Skittle Bowl

Fathers Matter

Children with fathers are less likely to live in

poverty.

Fathers Matter

Children with fathers do better in school.

Children without fathers are more likely to do jail

time.

Fathers Matter

Children with fathers are less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs.

Fathers Matter

Children without fathers are more likely to be

sexually active as teenagers.

Fathers Matter

Children with fathers get more “roughhousing”.

Fathers Matter

Children with fathers are more likely to have a

larger vocabulary.

Fathers Matter

Children with fathers are more likely to be

encouraged to take healthy risks.

Fathers Matter

A Problem• In 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau found that 24 million children in America live without their biological father in the home. That is almost one third of all children.

A Problem• Only one third of children would describe their father as a good role model.

“What comes into our minds when we think

about God is the most important thing about us.”A.W. Tozer

First Point

Jesus’ Love For His Father

Receiving LoveJohn 17:24

 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Expressing Love Verbally

John 14:31but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Expressing Love Through Imitation

John 519 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 

Expressing Love Through Imitation

John 520 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 

Jesus’ Testimony of the Father’s

Love for Us.

Second Point

God is a good provider

•He provides for our everyday needs.

Matthew 631 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 

God is a good provider•He provides for our everyday needs.•He gives good gifts.

Matthew 79 which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 

Matthew 711If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

God is a good provider•He provides for our everyday needs.•He gives good gifts.•He offers us new life in Christ.

Ephesians 21And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 

Ephesians 23among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 

Ephesians 25even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

Ephesians 27so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 29not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Vocabulary of Eph. 2Before Christ

•Dead in Sin•Following the “course of this world (the Devil’s way)

After Christ•Made Alive in Christ.

•Seated with Christ

Before Christ•Living in the “passions of our flesh.”

After Christ•Living as Christ’s workmanship doing good.

Vocabulary of Eph. 2

Before Christ•Children of Wrath.

After Christ•Beloved Children of Grace.

Vocabulary of Eph. 2

“America is in serious trouble. Both the Democratic and the Republican parties have lost the moral vision for this nation.”

Franklin Graham

“I think the reason we sometimes have the false sense that God

is so far away is because that is where

we have put him… Ravi Zacharias

…We have kept him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call

on him in prayer, we wonder where he is. He is exactly where we left

him.” Ravi Zacharias