Show Us the Father | Week 2 | Pastor Maria Kringel |
Show Us the Father
Week 2
The Father You Can Come To
“A Father you can come to.”
Years ago, before we had kids, I heard a song I’ll read to you later, called “Father’s Chair,” by David Meece. It spoke of his earthly father, his own desire to be a father, and God the Father. It stuck with me and gave me a dream of one day having a chair so that my kids could come up on my lap and feel safe.
Story: I remember as a teenager needing to approach my dad after a big mistake… (he was more concerned about me than my mistake, even though it would cost him.)
Many people believe God is powerful enough to help them, but are unsure if He is willing to welcome them. Jesus reveals a Father who is compassionate, approachable, and inviting us to come.
Series Verse
John 14:8–9
"Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered… ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’"
The Lens of Fatherhood
The word father evokes different emotions for different people.
Some hear:
I. The Father’s Heart Revealed in the Psalms
Psalm 103:8–14
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
The psalm does not describe a God who is waiting to reject His children.
It describes a Father who:
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
And verse 14:
“For he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust.”
He knows your weaknesses.
He remembers your limitations.
He understands your struggles.
God’s response to human weakness is compassion.
Many people think God is exhausted by them.
Scripture says He understands them.
II. A Man Who Was Afraid to Come Close
Mark 1:40–42
“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’”
Notice what the leper says.
He does not question Jesus’ ability; he questions His willingness.
That is still the question many people ask.
Everywhere he went, people stepped back.
He lived believing closeness was no longer possible. He expected distance.
III. Jesus Reveals the Father
Mark 1:41 “filled with compassion,” (anger, one of his children is being hurt)
Then:
“He reached out his hand and touched the man.” Jesus could have healed him with a word.
Jesus wasn’t reaching to touch the leprosy; he was reaching out to touch the man. You are not your sickness, you are not your failure, you are not your sin… Jesus is reaching through all of that to touch you, to grab your hand and pull the real you out from the condition you are in.
Then Jesus spoke the words that reveal the Father’s heart:
“I am willing.” (The I Am is willing) He put a period where there was once a question mark.
Remember, Jesus only spoke the words He heard from the Father-Jn.12:49-50
IV. The Father Is More Approachable Than We Imagine
Religion often teaches people to clean themselves up before approaching God.
The gospel teaches us to approach God (the Father’s Chair) so He can make us clean. (Find Help)
Hebrews 4:14–16
"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
God is not saying: “Fix yourself and then come.”
V. How Do We Approach the Father?
1. Come honestly.
The leper did not hide his condition.
God already knows. Bring Him your fears, failures, addictions, doubts, and shame.
2. Come humbly.
The leper knelt. Not because he feared rejection, but because he recognized Jesus’ authority.
Humility opens the door to grace.
3. Come believing His heart is good.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6
The greatest surprise may not have been the physical healing. It may have been discovering Jesus wanted him.
Communion: Today, we come to the Lord’s Table.
Communion is not a table for people who have earned a seat.
It is a table prepared by grace.
The bread reminds us that Christ’s body was broken to bring us near.
The cup reminds us that His blood removed every barrier between the Father and us.
Some may come today wondering: “Will God receive me?”
Hear the words Jesus spoke to the leper. “I am willing.”
You are not approaching an angry Father.
You are approaching a compassionate Father.
You are not approaching One waiting to condemn.
You are approaching One who sent His Son so that you could come boldly.
As you receive communion today, don’t come merely remembering the cross.
Come believing the Father’s invitation to “Come close.”
Song Lyrics: Father’s Chair by David Meece
Sometimes at night, I'd lie awake
Longing inside for my father's embrace
Sometimes at night, I'd wander downstairs
And pray he'd returned, but no one was there
Oh, how I'd cry, a child all alone
Waiting for him to come home
[Chorus]
My father's chair sat in an empty room
My father's chair, covered with sheets of gloom
My father's chair through all the years
And all the tears I cried in vain
No one was there in my father's chair
[Verse 2]
Sometimes at night, I sit all alone
Drifting asleep in a chair of my own
When sweet, sleepy eyes peer down from the hall
Frightened by dreams they cannot recall
Holding them close, calming their fears
Praying they always will say
[Chorus]
My father's chair sits in a loving room
My father's chair, no matter what I do
My father's chair, through all the years
And all the tears I need not fear
Love's always there in my father’s chair
Sometimes at night, I dream of a throne
Of my loving God, calling me home
And as I appear, He rises and smiles
And reaches with love to welcome His child
Never to cry, never to fear
In His arms, safe and secure
[Chorus]
My Father's chair sits in a royal room
My Father's chair holds glory beyond the tomb
My Father's chair, my God is there
And I am His eternal heir
Someday I'll share my Father's chair
My Father's chair
Week 2
The Father You Can Come To
“A Father you can come to.”
