A Father's Example Print
Sunday, 17 June 2007

WELCOME ICEBREAKER

When you think of a father figure on television or from a movie who comes to mind?

WORSHIP

As you worship together take time to reflect on God the Father.  

WORD

A father’s example has a powerful influence in the way children will view God the Father. If a person has a clear understanding that God is a loving Father, living out their faith is much more fulfilling.
As a group look up the following verses and discuss what insight they give into God the Father.
  • Psalm 68:5
  • Proverbs 3:12
  • Isaiah 64:8
  • Matthew 6:9
  • John 14:18-20
  • Romans 8:14-17
  • 1 Corinthians 2:12
  • 2 Corinthians 6:18
  • Galatians 3:26
  • Galatians 4:6
  • Ephesians 5:1,2
  • 1 John 3:1-3
How did your earthly father affect your view of God? Jack Frost in his book, Experiencing Father’s Embrace, writes that most fathers fall into one of six categories (or combination of) that can influence our optics of God the Father. These are:
  1. The good father. Provide for their families needs well. Overall he provides a healthy view or picture of the nature of a loving father.
  2. The performance-oriented father. The father often proclaims that he loves the child, but that love is often only expressed when you measure up to his rigid expectations. This father gives you the view that to receive God’s love you must perform, do enough deeds and God will accept you.
  3. The passive father. This father is a provider, lives under the same roof, but doesn’t experience life with the family. He doesn’t allow himself to be known, doesn’t share his joys and disappointments in life. There is little expression of love with words or hugs. This father gives you the view that there is little emotion in a relationship with God and you rarely taste His love.
  4. The absentee father. He is no longer physically present in the home. This could be the result of death, divorce or abandonment. This father gives you the view that God may also abandon you.
  5. The authoritarian father. They go beyond the performance-oriented father and sternly demand unquestioned obedience. These fathers are very selfish and the life of the family revolves around their demands. This father gives you the view that God is the great cop in the sky, a harsh authoritarian figure to be feared rather then enjoying God’s warmth.
  6. The abusive father. This can be verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Abuse can leave children with hidden fears and a deep distrust of God, pastors and other leaders. It can result in repressed anger focused on God.

WORK

Be sensitive to pray for relationships to be restored with fathers.