Fathered by God - Part 1

This week, we begin a new series on God as our Father. Too often, we allow our baggage from our relationships with our Earthly fathers to cloud our view of our heavenly Father, but Jesus tells us that God the Father wants us to know Him, to be in His family, to be loved by Him, and to be at home with Him. Even from the beginning of mankind, God the Father shows his people how much He loves and pursues us even when we mess up, and He is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to cover us and to be in relationship with us. Lifegroup Questions: 1. Malachi 4:5-6 closes the Old Testament. Why do you think God chose to end the Old Testament with this decree about Fathers and children? 2. Why does the relationship between fathers and children affect the whole world? How would society look different if the relationships between fathers and children were mended? How would your life look different if your relationship with your earthly father was better? What about with your heavenly father? Have you had baggage from your relationship with your earthly father that has impacted your relationship with your heavenly Father? 3. Do you agree with the statement that, “parents are stewards”? If you are a parent, are you approaching your relationship with your children with that attitude? If not, what could you change to move in that direction? 4. In the verses John 14:6-7, 18, and 23, what do we learn about our relationship with the Father because of Jesus? 5. The garden in Genesis 2 had boundaries; how do boundaries allow for exploration? Why do boundaries help us feel safe? How did the study about the playgrounds sit with you? 6. In your life, how has the Father provided for your needs? What about your enjoyment? 7. Do you agree with the statement, “it doesn’t matter where you put the boundary, it only matters that you hold the boundary”? Why is it important that we have consequences that are consistent? How have you seen benefit from that in your life?