Class 1 | Father God is Nearby | Finding the Father’s Face Series

The big question – “How can we become like Christ?” What is the way to transformation? We can only know the true nature of God as Father from the Scriptures. When you see and become familiar with someone’s face you know them. We need to ‘see’ our father-God’s face. The challenges is that we have filters. Some helpful, some not so. Jesus’ relationship with Father-God reveals his ‘face’. The Lord’s Prayer teaches prayer, but it also teaches us how to relate to God as Father, and what he is like.

This series is designed to help us:

1. Understand our Father better through what is revealed in the Lord’s Prayer
2. Come to know him better & enjoy our Father-God
3. Be a more Father-God-like father to our children (if we have them)
4. Represent Father-God more accurately to the world and thus make him more attractive for people to get to know

Matthew 6:9-13
““This, then, is how you should pray:
– Jesus is teaching us not only how to pray, but, crucially, who we are talking to.
Our Father in heaven
– Father-God is nearby
– “In Jewish cosmology heaven did not refer to a place that is far away; heaven referred to the surrounding atmosphere, the very air they breathed.“
hallowed be your name,
– Father-God is holy
– “Holiness has to do with purity. Jesus is teaching us that there is nothing bad about God. God can neither sin nor participate in evil. In one word, God is pure.”
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
– Father-God is powerful
Give us today our daily bread.
– Father-God is caring
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
– Father-God is forgiving
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
– Father-God is our protector

3. Our Father God is Nearby
“God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:27 NIV11)
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:5 NIV11)
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23 NIV11)
“while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20 NIV11)
““Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” (John 12:27–30 NIV11)

4. Discussion about God
1. If Father God is nearby, what does this mean?
2. If Father God is nearby, how can we be more aware of this reality?
3. If Father God is nearby, how can we enjoy his presence?

5. Discussion about us as fathers
1. What does this mean to be ‘nearby’ our children?
2. How can we help our children be more aware of our availability?
3. What can we do so that our children enjoy our presence?

Next time: Father-God is holy

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).

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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm