Understanding God as Our Caring and Consistent Father
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we reflect on the significance of God as our Father, a theme central to our faith and encapsulated in the Apostles' Creed. This creed, a summary of the apostles' teachings, unites Christians across denominations and generations. It serves as a foundation for our beliefs, helping us to define, defend, and declare our faith. As we recite the creed, we are reminded of the core truths that shape our understanding of God and our relationship with Him.
We began by acknowledging the widespread issue of fatherlessness in our society and its profound impact on individuals and communities. Earthly fathers shape our concept of God, and many struggle with the idea of God as Father due to their experiences with their own fathers. However, Jesus came to reveal the true nature of the Father, showing us that God is caring, consistent, close, and competent.
God is a caring Father who loves us more than we can comprehend. He is consistent, unchanging, and faithful in all His promises. He is close to us, always present and never too busy to meet our needs. He is also competent and capable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, able to handle any situation we face.
Understanding God as our Father transforms our relationship with Him. It moves us from seeing Him as distant and disinterested to recognizing His intimate involvement in our lives. This understanding also calls us to trust and follow Jesus, who perfectly reveals the Father to us. As we embrace this truth, we are invited to live out the kingdom way, marked by self-denial and being others-centered, reflecting the love and character of our heavenly Father in all our relationships.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Goodness and Discipleship: God is restoring the fundamental truth that He is good and calling us to a true heart of discipleship. This means taking Jesus' teachings seriously and putting them into practice, allowing the Holy Spirit to conform us into the likeness of Jesus. This is not about legalism but about living out the priorities and practices of Jesus. [02:02]
2. The Apostles' Creed as a Foundation: The Apostles' Creed, though not Scripture, is a vital summary of apostolic teaching. It unites Christians across different traditions and helps us to define, defend, and declare our faith. Familiarity with the creed equips us to recognize and reject false teachings, keeping the main truths of our faith central in our lives. [05:28]
3. God as a Caring Father: God loves us more than we can ever comprehend. He is madly in love with His children and is always present, ready to meet our needs. This understanding of God as a caring Father transforms our relationship with Him, moving us from fear and uncertainty to trust and intimacy. [18:20]
4. God's Consistency and Faithfulness: Unlike human fathers who can be unpredictable, God is consistent and unchanging. He is trustworthy and faithful in all His promises. This consistency provides a stable foundation for our faith, especially in a world that is constantly changing. [21:38]
5. God's Competence and Capability: God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present with us. This means that nothing is too hard for Him, and we can trust Him to handle any situation we face. Understanding God's competence and capability strengthens our faith and confidence in Him. [31:09]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:30] - Introduction and Faith Day
[2:02] - God's Goodness and Discipleship
[3:56] - The Apostles' Creed Series
[5:28] - Importance of the Creed
[6:55] - Reciting the Apostles' Creed
[8:40] - God as Our Father
[10:41] - Fatherlessness in Society
[12:36] - Jesus Reveals the Father
[14:31] - Abba, Father
[16:18] - The Father Wound
[18:20] - God as a Caring Father
[21:38] - God as a Consistent Father
[23:21] - Trials and Sorrows
[24:47] - God as a Close Father
[26:18] - God Meets Our Needs
[27:49] - Stewardship and Responsibility
[29:22] - God as a Competent Father
[31:09] - God's Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence
[32:51] - Knowing God Relationally
[35:09] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 68:4-5: "Sing praises to God and to his name. Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord—rejoice in his presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy."
2. 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
3. Psalm 145:13: "The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 68:4-5, what roles does God fulfill for those who are vulnerable? How does this reflect His character as a Father?
2. In 1 Peter 5:7, what are we instructed to do with our anxieties, and why? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about God being a caring Father? [19:54]
3. Psalm 145:13 describes God as trustworthy and faithful. How does this consistency provide a foundation for our faith, especially in a world that is constantly changing? [21:38]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God as a "Father to the fatherless" (Psalm 68:4-5) change the way we view our relationship with Him, especially for those who have experienced fatherlessness or difficult relationships with their earthly fathers? [10:41]
2. What does it mean to "cast all your anxiety on Him" (1 Peter 5:7)? How can this practice transform our daily lives and our perception of God’s care and involvement in our lives? [19:54]
3. Reflect on the statement that God is "trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does" (Psalm 145:13). How does this assurance impact our trust in God during times of uncertainty and change? [21:38]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own experiences with father figures. How have these experiences shaped your view of God as a Father? How can you begin to see God as a caring, consistent, close, and competent Father, as described in the sermon? [10:41]
2. The sermon mentioned that understanding God as our Father moves us from seeing Him as distant to recognizing His intimate involvement in our lives. What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with God and experience His closeness? [24:47]
3. In what ways can you practice casting your anxieties on God (1 Peter 5:7) this week? Identify specific worries or stresses you are currently facing and discuss practical ways to entrust them to God.
4. The sermon highlighted the importance of living out the kingdom way, marked by self-denial and being others-centered. What is one specific action you can take this week to reflect the love and character of your heavenly Father in your relationships? [32:51]
5. How can you remind yourself of God’s consistency and faithfulness (Psalm 145:13) during times of change or uncertainty? Share a personal story or a current situation where you need to rely on God’s unchanging nature.
