Experiencing God's Fatherhood: Love, Identity, and Discipline
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound concept of the fatherhood of God. We began by acknowledging the voids in our culture—people's deep hunger for affirmation, love, and purpose. These voids often lead to false teachings and misplaced hopes. The core of our discussion was the fatherhood of God, a concept that resonates deeply within us, whether we realize it or not. We examined John 14:6, where Jesus declares Himself as the only way to the Father, emphasizing that through Jesus, we can experience the love, grace, and power of God.
We also delved into the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-10, where Jesus teaches us to address God as "Our Father," highlighting the intimacy and reverence we should have in our relationship with Him. This was further illustrated by Jesus' own prayer life, where He addressed God as "Abba, Father," a term of deep affection and trust. This relationship with the Father is not just for Jesus but is extended to us as well. Through Christ, we are invited into this intimate relationship, where we can experience the Father's love and affirmation.
We looked at several instances where God the Father affirmed Jesus, such as during His baptism in Matthew 3:17 and the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:5. These affirmations were not just for public declaration but also for Jesus' own encouragement and strength. Similarly, we are invited to hear and internalize God's affirmations over our lives.
Our identity is transformed when we come to the Father through Jesus. We move from being children of wrath to beloved children of God, as stated in 1 John 3:1 and Romans 8:14-17. This new identity is accompanied by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who confirms our status as God's children and empowers us to live transformed lives.
Finally, we touched on the discipline of God as described in Hebrews 12:5-11. While discipline is challenging, it is a sign of God's love and commitment to our growth. Embracing God's discipline helps us mature and become more like Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Void in Our Culture: Our culture is filled with people striving for affirmation, love, and purpose, often leading to false teachings and misplaced hopes. The fatherhood of God addresses these deep longings, offering genuine love and purpose through a relationship with Him. [59:39]
2. Jesus as the Way to the Father: John 14:6 emphasizes that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Through Him, we experience the love, grace, and power of God. This foundational truth is central to our faith and transforms our relationship with God. [01:04:40]
3. Intimacy with God through Prayer: The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-10 teaches us to address God as "Our Father," highlighting the intimacy and reverence we should have. Jesus' own use of "Abba, Father" in His prayers shows us the depth of relationship we can have with God. [01:08:12]
4. Affirmation and Identity in Christ: Just as God affirmed Jesus during His baptism and Transfiguration, He affirms us as His beloved children. This affirmation transforms our identity, moving us from being children of wrath to beloved children of God, as seen in 1 John 3:1 and Romans 8:14-17. [01:17:20]
5. The Discipline of God: Hebrews 12:5-11 teaches that God's discipline is a sign of His love and commitment to our growth. Embracing His discipline helps us mature and become more like Christ, ensuring that we are not just loved but also guided and corrected for our good. [01:31:05]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[59:39] - The Void in Our Culture
