A Glimpse of the Gospel Through Abraham

posted by Navigators on July 17th, 2025 in Evangelism | Gospel | The Word

By Luke Midena, Canberra Labouring Community.

Two recent themes we have explored as Australian Navigators are: sharing the gospel through story and understanding the grand story of history as outlined in Scripture.

Let’s bring these two themes together and incorporate our national priority of the nations. Here’s a way to prepare and practice sharing the story of Abraham as a means of sharing the gospel.

What’s wrong with the Bridge Illustration? Nothing! But if we think that’s all there is to say about the gospel, our understanding and witness will be severely limited.

Two benefits of reflecting on and sharing Abraham’s story is that it will:

1. Deepen your appreciation of the gospel. Seeing God’s work from another angle will help the good news sink in even more.

2. Provide another tool for sharing the gospel. The gospel is a story—the history of the world—so sharing it through story is natural and compelling.

A Glimpse of the Gospel in Abraham’s Story

Galatians 3:8: “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.'”

What a striking statement for New Testament Christians! In what sense was the gospel proclaimed to Abraham?

Paul doesn’t say Abraham’s story merely foreshadows the gospel—he says it is the gospel. Of course, Abraham didn’t know the full depth of the gospel, just as we don’t grasp it fully even today. This perspective frees us to share glimpses of the gospel rather than feeling pressure to explain every detail.

Preparing to Share Abraham’s Story

This takes time but is well worth the effort. I recommend doing it over several weeks with a friend, small group, or someone you’re discipling.

Step 1: Read the Story

Key passages capturing God’s promises and Abraham’s response:

- Genesis 12:1-9

- Genesis 13:14-18

- Genesis 15:1-6

- Genesis 16:1-16

- Genesis 17:1-9, 15-21

- Genesis 18:9-15

- Genesis 21:1-7

(Genesis 22, the sacrifice of Isaac, is significant but could be a separate story.)

As you read, immerse yourself in the narrative. Imagine being in Abraham’s, Sarah’s or Hagar’s place. What did they see, feel, and experience? This will help you tell the story with passion and depth.

Step 2: Identify and Reflect on Key Themes

Consider these questions before reading my thoughts:

1. What is the gospel proclaimed to Abraham?
2. How does Abraham respond to God’s promise?
3. How does the gospel proclaimed to Abraham point to Jesus? (See Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 11:8-16, James 2:20-24.)
4. How is Abraham’s story good news today for you personally?

Insights:

Abraham is promised … that all peoples will be blessed through him.
Photo: Paul Pastourmatzis on Unsplash

- God’s Promise: Abraham is promised a great nation, land, and that all peoples will be blessed through him (Genesis 12:1-3). This blessing culminates in an everlasting relationship with God (Genesis 17:7).
- Abraham’s Response: Leaving behind his country, family, and security (Genesis 12:1) for an unknown future required profound faith. He doesn’t reason with God, request a sign or more information, or even pray and fast! His faith wasn’t perfect (e.g., Hagar), but it did produce obedience.

- Connection to Jesus: Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the promise. He establishes the eternal relationship between God and his people and extends the blessing to all nations.

- Personal Relevance: Like Abraham, we trust God not by effort but by faith. We live in expectation of God’s promises in the midst of hardship.

Step 3: Select Key Events to Include

Write a few dot points or draw simple sketches to help you remember. I would recommend:

Introduction for context: Mention creation, fall, and God’s plan, but don’t get bogged down.
Key moments in Abraham’s life:
- Age 75: Call and promise (Genesis 12:4).

- Age 86: Birth of Ishmael (Genesis 16:16).

- Age 99: Covenant reaffirmation and name change (Genesis 17:1).

- Age 100: Birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:5).
Connection to Jesus.
Personal relevance.

A few suggestions:

Be careful not to make Abraham (or his faith) out to be perfect – that’s not the gospel!

Don’t write the story out word for word. It will become inflexible and you’re unlikely to share it.

Be aware of theological words (e.g. faith). Either define them or paraphrase.

Don’t be afraid of fleshing out some of the details which aren’t in the passage. This isn’t adding to the story, it is just highlighting what is already there, filling it with life.

Step 4: Practice Telling the Story Out Loud

Speaking the story aloud helps refine it and stops us from skipping over the complicated parts. Most people need to share a story 10-20 times to remember it well and feel comfortable. Use expression to make it engaging.

After telling the story, skim through the bible passages and your notes. You will notice details and emphases you want to include. Where parts of the story unclear? Read these passages again.

Step 5: Share with a Christian Friend

Practicing with a friend or small group builds confidence. Ask for feedback. It takes humility, but we learn by doing!

Step 6: Share with a Non-Christian Friend

Pray for an opportunity and the courage to share. Perhaps God will bring someone to mind! Opportunities arise more often than we expect.

Have you ever heard someone say: ‘If God cared about the world, he would have done something about it.’ Or have you noticed people trying to work their way to God through piety and obedience (as in Galatians 3)? Perhaps you’ve seen people treating Christianity as a western religion.

These are your moments! ’Have you heard of Abraham?…’

Sharing Abraham’s story is a rich and compelling way to offer a glimpse of the gospel. I dare you to prepare, practice and pray, and see if God doesn’t use you to advance his kingdom!”

An abridged version of this article was first published in the issue of Compass Winter 2025, our printed newsletter. If you would like a copy, please don’t hesitate to contact us ([email protected] or 02 8814 5006) and request a copy of this issue.

Luke Midena is from our Canberra Labouring Community.

To find out more about his ministry, visit his Staff Profile page.

Featured image of a man pointing to the sky on a starry night by Paul Pastourmatzis on Unsplash.