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of the Apostles' Creed in uniting Christians and keeping the main truths of our faith central. How can you incorporate the recitation or study of the Apostles' Creed into your personal or family devotional time to strengthen your faith? [05:28]
7. Considering the sermon’s message about God’s competence and capability, how can you trust God more fully with the challenges you are currently facing? Discuss a specific situation where you need to rely on God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. [31:09]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Goodness and True Discipleship
Description: God is restoring the fundamental truth that He is good and calling us to a true heart of discipleship. This means taking Jesus' teachings seriously and putting them into practice, allowing the Holy Spirit to conform us into the likeness of Jesus. This is not about legalism but about living out the priorities and practices of Jesus. Understanding God's goodness helps us to trust Him more deeply and follow Him more faithfully. As we embrace this truth, we are invited to live out the kingdom way, marked by self-denial and being others-centered, reflecting the love and character of our heavenly Father in all our relationships. [02:02]
Psalm 34:8-9 (ESV): "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!"
Reflection: What is one specific teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to put into practice? How can you take a step today to live out this teaching more fully?
Day 2: The Apostles' Creed as a Foundation
Description: The Apostles' Creed, though not Scripture, is a vital summary of apostolic teaching. It unites Christians across different traditions and helps us to define, defend, and declare our faith. Familiarity with the creed equips us to recognize and reject false teachings, keeping the main truths of our faith central in our lives. By reciting the creed, we are reminded of the core truths that shape our understanding of God and our relationship with Him. This practice strengthens our faith and helps us to stay grounded in the essential beliefs that have been passed down through generations. [05:28]
2 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV): "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."
Reflection: How can you incorporate the recitation of the Apostles' Creed into your daily or weekly routine to help reinforce your faith and understanding of core Christian beliefs?
Day 3: God as a Caring Father
Description: God loves us more than we can ever comprehend. He is madly in love with His children and is always present, ready to meet our needs. This understanding of God as a caring Father transforms our relationship with Him, moving us from fear and uncertainty to trust and intimacy. Knowing that God is a caring Father helps us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He is always there for us and desires the best for us. This truth encourages us to lean on Him in times of need and to trust in His provision and care. [18:20]
Isaiah 49:15-16 (ESV): "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt alone or unsupported. How can you remind yourself of God's caring presence and love in similar situations in the future?
Day 4: God's Consistency and Faithfulness
Description: Unlike human fathers who can be unpredictable, God is consistent and unchanging. He is trustworthy and faithful in all His promises. This consistency provides a stable foundation for our faith, especially in a world that is constantly changing. Knowing that God is consistent and faithful helps us to rely on Him with confidence, knowing that He will never let us down. This truth encourages us to hold on to His promises and to trust in His unchanging nature, even when circumstances around us are uncertain. [21:38]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on a promise from God that you have seen fulfilled in your life. How does this experience strengthen your trust in His faithfulness and consistency?
Day 5: God's Competence and Capability
Description: God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present with us. This means that nothing is too hard for Him, and we can trust Him to handle any situation we face. Understanding God's competence and capability strengthens our faith and confidence in Him. Knowing that God is capable of handling any challenge we encounter helps us to approach life with a sense of peace and assurance, trusting that He is in control and will work all things for our good. [31:09]
Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV): "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you."
Reflection: Identify a current challenge or problem you are facing. How can you entrust this situation to God's capable hands and rely on His power and wisdom to guide you through it?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We need to be reminded of the goodness of God, and we need to be intentional about our discipleship to Jesus. It's not legalism. It's not a list of do's and don'ts. It's letting the Holy Spirit conform us into the likeness of Jesus as we see His life in the Gospels." [02:02] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God loves us more than we could ever comprehend. God the father is madly in love with his kids. Now, I have three grown kids and I've embraced every season of being a dad. And I love being a dad. I loved it when they were little. I love it now in the season of them being adults." [18:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus knew who he was and he knew who his father was. He knew his father cared about him. He was not going to let something happen to him in that moment. He slept in peace. First Peter 5, 7 says, cast your cares upon him because he cares for you. Literally drop your cares on his shoulders because he cares for you." [21:38] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We never have to ask God to be with us. I want to just encourage you. Often, we pray and we say things like, Lord, be with us. Today, Lord, be with me. Lord, be with them. And I want to challenge you not to say that because he's already with you. Catch yourself when you say, Lord, be with me or be with us. Catch yourself and say, Father, help me to recognize your presence today." [26:18] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "How can you and I see this caring, capable Father? How can we know Him? Not doctrinally, not in the noggin, which is important. But how do we know Him relationally? What the Father wants each of us to do, every person on the planet, to know His fatherhood. And we know His fatherhood through His Son." [32:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The Apostles' Creed is not Scripture. It's a summary of Scripture. It's a summary of what the apostles taught about the life, death, and resurrection. And it's a summary of what the apostles taught about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Apostles' Creed was written about somewhere around 150 years after Jesus." [03:56] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Earthly fathers shape our concept of God as Father. We can look at Jesus, our Savior, our brother, his humanity. I can relate to him. This father guy you're talking about, can I relate to him? Is he really my father? The good news is Jesus came to show us what the Father is like. He said, when you've seen me, you've seen the Father. I and the Father are one." [12:36] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The secret to understanding this is knowing what he's promised and what he hasn't promised. Because we look at life sometimes and we go through trials and sorrows. We wonder, God, where are you? Do you love me? Why is this happening? Well, we're not in heaven. And so, this side of heaven, you and I are going to experience, trials and sorrows and griefs and loss, because this is not heaven." [23:21] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus said, I'm the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in the darkness. So, it's important to know that God is out there and disinterested and untrustworthy. It's important. As we look at Jesus, we get the illumination of who God really is. He's a close father." [24:47] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus said, if you then, although you are evil, thank you, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him. He's ready to meet your needs. And sometimes He meets our needs, a lot of times through others, because we participate with Him." [27:49] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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