Church Service: “Jesus as Daddy” 6/21/26

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Embraces the Unlikely

Jesus prioritized children when culture dismissed them as insignificant. He physically touched, held, and blessed them despite societal norms that minimized their value. His actions reveal that affection isn’t optional but essential for human flourishing. Children intuitively recognize genuine love through presence and touch. This challenges cultural patterns that equate responsibility with emotional distance. True care requires crossing comfort zones to offer tangible grace. [25:34]

People were bringing little children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:13–16, ESV)

Reflection: Where has your culture or upbringing made you hesitant to show affection? How might Jesus’ example push you to express love in tangible ways this week?

Day 2: First Things Over Grades

Parents often emphasize academics, athletics, or social status while claiming spirituality matters most. Jesus focused solely on eternal blessings when parents brought children to him. Our dinner table conversations and calendar priorities reveal what we truly value. Spiritual growth thrives when we intentionally discuss God’s truth and celebrate faith milestones over worldly achievements. [35:31]

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: What topic dominates your family’s daily conversations? How could you intentionally shift one routine this week to prioritize eternal truths?

Day 3: Fishing Trips Over Resumes

Jesus interrupted his busy ministry to bless children, showing time spent is love expressed. A father’s “wasted” fishing day became his son’s core memory. Our calendars expose our idols—work, hobbies, or screens often overshadow intentional presence. Legacy isn’t built through achievements but through shared moments that whisper, “You matter.” [39:47]

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15–16, ESV)

Reflection: What activity drains your time without deepening relationships? What ordinary moment could you reclaim this week to intentionally connect with someone?

Day 4: Pavement Gold and Eternal Priorities

Jesus prioritized children’s eternal futures over their temporary comfort. Earthly success—wealth, titles, accolades—will be pavement stones in heaven. Parents who fixate on worldly metrics risk raising children who excel at life but fail at soul care. Our daily choices either rehearse eternity or idolize the fleeting. [42:18]

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: What “pavement gold” have you unconsciously valued this month? How might shifting one goal toward eternal impact change your family’s rhythm?

Day 5: Seven A’s and the Missing Voice

Shame-based cultures breed high achievers with hollow hearts. Jesus elevated children’s inherent worth, not their performance. Humble self-confidence comes from knowing we’re both sinners and God’s masterpieces. Affirmation heals when it names God’s fingerprints in others, not just their accomplishments. [47:34]

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: When did you last affirm someone’s inherent worth apart from their achievements? Who needs to hear “God delights in you” more than “do better” this week?

Sermon Summary

Father’s Day starts with a little fun about dads being king for one day, getting the restaurant pick, maybe even a tomahawk roast, and then losing the throne at 12:01AM. Fatherhood then turns from jokes to real life: diapers, school pickups, piano lessons, practice, clipping nails, and the privilege of being involved in every aspect of a child’s life.

Mark 10 gives Jesus as the best male role model for fatherhood, even though Jesus was never a father. The passage shows people bringing little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, while the disciples rebuke the parents and try to keep the kids away. Jesus becomes indignant because the disciples have missed what matters to God. Children, who were low in that culture, were not a nuisance to Jesus. Jesus took them in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.

The word for children includes infants through preteens, and Luke’s word points to toddlers or preschoolers. That detail matters because Jesus gives time, touch, and blessing to the very ones society barely valued. The acronym FATHER gives six marks of effective fatherhood from this moment in Jesus’ life.

The F is feeling oriented. Jesus shows affection, and children need touch and affirmation as much as food and a roof over their head. Culture may say fathers do not hug, kiss, or say “I love you,” but Jesus’ affection cuts across culture.

The A is appraiser of truth. Jesus does not bless children toward GPA, AP classes, first team, a good university, a high-paying job, or comfort. Jesus gives spiritual blessing, and the dinner table often reveals whether a family truly values spiritual life or just says it does.

The T is time giver. Jesus was busy, but those children were the most important beings in his life at that moment. Love equals time, and “I’m busy” is a lame excuse when every person has the same 168 hours a week.

The H is heavenly focused. Jesus thinks eternally, not just about success on earth. The E is esteem builder, because children need correction without being programmed for disappointment. The R is rebuker, because discipline has a place, but correction must be for the child’s sake, not anger, shame, or humiliation. Fatherhood becomes one of God’s tools for growth, making parents better servants and better followers of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Affection is not merely cultural Jesus’ arms around the children challenge every family system that treats tenderness as weakness or embarrassment. Culture may explain why affection feels awkward, but culture cannot overrule the way Christ receives the small and vulnerable. Children intuitively know whether they are merely tolerated or truly loved, and physical affection often becomes one of the first languages of grace they understand. [29:59]
2. Dinner tables reveal real priorities A family’s stated values can sound deeply spiritual, but ordinary conversations often tell the truth. If grades, tests, sports, and achievement dominate the table, children learn what actually carries weight. Spiritual excellence does not become central by slogans, but by parents giving attention, curiosity, and joy to the things of God in normal life. [34:22]
3. Love always costs real time Jesus’ welcome of children shows that love refuses to treat people as interruptions. Time cannot be replaced by provision, status, or good intentions, because a child often remembers presence more than productivity. A day that feels wasted to a father may become “the most wonderful day” in a child’s life. [39:47]
4. Eternity reorders earthly ambition Jesus’ blessing points beyond comfort, income, and visible success toward holiness, obedience, and the kingdom of God. A heavenly focus does not despise work or achievement, but it refuses to let gold bricks become treasure when heaven uses them as pavement. Children often inherit the values parents actually live, not the values parents merely admire. [44:32]
5. Correction must serve the child Rebuke belongs in faithful parenting, but anger and humiliation twist discipline into something self-centered. Jesus’ rebuke falls on the disciples because their immaturity kept children from him, which means correction must protect what God values. Discipline becomes Christian only when it seeks the child’s good, not the parent’s release of frustration. [49:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:39] - Father’s Day Recognition
[22:20] - Dads Get One Day as King
[23:46] - The Privilege of Everyday Fatherhood
[24:26] - Jesus as the Best Fatherhood Model
[25:34] - Jesus Welcomes the Little Children
[26:39] - FATHER Acronym for Effective Dads
[27:06] - Feeling Oriented Affection
[32:25] - Appraisers of Spiritual Truth
[36:28] - Love Equals Time
[41:57] - Heavenly Focused Parenting
[44:48] - Building Humble Self Confidence
[48:02] - Rebuke Without Shame or Anger
[51:29] - Fatherhood as a Gift from God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Mark 10:13-16 (ESV)
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Observation Questions

