Topics: Happy Father's Day
I. By the Father's love we are born of God
* The Father's extravagant love is lavished on us as His children!
- See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him (1 John 3:1).
- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
- But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us (Ephesians 2:4).
II. By the Father's love we will be like God
* The Father's extravagant love prepares us to see Him just as He is!
- Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is (1 John 3:2).
- For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20, 21).
III. By the Father's love we want to live for God
* The Father's extravagant love transforms us with eternal hope!
- And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:3).
- For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:11-14).
Father's Day sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, June 21st, 2026.
Life Group Flow and Discussion Questions
Receive the Father's love for you
An important Guideline of Life Groups: View your Life Group as family with our Heavenly Father loving each person. Share personal stories of how the Father's love brought about your spiritual birth into His family.
Getting Started:
- How was your relationship with your earthly father? Why is it vital that you see God as the perfect picture of a Father, not just a bigger picture of your earthly father?
- Do you agree with the quote: What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us? "A.W. Tozer"
Discussing Truths:
- How is our love for God related to being known as children of God (1 Corinthians 8:3; 1 John 4:7-10)? How is our divine birth related to the divine love of God?
- Why did John command us with the expression? Do not love . . . in 1 John 2:15-17? What are we to love and what are we to not love?
- How has the WOKE culture infected many churches with a false view of love?
- In what ways should the Father's love make us different from worldly values?
- Do you experience the love of God on a regular basis? Why is it that many Christians believe intellectually that God loves them, but they don't feel His tender love and compassion in their life?
- What are some evidences that you are being conformed into Christ-like character?
- Why is "love-motivated obedience" much better than religious legalism?
Now What? Application:
- What are areas of your life that need deeper purification (Titus 2:11-14)? How will you seek personal holiness in light of Christ's return?
- Who can you share the love of the Father with this week? We want to bring more people into the family of God, so be proactive and take the initiative.
