Sunday is Father’s Day. And as I’ve learned over the last 18 months, being a father is so much more than just having kids. Fathering is both the most challenging and most rewarding effort I’ve ever undertaken. And then, when I think of the way Scripture speaks of God as Father, I am led to awe at God’s responsibility of “fathering” the entire cosmos.

On Sunday, we will look at both of these sides of fatherhood–as earthly fathers and as children to our heavenly Father. Aaron Keyes and I will be sharing a conversation about the ways we have been spiritually fathered by Buddy Hoffman and how that experience was so integral in the inspiration of the new album that 10,000 Fathers recorded in the home of Buddy and Jody this spring. That album releases this Sunday, and it is very special.

Then, Kyle Borgognoni, our college pastor and the newest dad on our staff, will be preaching from the Gospel of Luke about the times when Jesus helped dads and moms get “unstuck” in challenging situations with their own children.

It’s going to be a significant day, and I look forward to sharing it with you.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

DATE: June 18, 2017 : Unstuck:Unstuck: Jesus & the Only Begottens // Scripture: Luke 7:1-11-17, 8:40-56, 9:34-44

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes

Fathering is both the most challenging and most rewarding effort you can undertake in life. When we think of the way Scripture speaks of God, as our Father, we are in awe of God’s responsibility of “fathering” the entire cosmos. This week we looked at fatherhood – as earthly fathers and as children to our heavenly Father. Jesus overflows in the delight of His relationship with His Father. As the only begotten One, Jesus reflects and demonstrates the imprint of God in every situation. In Luke, Jesus specifically communicates some key aspects of God, the perfect Father, in three encounters with special “only begotten ones.” First, Jesus goes out of His way to encounter a widow who has just experienced the loss of her only son. In reviving her son to life, Jesus reveals the deep compassion of God for each of us. Later, He is approached by a desperate father who has just lost his only daughter. In restoring her to her parents, Jesus declares the intense delight God has for each of us. Finally, Jesus hears a desperate mother’s pleas for her only son, who is possessed by demons. In rescuing him from bondage, Jesus confirms the faithfulness of God to deliver each of us. In all of these encounters, Jesus communicates the heart of God – a heart full of compassion, delight, and faithful love. As we face situations this week that seem to be keeping us stuck and far from God, may we rest in the truth of the perfect Father who is revealed to us so clearly in the life and actions of Jesus.

THE MAIN THOUGHT  keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.

God, the perfect Father, is clearly revealed to us in Jesus.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture  (What is the story saying?): What is the significance of the concept of being “only begotten”? How did their encounters with Jesus help each of these families get unstuck? How did Jesus demonstrate and reflect the heart of the perfect Father to each of them?

Mirror (Where am I in the story?):  Which story do you most closely relate to? How does the way Jesus reveals the heart of God in that situation speak to your own circumstance? What aspect of the perfect Father, as revealed in Jesus, do you most rely on? Why?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?):: How does God, the perfect Father, offer hope for the people you encounter every day who are stuck in impossible situations? What is the message of hope from these stories of Jesus that you can share with them?

BE IT> – Practice
Change UP //Exercise 15 minutes

Take a moment to consider the truths and lies you have clung to about what it means to be a father and to be fathered. Speak out loud, short words or phrases that reflect the truth of the heart of our perfect heavenly Father.

Change IN //  Group Activity 5 minutes

Take turns sharing one positive short story about a father or father figure in your life. What did that story reveal about the character of that individual? How can we ensure that our own stories reveal the heart of the Father?

Change OUT //  Life Application Assignment 5 minutes

This week, listen for stories of people around you who may feel stuck and alone. Commit to sharing one of these three Jesus stories with them so they can experience the compassion, delight, and faithful heart of the Father.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.