Encountering God: Understanding His Fatherhood and Love

Today begins a journey into one of the most important questions any of us will ever answer: Who is God to you? So often, our understanding of God is shaped by what others have told us, by our upbringing, or by the actions of people who claim to represent Him. We can easily adopt narratives about God without ever truly encountering Him for ourselves. But the truth is, what we believe about God shapes everything—our worldview, our sense of right and wrong, how we treat others, and how we live our lives.

God introduces Himself in Scripture as the ultimate Creator, the One who brings order and life out of chaos and darkness. From the very first sentences of Genesis, we see a God who hovers over emptiness and brings forth flourishing life. But He is not just a distant force or cosmic judge; He is relational, desiring closeness with us, wanting us to hear His voice and experience His presence. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—what we call the Trinity. While this is a mystery that stretches our understanding, it is a truth rooted in Scripture and affirmed by the church for centuries, as summarized in the Nicene Creed.

This week, the focus is on God as Father. For many, this is a loaded and even painful concept, because our earthly fathers have often fallen short, sometimes leaving wounds that make it hard to trust or accept God in this way. The enemy has worked overtime to distort our understanding of fatherhood, knowing that if he can corrupt this relationship, he can keep us from the love and healing God offers. Yet, God as Father is not a reflection of our earthly dads—He is the perfect Father, the One who made us, knows us intimately, and loves us unconditionally.

God made each of us intentionally, with purpose and care. He knows every detail of our lives, our thoughts, our struggles, and our gifts. And He loves us—not because of what we do, but simply because we are His children. This love is not earned; it is lavished on us, demonstrated most powerfully in Jesus, who died for us on our worst day, not our best. The invitation is to allow God to heal our wounds, to reintroduce Himself as the Father we’ve always needed, and to walk with Him in a relationship that brings life, healing, and purpose.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Our understanding of God is often secondhand, shaped by others’ opinions or experiences, but the most important question we must answer is: Who is God to me? This question is foundational, as it determines how we see ourselves, others, and the world. We are invited to move beyond inherited narratives and seek a personal, authentic encounter with God. [05:35]
• 2. God reveals Himself as the ultimate Creator who brings order and flourishing life out of chaos and darkness. Wherever there is emptiness or disorder in our lives, God is present, hovering with the intention to create something beautiful and life-giving. His power is not used to shame or punish, but to restore and partner with us in bringing about good. [11:30]
• 3. The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is a profound mystery, yet it is central to understanding God’s nature. While every analogy falls short, the truth remains that God is both unity and diversity, always present in relationship. Embracing this mystery requires humility and faith, anchoring our beliefs in Scripture and the historic confessions of the church. [16:01]
• 4. Seeing God as Father can be difficult, especially if our earthly fathers have wounded us, but God’s fatherhood is not defined by human shortcomings. The enemy seeks to distort our view of fatherhood to keep us from God’s love, but God desires to heal those wounds and show us what a true, loving Father is like. This healing is essential for a deep, transformative relationship with Him. [27:37]
• 5. God made you intentionally, knows you intimately, and loves you unconditionally. You are not an accident or an afterthought; you are His masterpiece, created with purpose and loved beyond measure. His love is not based on your performance, but on His grace—He loved you at your worst, and nothing you do can make Him love you more or less. [35:56]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:00] - Marriage Conference Invitation
• [02:11] - How Secondhand Narratives Shape Our View of God
• [05:35] - The Most Important Question: Who Is God to You?
• [07:19] - How Our Image of God Shapes Our Lives
• [09:30] - God’s Introduction: Creator in Genesis
• [11:30] - God Hovers Over Chaos to Bring Life
• [13:28] - God’s Order and the Reality of Darkness
• [14:50] - The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• [16:01] - Analogies for the Trinity and Their Limits
• [18:37] - The Nicene Creed: Clarity and Unity
• [22:25] - God as Father: The Challenge and the Invitation
• [24:01] - Earthly Fathers and Spiritual Wounds
• [27:37] - Healing Father Wounds and Knowing God as Father
• [29:29] - The Orphan Spirit and the Need for Healing
• [31:35] - Three Truths: God Made You, Knows You, Loves You
• [35:56] - God’s Unconditional Love Demonstrated in Christ
• [39:48] - Recommended Resources for Deeper Growth
• [41:32] - Prayer for Healing and New Beginnings
• [42:28] - Closing and Dismissal

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Who Is God to You? (Week 1: God as Father)

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Bible Reading

Genesis 1:1-2 (ESV)
> In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
> For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Matthew 6:9 (ESV)
> Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

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Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 1:1-2, what is God doing in the midst of chaos and darkness? How does the sermon describe God’s actions in these verses? [[11:30]]
2. According to Psalm 139, what does David say about how God knows and creates us? What words or images stand out to you from this passage?
3. When Jesus teaches his disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9, what title does he use for God? Why is this significant, according to the sermon? [[24:01]]
4. The sermon mentions that God is not just a distant creator but desires relationship. What are some ways God pursues closeness with people, as described in the sermon? [[13:28]]

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Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that what we believe about God shapes everything about our lives. Why does the speaker think our personal view of God is so foundational? [[05:35]]
2. The idea of God as Father can be difficult for some people. According to the sermon, how can our experiences with earthly fathers affect our ability to see God as a loving Father? [[24:01]]
3. The sermon describes God as the “ultimate power” who uses his power to bring life out of chaos, not to shame or punish. How does this view of God challenge or affirm what you’ve believed about Him? [[11:30]]
4. The speaker says that God made us intentionally, knows us intimately, and loves us unconditionally. What difference does it make to believe that God loves us “on our worst day, not our best”? [[35:56]]

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Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to move beyond secondhand ideas about God and seek a personal encounter. Have you mostly relied on what others have told you about God, or have you experienced Him for yourself? What would it look like to pursue a more personal relationship with God this month? [[05:35]]
2. The speaker says that God hovers over the chaos and darkness in our lives, wanting to bring life and order. Is there an area of your life right now that feels chaotic or empty? How might you invite God into that space? [[11:30]]
3. For those who have struggled with the idea of God as Father because of painful experiences with earthly dads, what steps could you take to begin healing and allow God to show you what a true Father is like? [[27:37]]
4. The sermon talks about the enemy working to distort our view of fatherhood. Are there any lies or negative beliefs about God as Father that you recognize in your own thinking? How can you start to replace those with truth? [[24:01]]
5. Psalm 139 says God created us with intention and purpose. Do you struggle to believe that you are God’s masterpiece? What would change in your life if you truly believed you are loved and valued by God, regardless of your performance? [[31:35]]
6. The speaker mentions that God’s love is not earned, but lavished on us. Are there ways you’ve tried to earn God’s love or approval? How can you rest more in His unconditional love this week? [[35:56]]
7. The sermon ends with an invitation to let God heal our wounds and reintroduce Himself as the Father we’ve always needed. What is one practical step you can take this week to open yourself up to God’s healing and love? [[41:32]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for courage to seek God personally, for healing where needed, and for a deeper experience of God’s love as Father.