What did the disciples do when people brought children to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond?
What specific actions did Jesus take toward the children (v. 16), and what does this reveal about His view of them?
According to the sermon, what cultural attitude toward children did Jesus challenge by welcoming them? [29:21]
The acronym FATHER includes “time giver.” How did Jesus model this in the passage? [36:28]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus used the phrase “for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (v. 14) to emphasize the value of children?
How might cultural norms about affection (e.g., avoiding hugs or verbal affirmation) conflict with Jesus’ example of physical touch and blessing? [28:10]
The sermon states, “Love equals time.” How does Jesus’ choice to prioritize the children over His busy schedule redefine what it means to love sacrificially? [36:50]
Why might discipline that focuses on anger or humiliation fail to reflect Jesus’ heart for correction? [49:56]

Application Questions

In what practical ways can you show physical or verbal affection to the children in your life this week, even if it feels culturally unfamiliar? [29:59]
Reflect on recent conversations around your dinner table (or during meals). What topics dominate? How could you intentionally introduce spiritual themes in a natural, joyful way? [34:22]
Identify one activity or commitment that regularly competes with time for your family. What step could you take to reorder your schedule to reflect Jesus’ priority of presence? [39:47]
What earthly ambition (e.g., career success, financial security) do you most struggle to hold loosely? How could you intentionally model a “heavenly focus” to your children or others this month? [44:32]
When correcting a child, how can you ensure your motivation is their growth rather than releasing frustration? What phrase or action could help you pause and refocus in heated moments? [49:56]

Sermon Clips

61s

“``And, these parents when they talk to me, say, you know what? The most important thing about my kids is I want their spiritual life to be the most important but the reality is that our words sometimes don't match our emphasis and you know how I find out whether that's true or not is when we have friends coming over and joining us for dinner or I go over and join a family for dinner because it's around the dinner table that you really find out what's really important. I challenge you, when you get home tonight or maybe another night just listen to the conversation that's going around the table. It will tell you what's really important. If the first thing especially during school year is how'd you do? Did you get your homework done? What's your test like? Did you make practice? Are you studying hard? Did you will tell us what's important, right? If the spiritual is important, we will talk about spiritual things.”

60s

“We want our kids to grow spiritually, appraiser truth. Now again, use Jesus aroma, he walked the talk, his walk always matches up. When Jesus met with these kids, he didn't talk about them trying to study harder or take more AP courses or raise their GPA, make the first team, get into a good university, get a high paying job, make more money and be comfortable. No. His sole purpose was to impart a spiritual blessing on them and that's the parents understood that and they brought their children because they wanted Jesus to ask God's blessing on them. Not a blessing of educational attainment or materialism but one of bless them to be more obedient, to be holy, to be righteous, to be good. And as Jesus was an appraiser of truth, so too we parents should place our priority on spiritual excellence over everything else.”

59s

“And by the way guys, I'm not pointing at you all, I'm pointing back to myself. I'm challenging myself on all six of these aspects. So here's the thing, every one of you would say this to me and I say it to you too, I am so busy. You say that pastor, I am so busy. I'm busy. We're all busy. But here's the deal, if I was to be blunt, it's a lame excuse because we all have the same hundred and sixty eight hours a week. I recall a conversation between children during a Sunday school and I heard one kid say, you know, my dad is a chief engineer at Intel. Kid said, well, my dad's a doctor. Another one proclaimed, father owns his own company. There was a fourth kid who said, yeah, but my dad is here. What do you think about that?”

50s

“love equals time. You cannot truly say you love someone if you're willing to spend quality time with him or her and so when you and I look at our daytime or our smartphone calendar, where is the majority of our waking time spent? Work, project, shopping, leisure, sports. How many hours your phone my father-in-law didn't know this but I told him you can find out. How many hours are you spending on your phone and what apps or what things are you putting on? That will tell you what's really important. If it's that many hours, a lot, then how many hours are being spent with our spouse and kids?”

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Church Service: “Jesus as Daddy” 6/21/26

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Embraces the Unlikely

Day 2: First Things Over Grades

Day 3: Fishing Trips Over Resumes

Day 4: Pavement Gold and Eternal Priorities

Day 5: Seven A’s and the Missing Voice

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Church Service: “Jesus as Daddy” 6/21/26

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