[01:04:40] - Jesus as the Way to the Father
[01:08:12] - Intimacy with God through Prayer
[01:17:20] - Affirmation and Identity in Christ
[01:31:05] - The Discipline of God
[01:35:36] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 14:6
2. Matthew 6:9-10
3. Hebrews 12:5-11
### Observation Questions
1. In John 14:6, what does Jesus declare about Himself and the way to the Father?
2. How does Jesus teach us to address God in the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-10?
3. According to Hebrews 12:5-11, what is the purpose of God's discipline?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus is the only way to the Father, as stated in John 14:6? How does this shape our understanding of salvation and our relationship with God? [01:04:40]
2. What does addressing God as "Our Father" in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-10) reveal about the nature of our relationship with Him? How does this compare to other ways people might view God? [01:08:12]
3. How can understanding God's discipline as described in Hebrews 12:5-11 change our perspective on the challenges and corrections we face in life? [01:31:05]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the voids in our culture mentioned in the sermon. How have you personally experienced a longing for affirmation, love, or purpose? How can recognizing God as your Father address these longings? [59:39]
2. Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:6). How has your relationship with Jesus transformed your understanding and experience of God's love, grace, and power? Can you share a specific instance where this was evident in your life? [01:04:40]
3. The Lord's Prayer emphasizes intimacy with God (Matthew 6:9-10). How can you cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy and reverence in your prayer life? What practical steps can you take this week to address God more personally as "Our Father"? [01:08:12]
4. God's affirmations over Jesus during His baptism and Transfiguration were significant (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5). How do you seek and internalize God's affirmations in your own life? What practices help you hear and believe that you are His beloved child? [01:17:20]
5. Hebrews 12:5-11 speaks about God's discipline. Can you identify a time when you experienced God's discipline? How did it help you grow and mature in your faith? How can you embrace God's discipline in your current season of life? [01:31:05]
6. The sermon mentioned that our identity is transformed when we come to the Father through Jesus (1 John 3:1, Romans 8:14-17). How has your identity been reshaped by your relationship with God? Are there areas where you still struggle to see yourself as God's beloved child? [01:17:20]
7. How can you support others in your small group or community who may be struggling with understanding or accepting the fatherhood of God? What specific actions can you take to encourage and affirm them in their journey? [01:11:46]
Devotional
Day 1: The Void in Our Culture
Our culture is filled with people striving for affirmation, love, and purpose, often leading to false teachings and misplaced hopes. The fatherhood of God addresses these deep longings, offering genuine love and purpose through a relationship with Him. Many people today are searching for something to fill the emptiness they feel inside. They look to success, relationships, or material possessions, but these things often leave them feeling more empty and lost. The fatherhood of God offers a solution to this void. By understanding and embracing God as our Father, we can find the affirmation, love, and purpose we are desperately seeking.
God's love is not conditional or based on our performance. It is a steadfast, unwavering love that fills the deepest longings of our hearts. When we come to know God as our Father, we experience a love that is unlike any other. This relationship with God transforms our lives, giving us a sense of belonging and purpose that nothing else can provide. [59:39]
Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV): "The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking affirmation and love from sources other than God? How can you begin to turn to God as your Father to fill these voids?
Day 2: Jesus as the Way to the Father
John 14:6 emphasizes that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Through Him, we experience the love, grace, and power of God. This foundational truth is central to our faith and transforms our relationship with God. Jesus' declaration that He is the way, the truth, and the life is a profound statement that underscores the exclusivity and necessity of Christ for salvation. It is through Jesus that we have access to the Father and can experience His love and grace.
Understanding Jesus as the way to the Father changes how we approach our relationship with God. It is not through our own efforts or righteousness that we come to God, but through the finished work of Christ on the cross. This truth brings freedom and assurance, knowing that our relationship with God is secure in Jesus. [01:04:40]
Ephesians 2:18 (ESV): "For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."
Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus is the only way to the Father impact your daily walk with God? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Jesus?
Day 3: Intimacy with God through Prayer
The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-10 teaches us to address God as "Our Father," highlighting the intimacy and reverence we should have. Jesus' own use of "Abba, Father" in His prayers shows us the depth of relationship we can have with God. Prayer is not just a ritual or a list of requests; it is a means of cultivating a deep, personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He invited them into a relationship of intimacy and trust with God.
Addressing God as "Our Father" signifies a close, familial relationship. It reminds us that we are His children, loved and cared for by Him. Jesus' use of "Abba, Father" further emphasizes this intimacy, as "Abba" is an Aramaic term that conveys deep affection and trust, similar to "Daddy" in English. Through prayer, we can experience this closeness with God, sharing our hearts with Him and receiving His love and guidance. [01:08:12]
Romans 8:15 (ESV): "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'"
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy and reverence in your prayer life? What changes can you make to your daily prayer routine to draw closer to God as your Father?
Day 4: Affirmation and Identity in Christ
Just as God affirmed Jesus during His baptism and Transfiguration, He affirms us as His beloved children. This affirmation transforms our identity, moving us from being children of wrath to beloved children of God, as seen in 1 John 3:1 and Romans 8:14-17. God's affirmation of Jesus was a powerful declaration of His love and approval. Similarly, God affirms us as His children, giving us a new identity in Christ.
When we come to the Father through Jesus, we are no longer defined by our past or our sins. We are given a new identity as beloved children of God. This transformation is not just a change in status but a profound change in how we see ourselves and how we live our lives. Knowing that we are affirmed and loved by God gives us the confidence and strength to live out our faith boldly. [01:17:20]
Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV): "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Reflection: How does knowing that you are a beloved child of God change the way you view yourself and your life? What steps can you take to live more fully in this new identity?
