Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Introduction
God our Father has a big heart. He loves us and desires what is best for us. The best way to see the Father’s attitude to us, is to look at Jesus and see His heart for people. He gives us some great insights about our Father, and what we can expect from Him. Jesus trusted His Father completely, and He teaches us the Father’s values and attitudes.
Bible Zone
This zone looks at a number of passages in Matthew. Jesus teaches us how we should live. Since the motivation in His teaching is how we relate to the Father, we learn from them a great deal especially about God’s attitudes to us as His children..
- God is Generous - God is generous to us His children.
- God entrusts authority - God trusts us with authority when we are in unity.
- Valuing the despised - the Father values the little ones of our society.
- Value of life - God values what lasts for eternity, like people.
- Value the Father - The Father delights in those who act for Him.
- Everyone is valuable - the Father values everyone, There are no favourites.
Jesus talks of the Father giving His children good gifts. God does not treat us as we treat our children. He is generous with us..
- How does Jesus contrast our giving gifts with how God gives to us?
- What makes a GIFT GOOD?
- Why does our Father want His children to ask for things?
Matthew 7:9-11 9 "You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
Our Father wants to work with us, and demonstrates incredible trust in our relationship.
- How does the Father demonstrate trust to His children?
- What does it mean for people to come together in Jesus’ name?
- What sort of relationship does the Father demonstrate that He is looking for?
Matthew 18:18-20 18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid* on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit* on earth will be permitted in heaven. 19 "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,* I am there among them."
The Father values all his children, but we often fail to. His value is not because of what we do but because we are His children.
- How does the Father value those who are weakest in society?
- What risk is the Father willing to take on behalf of the little ones?
Matthew 18:10-14 10 "Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. 12 "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away!14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish.
Jesus tells us that our Father values our lives and knows all the things we are going through. The twist is that He would like us to value Him, and take Him seriously.
- What value does God hold for us?
- What hierarchy of values does the Father hold to?
- How do we express this same value in our lives?
Matthew 10:28-31 28 "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.*29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin*? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.31 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Our Father looks to the heart of those who seek to express their love for Him. The heart guides the actions. The actions in turn expose the motivations of the heart.
- What motivations does our Father look for in our actions?
- How are our motivations exposed by the way we do ‘good things’?
- Why do you think our motivations are so important to God?
Matthew 6:1-4 1 "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.2 When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.3 But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
We often think of our Father valuing those who have His Holy Spirit. We might remember that He is Father of all. He is concerned about all His children, not just those doing what He wants. We see this in Matthew 5
- How does our Father express the depths of His love for His people?
- How do we demonstrate our being family with the Father?
- How does the Father treat those who join Him in this venture?
Matthew 5:43-48 43 "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor'* and hate your enemy.44 But I say, love your enemies!* Pray for those who persecute you!45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.47 If you are kind only to your friends,* how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
How God impressed this lesson on my heart - My experience.
FATHER’S HEART
