1. The parable of the lost son Luke 15.11-32
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

2. A sermon for ‘Fathers’ Day’ and the business of ‘modelling’ for life

3. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
Father’s Day is not in the Church Year, but it has significance! Too many fathers feel inadequate in the role.
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

4. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
Trinity Sunday: Last Sunday Pentecost saw faith in the God of Israel opened – through Jesus - to the whole world! God the Father had visited his creation in three ways, as Father, Son and now as Spirit… The ‘New Covenant’ was based on faith in the Lord Jesus alone.
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

5. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
The story of the prodigal son highlights the extraordinary grace of a loving father towards a son who is, in all sorts of ways, an absolute waster: self-seeking and arrogant: but he has started to repent and so despite all the hurt and disappointment, the father loves him, and loves him, and loves him - and welcomes him home…
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

6. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
Psalm ‘The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love’ …but sadly the human mind doesn’t work like that!
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

7. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
Single parents have to do everything and they can achieve amazing results: but sometimes when fathers are involved in the raising of children they are often unsure of their role There is, though, a need for them to engage in some serious ‘modelling’ for life’s complex situations.
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

8. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
‘Cognitive Dissonance’= What I think I know for sure isn’t making sense. But we somehow ignore or ‘switch off’ what is absolutely obvious and carry on as if everything’s just as it should be. This happens in marriages/politics/work life/church life and can be why people stay in cults or abusive relationships or stay loyal to dangerous leaders. (‘The Emperor’s new clothes’ is an old story - and was also a song - about this human tendency: it’s left to a small boy to declare the truth that the adults had either been blind to or didn’t dare to admit: ‘The king is ‘altogether as naked as the day that he was born’!)
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

9. Just who is modelling real, honest, life for our children?
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

10. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

11. Life’s challenges change us!
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

12. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
A good outcome was only possible because of a powerful sense by both sides of being under the Lord Jesus…
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

13. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
Mothers and fathers have different skills to share - according to what they have experienced and learned themselves.
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

14. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
While a mother is obliged by nature to give birth, to feed and to nurture, a man, sadly, can find it all too easy to be disengaged completely beyond the point of conception…
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

15. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
Forgiveness – whatever the cost Grace whatever the cost have to be the engines that power effective Christian life – and that’s what we are called to ‘model’.
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

16. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
No more Old Testament ‘eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth’ point scoring! Jesus has scored all the ‘points’ we need on the cross’
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

17. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
The wrong congregration? If we’re way beyond parenting age then our role is to pray! If we’re parenting now, our role is to do it seeking the Power of the Spirit… with confidence!
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

18. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019
Heavenly Father: we dare to call you ‘Father’ and you have shown us grace beyond all human understanding. We offer to you today everyone who seeks to parent, whoever they are – and we pray for your insight in the hearts of all who would carry your name: ‘Father’ or ‘Dad’ to children today. Bless them in their role and pour your grace and your vision into their hearts in such a way that their children will be aware of all that you are and can be towards them as they grow to adulthood. Amen
A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019

19. A sermon for ‘Father’s Day’ 2019