God is Father

If you have had a bad experience with your earthly father how do

you think it affects the way you view God as your Heavenly Father?

Have you ever thought “we are all God’s children”?

Read John 8:30-59. What do the religious leaders (the Jews) think of

Jesus? What do they think about themselves? How are they wrong?

What can we learn from this conversation?

The Old Testament seldom uses the word Father as a description of

God. It is in the context of God’s chosen people, Israel, never

individuals (see Isa. 63:16-17; 64:8-9). Because God is Israel’s

corporate Redeemer, He is their “Father.” When Jesus came on the

scene in the New Testament (especially in His Sermon on the Mount)

he frequently describes God as the Father. How is this a radical new

idea? Why the change in the coming of Jesus?

Gerald Bray says, “God is our Father not only in that he is our

Creator but that he is also our Redeemer; this is what distinguishes

the Christian’s relationship to God and what allows us to relate to him

as Father.”

Read Gal. 3:26. How do we become sons of God? Have you put your

faith in Christ Jesus? How do you know?

J. I. Packer says, “Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of

love, and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into his

family and fellowship – he establishes us as his children and heirs.

Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of the

relationship.” Have you ever realized how great adoption is?

What are benefits of being adopted into God’s family (Heb. 4:16;

Matt. 12:49-50; Rom 8:17)?

How will you respond to God as your Father this week?

Read Matt. 5:43-48. What is Jesus calling us to do?

Read Matt. 5:13-16. What is Jesus calling us to do?

Read Matt. 6:25-34. What is Jesus calling us to do?

How do all these relate to the fact that God is our Father?