Sermon Title: “Then Began Men to Call Upon the Name of the Lord”

Watch Now

Text: Genesis 4:25–26

Delivered at Forward for Christ Baptist Church in Luray, VA 22835 (February 22, 2026)

Local Message Highlight
If you are searching for a Bible-preaching church near Luray, VA, this message from Genesis 4 points to one of the most important turning points in history: “then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” It was corporate worship after the fall, with no Bibles, no churches, and no written instructions, yet men cried out to God. The call is simple: start calling on the Lord again and let prayer become the mark of God’s people.

What This Sermon Covers
From Genesis 4:25–26, the message lays out three clear truths about prayer. First, calling on God identifies the people of God. Before labels and traditions, God’s people were known as those who call upon His name. Second, calling on God is independent of the political situation. The sermon warns against being more concerned with the White House than God’s presence in the church house, pressing that no culture or government can stop God’s people from praying. Third, calling on God indicates the power of God, because the first sign of revival is not a special meeting, but a revived praying heart. The message calls for humility, challenges pride as a prayer-killer, urges believers toward a renewed prayer life, and includes a clear Gospel invitation, reminding the lost that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Why Visit Forward for Christ Baptist Church in Luray, VA?
Forward for Christ Baptist Church is a King James Bible-believing church serving Page County and the Shenandoah Valley with clear preaching, traditional worship, and a desire to see souls saved and believers strengthened. If you want a church family that calls on the Lord, seeks real spiritual revival, and welcomes you to grow in Christ, you are welcome here.

Questions and Answers

Quick sermon takeaways from Genesis 4:25–26, focused on calling upon the name of the Lord and a revived prayer life.

What is the main point of the 2/22 sermon?

The message centers on Genesis 4:26: “then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” The sermon teaches that calling on God is the identifying mark of God’s people, it is not limited by the political climate, and it is the first sign of real revival.

What is significant about Genesis 4:26 in the sermon?

The sermon highlights this as the first reference to corporate worship after the fall: men (plural) began to call upon the name of the Lord. There were no Bibles, no synagogues, no temples, no churches, and no media, yet people cried out to God for help.

What does it mean to “call upon the name of the LORD”?

The message explains that “call” means to cry out, plead, or entreat. It is not a ritual or a label, but real dependence on God expressed through prayer, asking the Lord for help, mercy, direction, and deliverance.

How does calling on God identify the people of God?

The sermon stresses that the earliest believers were not identified by later labels. They were known as those who call upon the name of the Lord. This is the trademark of God’s people in every age: they talk to God and expect God to hear and answer.

What did the sermon say about “plate spinning” and church life?

The message warned that many churches get satisfied with keeping programs running and “plates spinning,” but spiritual life is measured by whether God’s people actually call upon the name of the Lord. Activity is not the same as power.

What does the sermon teach about prayer and politics?

The sermon teaches that calling on God is independent of the political situation. God’s people do not have to wait on society to improve before they pray, and no government or culture can stop the church from calling upon the Lord.

What is God’s definition of an “evil doer” mentioned in the sermon?

The message emphasized that Scripture describes workers of iniquity as those “who call not upon the LORD” (Psalm 14:4). The sermon applies this as a sober warning: refusing to call on God is not neutral, it is rebellion.

Why did the sermon call trouble “one of God’s greatest servants”?

The message teaches that trouble, sickness, and affliction often become God’s way of waking people up and calling them back to prayer. The sermon pointed to God’s invitation to cry out to Him in times of need and find help.

What did the sermon say is the first sign of revival?

The sermon states that the first sign of revival is not a special singer, a guest preacher, or a scheduled meeting. The first sign is when people begin to call upon the name of the Lord again, with frequency, fervency, and expectancy.

What is the “power of God” emphasis connected to prayer?

The message points to the early church as an example of prayer producing spiritual power. The sermon’s emphasis is that prayer is not a last resort, but the God-appointed way His people obtain help, activate biblical promises, and see spiritual change.

What did the sermon say about pride and prayer?

The sermon taught that pride can keep people from crying out to God. Humility opens the way for grace, and the church is called to humble itself, call on God honestly, and seek a revived prayer life instead of living in neglect.

What is the invitation and altar call emphasis at the close?

The message calls the church to respond immediately by praying, seeking God for renewal, and building a prayer culture. It also gives a clear Gospel invitation: salvation is for “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord,” urging the lost to come and be saved.

Floating Menu