1. Genesis 12:1 – 3

5. The L ORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

6. Genesis 12:1 – 3 The L ORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

7. Greatness in God’s Eyes

8. Point 1: The Contrast

9. Mark 10:43 Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.

10. Luke 9:48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all – he is the greatest.”

11. Matthew 5:19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

12. Contrast Genesis 11:4Genesis 12:2

13. Contrast Genesis 11:4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 12:2

14. Contrast Genesis 11:4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

15. Contrast Genesis 11:4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

16. General Principle God opposes the proud but lifts up the humble. (Proverbs 3:34; I Peter 5:5; James 4:6)

17. That Principle illustrated in Genesis  Don’t desire to be great to make a name for yourself.  But do believe that God wants his version of “greatness” for you.

18. Greatness in God’s Eyes  He wants to bless you in great ways.  He wants to use you in a great way to bless others.

19. What we have seen so far:

20. There is a huge contrast between the way God sees greatness and the way the world sees greatness.

21. What we have seen so far: There is a huge contrast between the way God sees greatness and the way the world sees greatness. But God wants to bless his people with his version of “greatness.”

22. What we have seen so far: There is a huge contrast between the way God sees greatness and the way the world sees greatness. But God wants to bless his people with his version of “greatness.”

23. Genesis 12:1 – 3 The L ORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curse you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

24. Point 2: Be a Blessing

25. Problems at the Tower of Babel

26. ... make a name for ourselves...

27. Problems at the Tower of Babel... make a name for ourselves... No regard for God.

28. Problems at the Tower of Babel... make a name for ourselves... No regard for God. No regard for others.

29. Genesis 12:1 – 3 The L ORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curse you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

30. God wants to use you in great ways to bless others.

31. Give Him something to bless.

33. Greatness in God’s Eyes  God wants to bless you in great ways.  God wants to use you in great ways to bless others.