1 John 3:1a
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
God is a father who his kids.
Matthew 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
God is a father who his kids.
Mark 10:13-16 (THE MESSAGE)
The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.
God is a father who is with his kids.
Luke 15:28-31
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.’”
“When every person in every situation in every day of our lives treats us on the basis of how we look, act, and perform, it is difficult not to project that onto God.”
– James Smith, The Good and Beautiful God
Romans 8:38 (NEW LIVING TRANSLATION)
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
God is a father who in his kids.
Small Group Questions
- What’s your most embarrassing memory from childhood?
- Is the name “Child of God” an easy or a challenging name for you to put on? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Jesus was so persistent about teaching us that God is a father?
- Have you ever struggled with trying to earn God’s love or blessing? Does knowing that God is a father help you better receive his love? Why or why not?
- What’s one thing you can do this week to remind yourself that you are a child of God?
- How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?