“Only God” Series

Previous Lessons• Only God (Mark 12:28-34)• Only God Forgives (Mark 2:1-12)• Only God Is Good (Mark 10:17-22)

Only God Is Father

Matthew 23:1-12• What does it mean to say that we have but

“one Father”?• What can our fathers on the earth learn from

our Father in heaven?• Karl Barth: “Only God has hands”

Love & Blessings

Matthew 5:44-45 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. • Loves enemies• Blesses without partiality

Awareness

Matthew 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.• Aware of needs• Does not need to be begged for a blessing

How Much More

Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!• It is assumed that our heavenly Father is

greater than any earthly father.• It is assumed that our earthly fathers will bless

their children in imitation of the heavenly Father.

A Father To Be Obeyed

Matthew 7:12 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.• Our heavenly Father demands obedience.• Children learn to obey God by obeying you!• What are you teaching your children?

What Kind of Love

1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.