Here is a Father’s Day Service outline of songs, ideas, mini-sermons and videos.  If you’re looking for creative ideas for Father’s Day, this might be one way to approach the topic.  

The goal of this service was to explore the concept of God as Father, and to highlight several Fatherly characteristics through scripture, illustration, and song. 

 

Welcome/Introduction

We started the services with 2-3 songs that were a call to worship.  These weren’t directly connected to Father’s day but set the tone for the service.  After songs came the announcements and then we dismissed the kids.

Introductory Video

We used this video ‘Foster Kid Father’s Day’ as the kick off for the service.  Not everyone in the congregation has had a good relationship/interaction with their earthly Father so it was important to us to address this right at the outset.

Our Father Who Adopts Us

Scripture

John 1:12

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God–

1 John 3:1

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Reflection

Key points on the idea of being adopted as God’s children

  • It’s not something deserved – it’s a choice, the Father isn’t obligated to call someone his child
  • You were chosen, selected, seen fit, and love was lavished on you as you were called God’s child

Song

I Am Who You Say I Am

Our Father We Call ‘ABBA’

We continue to see this language of God Adopting us in Galatians and Romans

Galatians4:4

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.b 6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,c Father.” 7So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Romans 8:14

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.f And by him we cry, “Abba,g Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Reflection

Audio Player

 

Song

We had the congregation listen to the song “Could I” by Vineyard (Kim McMechan) as an invitation to consider how they can draw close to God like a child would draw close to their ‘Dad’.

 

Our Father Who Holds Our Hand

Reflection
One of my favourite images of father hood is the idea of holding my kids hands… that first time crossing a street and having the little hands of my son holding mine.  It’s a great symbol of Fatherhood

Initially crossing the street is all about safety and being able to ensure they don’t go when it’s dangerous.

Then there’s the crowded mall or event, where you say, hold my hand so you can stay with me.

Or the hand to help them up to climb something that’s too tall.

Or a hand to keep them steady while they balance.

But probably the most meaningful is the hand of comfort… especially with little kids… with getting shots or the hospital.. And the kids are facing what is the most terifying moment of their lives, and all you can do is at least make it better, by holding your hand… and God is the same…

Scripture

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand….

For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.”

Our Father Who Forgives

Scripture Luke 15:11-24 The Parable of the Lost Son 11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Movie Clip There’s a great movie clip that illustrates this point… in this scene the two main characters are rescuing their young child who was kidnapped as a child soldier… in the middle of their rescue operation, the child turns on them    

Our Father Who Disciplines

Scripture

But forgiveness is not a free pass for bad behaviour…

Hebrews 12:4-11

God Disciplines His Children

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”a

7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Reflection 

Silence

Take a moment to reflect silently on the ways God your Father may be coaching, disciplining, or inviting you to a better way to live your life.

Our Father Who Gives Good Gifts

Reflection

Scripture

Luke 11:9-13

9“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Think for a second that God our Father… has the same thrill, and spark in his eye, about giving us the good gift of his prescenes through the Holy Spirit…

Song

Our Father Who Provides

Not only does God give good gifts – but he provides for what we need

Scripture

Matthew 6:25-33

Do Not Worry

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your lifee ?

 28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Song

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Hymn)

Our Father Who Is Good

It’s pretty hard to not pick ‘Good Good Father’ on a Father’s Day service, but I find that so often people switch to ‘auto-pilot’ when singing it and don’t really grasp what they are saying.  

So we used this song as a closing ‘recap’ of the entire service.  We had people reflect on each key phrase while the band played about 4 -8 bars… and then we sang only the chorus of Good Good Father.  It worked really well, and gave the song some new depth, meaning and nuance.

Our Father Who Adopts…

“You’re a good good Father”

Our Father Who We Call Abba

“You’re a good good Father”

Our Father Who Holds Our Hand

“You’re a good good Father”

 Our Father Who Forgives

“You’re a good good Father”

Our Father Who Disciplines

“You’re a good good Father”

Our Father Who Gives

“You’re a good good Father”

Our Father Who Provides

“You’re a good good Father”