Holy Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9
Message Theme: “Following Jesus—Outside Our Comfort Zone”
Brothers and sisters, many people today assume that following Jesus should make life easier—more comfortable, more predictable, more secure. But when we turn to Genesis 12, we discover something very different. God’s call often leads us into discomfort, uncertainty, and deep trust.
Think about life here in Iowa in 2026. Some of you have moved here for work—maybe for agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, or education. Others have had to adapt to changing economies, shifting communities, or new cultural realities. Some of our neighbors are immigrants, learning new systems, new expectations, even a new language. That transition is not easy. It requires letting go of what is familiar in order to embrace something new.
In a similar way, when we follow Jesus, we are not simply adding Him to our existing life—we are stepping into a completely new way of living. Jesus calls us beyond comfort, beyond control, and into a life shaped by His purpose. He is not just gathering believers; He is sending disciples on mission.
And maybe you are asking today: “How do I know where God is leading me? How do I live out His purpose?” The answer is both simple and challenging: we must surrender our plans in order to walk in His.
Divine call to serve
When God calls Abram, He says, “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
This is not a small request. Abram is asked to leave everything familiar—his identity, his security, his future as he understood it. In today’s terms, it would be like leaving your job, your support system, your financial stability, and stepping into the unknown without a clear map.
Yet this is where true service begins—not with our plans, but with God’s.
Abram obeys. He gathers his household, his possessions and travels to Canaan. But when he arrives, the land is already occupied. There is no clear place for him. No guarantee. No immediate fulfillment of God’s promise.
Does that sound familiar?
Many of us today are navigating uncertainty. Rising costs, unpredictable weather affecting crops, job transitions, questions about the future of our communities. Like Abram, we may find ourselves in places where God has led us, yet nothing feels settled.
And still, God speaks: “To your offspring I will give this land.”
God’s promises are often bigger than our present circumstances.
This passage reminds us that following Jesus is not just about identifying as Christians. It is about becoming servants who live out God’s purpose.
Abram was 75 years old when he answered God’s call. That means it is never too late to step into God’s purpose. Whether you are young, retired, or somewhere in between, God is still calling.
- Friends, just as relocation brings discomfort, answering God’s call will always stretch us. But that discomfort is not a sign that something is wrong—it is often a sign that God is at work.
- God reminds Abram: “I will bless those who bless you… and all people on earth will be blessed through you.”
- That promise extends to us. When we follow God’s call, our lives become a blessing to others—our families, our communities, even people we may never meet.
- So let me ask you: Do you know where God is calling you right now? Where might He be asking you to step out of comfort?
What would it look like for you to move from simply believing to actively serving? - Serving God means aligning with His purpose, even when it costs us something. It means saying “yes” today instead of “later.” It means trusting that God is faithful, even when the path is unclear.
- Today, the Holy Spirit is inviting you to respond—to step out in faith, to serve boldly, and to trust deeply.
- May God give you clarity to know your purpose, courage to respond to His call, and strength to walk faithfully wherever He leads. Amen.
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