Years ago, before we had kids, I heard a song I’ll read to you later, called “Father’s Chair,” by David Meece. It spoke of his earthly father, his own desire to be a father, and God the Father. It stuck with me and gave me a dream of one day having a chair so that my kids could come up on my lap and feel safe.
Story: I remember as a teenager needing to approach my dad after a big mistake… (he was more concerned about me than my mistake, even though it would cost him.)
Many people believe God is powerful enough to help them, but are unsure if He is willing to welcome them. Jesus reveals a Father who is compassionate, approachable, and inviting us to come.
Series Verse
John 14:8–9
"Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered… ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’"
The Lens of Fatherhood
The word father evokes different emotions for different people.
Some hear:
- Safety
- Encouragement
- Acceptance
- Affection
- Distance
- Anger
- Criticism
- Disappointment
- Absence
I. The Father’s Heart Revealed in the Psalms
Psalm 103:8–14
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
The psalm does not describe a God who is waiting to reject His children.
It describes a Father who:
- Is compassionate.
- Is gracious.
- Is patient.
- Is overflowing with steadfast love.
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
And verse 14:
“For he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust.”
He knows your weaknesses.
He remembers your limitations.
He understands your struggles.
God’s response to human weakness is compassion.
Many people think God is exhausted by them.
Scripture says He understands them.
II. A Man Who Was Afraid to Come Close
Mark 1:40–42
“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’”
Notice what the leper says.
He does not question Jesus’ ability; he questions His willingness.
That is still the question many people ask.
- Is God willing to forgive me?
- Is He willing to hear my prayer?
- Is He willing to receive me after what I’ve done?
- Is He tired of me?
- Am I too far gone?
Everywhere he went, people stepped back.
He lived believing closeness was no longer possible. He expected distance.
III. Jesus Reveals the Father
Mark 1:41 “filled with compassion,” (anger, one of his children is being hurt)
Then:
“He reached out his hand and touched the man.” Jesus could have healed him with a word.
Jesus wasn’t reaching to touch the leprosy; he was reaching out to touch the man. You are not your sickness, you are not your failure, you are not your sin… Jesus is reaching through all of that to touch you, to grab your hand and pull the real you out from the condition you are in.
Then Jesus spoke the words that reveal the Father’s heart:
“I am willing.” (The I Am is willing) He put a period where there was once a question mark.
Remember, Jesus only spoke the words He heard from the Father-Jn.12:49-50
IV. The Father Is More Approachable Than We Imagine
Religion often teaches people to clean themselves up before approaching God.
The gospel teaches us to approach God (the Father’s Chair) so He can make us clean. (Find Help)
Hebrews 4:14–16
"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
God is not saying: “Fix yourself and then come.”
V. How Do We Approach the Father?
1. Come honestly.
The leper did not hide his condition.
God already knows. Bring Him your fears, failures, addictions, doubts, and shame.
2. Come humbly.
The leper knelt. Not because he feared rejection, but because he recognized Jesus’ authority.
Humility opens the door to grace.
3. Come believing His heart is good.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6
The greatest surprise may not have been the physical healing. It may have been discovering Jesus wanted him.
Communion: Today, we come to the Lord’s Table.
Communion is not a table for people who have earned a seat.
It is a table prepared by grace.
The bread reminds us that Christ’s body was broken to bring us near.
The cup reminds us that His blood removed every barrier between the Father and us.
Some may come today wondering: “Will God receive me?”
Hear the words Jesus spoke to the leper. “I am willing.”
You are not approaching an angry Father.
You are approaching a compassionate Father.
You are not approaching One waiting to condemn.
You are approaching One who sent His Son so that you could come boldly.
As you receive communion today, don’t come merely remembering the cross.
Come believing the Father’s invitation to “Come close.”
Song Lyrics: Father’s Chair by David Meece
Sometimes at night, I'd lie awake
Longing inside for my father's embrace
Sometimes at night, I'd wander downstairs
And pray he'd returned, but no one was there
Oh, how I'd cry, a child all alone
Waiting for him to come home
[Chorus]
My father's chair sat in an empty room
My father's chair, covered with sheets of gloom
My father's chair through all the years
And all the tears I cried in vain
No one was there in my father's chair
[Verse 2]
Sometimes at night, I sit all alone
Drifting asleep in a chair of my own
When sweet, sleepy eyes peer down from the hall
Frightened by dreams they cannot recall
Holding them close, calming their fears
Praying they always will say
[Chorus]
My father's chair sits in a loving room
My father's chair, no matter what I do
My father's chair, through all the years
And all the tears I need not fear
Love's always there in my father’s chair
Sometimes at night, I dream of a throne
Of my loving God, calling me home
And as I appear, He rises and smiles
And reaches with love to welcome His child
Never to cry, never to fear
In His arms, safe and secure
[Chorus]
My Father's chair sits in a royal room
My Father's chair holds glory beyond the tomb
My Father's chair, my God is there
And I am His eternal heir
Someday I'll share my Father's chair
My Father's chair