and Sarah’s decision to use Hagar to fulfill God’s promise and Adam and Eve’s original sin in the garden. It explores the themes of spiritual responsibility, the disastrous results of deviating from God’s plan, and the incredible mercy of the God who sees and hears His people even in their darkest moments.

Service Breakdown

- Worship and Music: The service features congregational singing, including the hymn “In My Heart There Rings a Melody” (#502), led by the choir.

- Bible Reading: The congregation reads from Galatians 4:21-31, an allegory that contrasts the two sons of Abraham—one born to the bondwoman Hagar (representing the law and bondage) and one to the free woman Sarah (representing the promise and freedom in Christ).

- Children’s Corner: The lesson uses a recent high school football victory to teach an important lesson about winning and losing. Based on Colossians 3:23, the message encourages children to remember that God cares less about the final score and more about how we play the game—with our best effort, a good attitude, and kindness towards others, all to honor Him.

- The Message: Continuing the series in Genesis, the message delves into the story of Sarah, Abram, and Hagar in Genesis 16. The sermon highlights how Sarah’s impatience and Abram’s failure to lead spiritually resulted in a disastrous plan born of the flesh. In the midst of the chaos, God reveals His character as “El Roi” (the God who sees) and “Ishmael” (the God who hears) by showing mercy to Hagar.

Key Moments & Themes

- The Danger of a Human Plan: The sermon emphasizes that when believers get impatient and try to “help God” with worldly solutions, the result is often conflict, pain, and disaster.

- Spiritual Headship and Responsibility: A central theme is the biblical principle of male headship in the family. The message explains that Abram’s primary failure was in heeding a human voice rather than standing firm on what God had clearly promised.

- The God Who Sees the Afflicted: In the story of Hagar, we see the profound mercy of God. Even when she is an outcast and running for her life, God meets her, cares for her, and makes a promise to her, revealing that He is a God who sees and hears the suffering.

- Heaven’s Perfect Record: The message concludes with a powerful gospel truth: because of Christ’s sacrifice, the heavenly record of a believer, like Abraham’s in Hebrews 11, does not list their failures. All sin is washed away, and we stand righteous in Christ.

Call to Action

The sermon closes by asking a crucial question: What record will be read for you on judgment day? It’s a call to trust in Jesus Christ, whose righteousness covers our failures, and to commit to faithfully following God’s plan, trusting His timing and His Word above all else.