Day 5: The Discipline of God
Hebrews 12:5-11 teaches that God's discipline is a sign of His love and commitment to our growth. Embracing His discipline helps us mature and become more like Christ, ensuring that we are not just loved but also guided and corrected for our good. Discipline is often seen as something negative, but in the context of our relationship with God, it is a sign of His love and care for us.
God's discipline is not meant to harm us but to help us grow and mature in our faith. It is a process of refining and shaping us to become more like Christ. Embracing God's discipline means trusting that He knows what is best for us and submitting to His guidance and correction. This process, though challenging, leads to a deeper, more authentic relationship with God and a more Christ-like character. [01:31:05]
Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV): "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."
Reflection: How do you typically respond to God's discipline in your life? What can you do to embrace His discipline more fully and allow it to shape you into the person He wants you to be?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Some people are starving for genuine love, and they're looking for that person who will truly understand and embrace them, and they're moving through the world thirsty for that. There's other people. That are longing for purpose and meaning, and they're saying, hey, I've got to find a cause worth giving myself to. Are you hearing me? And this kind of, these voids make space for false teaching and false hopes, and even the occult for that matter." [59:39] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Friends, I want to say from the beginning, the world, the church, our human species aches and longs for the fatherhood of God. Whether we realize it or not, whether they realize it or not, there is something in us that aches and thirsts and longs for and is restless until we encounter the fatherhood of God Almighty." [01:01:19] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you are in Christ, if you have put your faith in the Lord Jesus, if you've been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, you can hear. These same words. Some of you need to hear these same words spoken over your life today. Some of you are aching. You're longing. You're broken. You're thirsty for the fatherhood of God." [01:17:20] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What would it be like if each day you got in the presence of God, you opened the scriptures, and you let him speak over you? You're my beloved. I love you. I am well pleased with you. I want to be in a relationship with you. What would that do to your life? Could anything stop you if you had the Father's love rooted in your heart? You would be unshakable." [01:19:52] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Friends, being in Christ, relating to the Father, changes your whole identity. Some of us need it. Some of us need an identity transformation today. Some of you need to have your identity reestablished through the fatherhood of God. I certainly do." [01:25:01] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Jesus is the way into the father. He is the only one who can introduce you to the father. The only one who can help you experience the love, the goodness, the grace, the power of God Almighty. And we know this is absolutely foundational for the church worldwide, isn't it? How does the Apostles' Creed open? We say the Apostles' Creed at least once a month together. Usually when we're taking communion, but church, how does it start? I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth." [01:04:40] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If Jesus, the son of God, again, fully God, fully human, there was something in the mystery of salvation. Those words needed to be spoken. It's different. It's difficult to say that Jesus needed anything, but he is fully God and fully human. And he experienced the fullness. So I think we can say safely that Jesus needed his relationship with the Father. That's part of his self-emptying that we see in Philippians 2. He chose to become human, including all the weakness, and put himself in a relationship of dependence on the Father." [01:18:44] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you are in Christ, God's love is poured out into your heart through the Holy Spirit. Where else, church, do we hear the language of the Holy Spirit being poured out? Tell me. The Holy Spirit being poured out. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Where else is that found? In Scripture. Acts 2. The day of Pentecost. It's the same image here. Paul is referencing what Luke records for us in Acts 2. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event through Pentecost. But then it continues in the life of the believer. And the Holy Spirit is poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit." [01:28:45] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you're a beloved child of God, you will experience the discipline of God. I could teach for weeks on the discipline that Pastor Brock has experienced. And while it's going on, there's some grumbling. There are some words. There may be some deep anger, which I've shared before openly with God. You're disciplining me. I know it, but I'm mad at you. I'm angry. He'll get over it. That doesn't move his throne at all. He just persists with the love. With the discipline. And he says, you know what? I am bringing many sons and daughters to glory. And the way that that happens is through discipline and correction in love." [01:33:29] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We come to him through Christ Jesus alone. We grow in our relationship with the Father. We grow in our relationship with the Father through prayer, through our relationship with one another as the church, his beloved family. And there are fruits that come out of this. Did you see them? Your identity gets reformed. You have power that you don't have on your own to change, to grow, to serve. He brings discipline and guidance. He's forming Christ in you. There is no better thing going on in the entire world than being a beloved child of God." [01:35:36] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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