6.18.23 Huddle
Opening Discussion
- What’s the best piece of advice your dad, or a father figure, gave you?
Read and Discuss
Luke 11:1-2
[Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come.
- Why does Jesus want the disciples to address God as “Father?”
- How can saying “Father” at the beginning of your prayer change your posture towards God?
- Why might some people have a hard time addressing God as Father?
- What are some good images or thoughts that come to mind about calling God “Father?”
John 1:12-13
12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.
- How do we become children of God?
- Why does God want us to be His children?
- In our relationship with God, what is the role of the children?
- In our relationship with God, what is the role of the Father?
- Why do we have to receive Jesus in order to be children of God?
- What holds people back from receiving Jesus and knowing Him?
- When is it difficult for you to think of yourself as God’s child?
2 Peter 1:3-8
3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- What does Peter say God’s children will be like?
- In verses 5-7 Peter makes a list of things to supplement your faith with. Why is it important to have those things as well as faith?
- What are some ways we can escape the corruption of this world?
- How does this passage set up what it means to live as God’s children?
- How does living as part of God’s family differ from merely going to church occasionally?
Apply it!
- Would you say you are a child of God? Why or why not?
- What can you do this week to get a better understanding of God being your Father?
Memorize it!
Luke 11:2 He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come.
Prayer TACOS
Thank God for the godly men He has put in your life to help strengthen your faith
Adoration- worship the Lord for being a good Father
Confess to those times when you haven’t acted like a child of God
Others- Pray for someone you know who struggles with calling God “Father” because of their upbringing.
Self- Ask the Lord to help you live out making every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Closing Thoughts
As I type this, I just was very passive aggressive with my kids about how they only say “sorry” when they want something. Then I look at the closing thoughts I’m going to write about being a good Father and a good example to your children. Or if you aren’t a father, then make sure there are godly men in your life and if you have children, in their lives as well.
But it’s not easy. Living as God’s children and being a godly example to those around us is often going to be more failures than success. When I do mess up, it means I go back to my kids and ask for forgiveness and admit my mistakes. Then, most importantly it is pointing them to the Father who will never mess up and will always welcome them.