1. What frustrate us about our country?
2. What have you done?
3. What can we do as a church or as churches?
The Church
“又将万有服在他的脚下，使他为教会作万有之首。 教会是他的身体，是那充满万有者所充满的。”
以弗所书 1:22-23
1. Power and authority has been given to Church.
2. The church spends most of its energy on itself
3. Most of the churches are ABC instead of MRI churches
ABC: ..., ..., Cash
MRI: Missional, Relational and Incarnational
4. The church needs to address the main issues of the word
5. The church needs to build up healthy fathers and young generations
- current generation of young people are looking for FATHERS!
A simple look at ourselves:
A) The blame game (Genesis 3:9-12)
- it's not my fault
- others should take responsibility for the mistakes
B) Que sera sera
- whatever will be, will be
- we can't do anything about it
Bible Verses
“He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” (Malachi 4:6 NIV)
“And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17 NIV)
Seasons of Life
What are the roles of fathers?
1. People see you, they see Christ
Romans 8: 29,30
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Romans 8:29-30 NIV
Spiritual Development
a) The image of God children have at 6 years old is derived from the image they carry of their own father
- the absent of father portrays an absent God
- the disconnected father portrays a disconnected God
- the permissive father portrays a permissive God
- the neglecting father portrays a neglecting God
- the emotional father portrays an emotional God
B) we are God with skin on for our children
Bible Discovery
1. A father establishes authority (Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 11:1-7)
- To show authority = to serve
- How you love God as fathers, we are to teach our children diligently
- it's not "get up and pray" but you pray as fathers and children follow
- how many of you as fathers lead your children to Christ
- fathers have the responsibility to ensure daughters are virgin till the day of wedding
2. A father confers 授予/projects identity
(2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Peter 2:9-10, 1 John 3:1)
- can share about masterbation (preparing your sons to be man) and vice verse for daughters
3. A father provides security
(Psalm 27, Proverbs 18:10）
- children cling to your legs
- your presence along will provide security
- God with skin on: children describing dad
4. A father affirms potential
(1 John 14:12, 20:21, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:1)
- send your son to do...empower
- yes our children will do greater things than we
- better than me you will be
- every child comes to me with a dream and I can see their dreams...how?...look at their jersey and the names on it
- we see the potential in them and tell them "let's work together"
- being able to see beyond who they are
It works!
When fathers change, everything changes!
It's not too late...maybe as a father it's the to apologize to your children. Take heart!
My Personal Reflection
Pr Philip is a father himself. What do we see in his life? What are the impacts on his family? Are there any influence towards the churches and community? Fatherhood (& motherhood)...:)
Source: The World Needs A Father Conference, 29/10/2016, Pr Philip Devadas
