Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read Ch 13-14 in one sitting.  Identify the unique scenes in these two chapters.  If your bible contains heading sections, they could be helpful in seeing these scene changes, but the headings are not inerrant like Scripture.
• In one of the scenes, Abram and Lot are going to part ways. What are the reasons for this parting? Where are the areas they are considering for their new dwelling places? How is that significant to the scene? After they separate what does the Lord say to Abram? Does this seem repetitive from something else previously told to Abram from God? Why would this be repeated? Is there anything unique to this situation?
• In another scene, there are many battles taking place.  Who are these kings and what is their relevance to be found in Scripture? Was there a clear victory in these battles? What happened to Lot and his possessions and why? What is Abram's response? How was he able to win Lot back? How was that possible?
• In the final scene, Abram meets the king of Salem.  What is Salem's significance? What does this king do with Abram? What is Abram's response and why?  Who is the other king that confronts Abram? What is Abram's response to this king and why?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Reflect on how these three scenes contribute to the promises God made Abram and how they are fulfilled. How is God working in these three scenes? What is the display of faith or lack thereof for Abram in God's sovereignty in keeping his promises?
• Read Hebrews 7 and think through the meaning of who the king of Salem was. Why are the passages in chapter 14:17-24 crucial to the storyline of Abram's promises from God?
• How and why did Abram give a tenth to Melchizedek? Is this a response to God that we also emulate?