The Father of our Faith - Part 1
It Runs in the Family
Adrian Thornton

Abraham is described as the father of our faith because God chose to create a new nation of people from him. It was a course correction from the destructive effects of sin, towards God’s original intent for humanity, blessing.

Abraham was given a promise that he would be blessed and that from him all families on earth would be blessed. It’s an ancient promise, but it is part of our redemptive history.

Abraham’s story is our story. Through Christ, we are brought into the family line of Abraham and are “heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:29). The Apostle Paul says we have been “grafted in” and “adopted” into God’s family.

The title of the message is, It Runs in the Family. The original promise declared, “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen 12:3). God's blessing travels along family lines.

Whether you have a great spiritual heritage or not, we have all been grafted into the family of God through Christ and now carry the promised blessing given to Abraham. His story is our story. It runs in the family!

So how do we let God’s blessing flow through us? Here are three key ways.

1] Fear the Lord and walk faithfully with Him.
When God reaffirmed His promise to Abraham in Genesis 17, He said, “Walk before me faithfully and be blameless.” The promised blessing was tied to a covenant relationship with God.

Psalm 112 says, “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. Their children will be mighty in the land.” Stewarding the blessing begins with having a real relationship with the Lord.

2] Plant yourself in the house of the Lord.
Blessing grows in the soil of God’s presence. Psalm 92 says, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree… planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.”

To flourish, you have to be planted. Families thrive when they choose to be rooted in God’s house. Think of Obed-Edom — when the ark of God’s presence rested in his home, his whole household was blessed.

When we prioritise God’s presence and commit to His church, blessing follows. Parents, declare, as Joshua did, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

3] Raise your kids in the way of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6 tells us to impress God’s Word on our children — talk about it at home, on the road, when you lie down, when you rise. In other words, weave God’s truth into everyday life.

This isn’t about outsourcing discipleship to the kids’ leader. Discipleship starts at home. Paul told the Corinthians, “You may have many guardians, but not many fathers.” Guardians supervise; fathers disciple.

Don’t just manage your kids. Teach them to pray, read Scripture, and hear God’s voice. Show them what it looks like to follow Jesus by letting them see your example up close.

You are blessed to be a blessing. It runs in the family. Yes, it takes sacrifice and discipline, but it’s harder to live outside God’s blessing than inside it. Create the soil where your children can flourish.

You can’t control every choice they make, but you can shape an environment where God’s blessing flows. Let it run through you to your children, your household, and your community. Be a blessing, because it runs in the family.