Choose one word to describe your experience of your earthly father. How has that relationship informed the way you relate to God as a heavenly Father?

Read Matthew 7:9-11. Jesus employs a ‘how much more’ argument (sometimes known as the kal va-chomer, or “lesser to greater” argument). What does the argument tell us about the heart of God the Father for his children?

Read John 3:16, Luke 11:13, and Romans 8:14. What gift does God the Father give in each of these verses? How do these gifts reflect his heart of generosity?

Read John 1:12-13. Who has the right to be children of God? What does it mean to ‘receive’ and ‘believe’ in Jesus?

Take a few moments to review Jesus’ 17 references to the Father in the Sermon on the Mount listed below. If you are meeting as a group, consider each person reading one verse and continuing until all verses are read aloud as an act of corporate worship. As you consider these verses, what stands out to you? What do we learn about God as Father from this sermon? Spend time praying and worshiping together.

Mat_5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Mat_5:45  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.

Mat_5:48  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Mat_6:1  “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Mat_6:4  so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Mat_6:6  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Mat_6:8  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Mat_6:9  Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Mat_6:14  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

Mat_6:15  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mat_6:18  that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Mat_6:26  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Mat_6:32  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Mat_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!

Mat_7:21  “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.