Vision

To build disciples who represents Jesus to everyone, everywhere with everything

As fathers we have the privilege of passing onto our children, not just an education or provision, but a picture of what God the father is like. Our experience of fathers in our lives can affirm and also distort the image of God our father. One aspect of God that is critical to understand as fathers, is how God wants to build an ‘inseparable connection’ with us as His children. In Romans, Paul speaks about the ‘inseparable love of God’ and how God built this inseparable connection with us through Jesus Christ. It is through this connection that God protects, provides, strengthens, comforts, disciplines us and helps us become more than conquerors in all things.

Read Romans 8:31-39.

Oftentimes we read this passage intellectually, but try reading it ‘emotionally’ to feel what Paul feels as he writes these verses.

• What do these passages tell us about God our Father?
• What do these passages tell us about us as God’s children?
• Describe Paul’s emotions around these verses
• What would your life look like if you believed in these verses? How would your life be different?

One of the common challenges of fathers with their children is ‘disconnection’. Many fathers know how to provide and support, but may not understand how to build a heart connection with their children. Ps Chee addressed 5 common areas of misunderstandings to what it means to build a connection:

1. provision vs connection
2. right actions vs right relationship
3. doing vs relating
4. intention to love vs how our children receive love
5. absence vs presence

Discuss one or more of the following relevant questions.

• Describe your connection with your children. If you don’t have children, describe your connection with your father.
• In what ways has your relationship with your earthly father shaped how you relate to your heavenly father?
• Paul was convinced of the inseparable love of God. God had built a connection with him through Jesus that nothing could separate (Rom 8:37-39). Are you convinced of God’s inseparable love for you? Why is it so important to be convinced of this? How does this inform the way you parent your children?
• Look at the 5 common misunderstandings of building a connection. Which area can you identify with? Which area can you work on in building a connection with your children?
• Building a connection with our fathers is a two-way street. What one practical thing can you do as a son/daughter to take a step in building a connection with your earthly father?

Ps Chee shared that God wants to produce something from our lives out of this season as a church. Come together as one group and share in a few sentences your answer to these questions.

• What does God want to produce out of this season for you personal life?
• What does God want to produce out of this season for us as a life group?