What My Father Taught Me by Pastor Kent Munsey 12:00PM service
SERMON POINTS INTRODUCTION: THE GREATEST GIFT A FATHER CAN GIVE WE HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO: 1. LOVES US AND ISN’T EMBARRASSED BY OUR MISTAKES 2. WILL FIGHT FOR US 3. IS STRONG 4. REFUSES TO QUIT
Main Scripture: 1 John 2:13: “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.”
Introduction: The greatest gift Pastor Kent’s father ever gave him was his relationship with Jesus - which is the greatest gift any father can give his children.
1. WE HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO LOVES US When Pastor Kent was just 11 years old when he found out the news that his older 16 year old sister was pregnant. His mother and father pastored a large church and it became the talk amongst the congregation. His sister was overwhelmed with so much shame that decided to go to an abortion clinic one night. Her father got wind of this, and went to get her. He told her that he and her mother would do whatever they needed to do for her to keep her baby. He announced at church that he would resign as lead pastor if they felt that he should but he was choosing to stand with his daughter and family. This real life story greatly affected Pastor Kent. He knew then what it was like to have a father who wasn’t embarrassed by our mistakes or failures but instead chooses to stand with us through the good and the bad.
Scriptures 2 Corinthians 6:18 “ I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Main Point: We have a heavenly father who loves us and is not embarrassed by our mistakes. He chose us long before we ever choose Him and His love for us is unconditional. We don’t earn it or deserve it, we just receive it.
2. WE HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO WILL FIGHT FOR US Pastor Kent remembers his mom purchasing this rooster mailbox when he was younger. It became the popular thing in the neighborhood for teenagers to run the “rooster” over. He describes this time his dad went after the culprits and did a citizen's arrest! In this comical story, he remembers how embarrassed he felt at his father’s zeal but he also remembers the way it made his mother and household feel - protected. His dad was protecting what belonged to their family and he wasn’t going to let anything disturb their peace. It was in this moment that his father showed him that we have a Heavenly Father who is zealous about fighting on our behalf. Scriptures: Exodus 14:14 “ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 1 Peter 5:6 "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully" (AMP). God wants to take care of us.” Deuteronomy 20:4 “For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Main Point: We have a heavenly father who will fight for us. We can trust His loves for us.
3. WE HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO IS STRONG Pastor Kent’s father started a program many years ago called the “Inlaws” which was a program in cooperation with local law enforcement designed to eradicate drugs and drug dealers from North West Indiana. He challenged people to turn in drug dealers anonymously. During this time, the number 1 drug dealer in all of the midwest came to the church and met with Pastor Kent’s father. He decided to give his life over to the Lord Jesus. The newly saved former drug dealer, invited his dad to one of his popular night clubs that he owned, and asked him to share the gospel. His father went at 2am and stood before a room full of people who were not interested in hearing from a preaching. As he stood there, people began throwing beer bottles at his dad and booing him off the stage. His dad didn’t know what to say or do so he got down on his knees and started praying. As the room began to see him on his knees praying, they became silent - you could hear a pin drop. He then he stood up and preached the gospel to them all and led majority of that room in a prayer to make Jesus the Lord of their lives. Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” Main Point: We have a heavenly father who is strong. When we are weak, He is strong. When we can’t, He can. His grace is sufficient for us.
4. WE HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO REFUSES TO QUIT When Pastor Kent was 13, he was in a church basketball tournament with his dad. He describes a moment where they made it to the finals and they were losing badly. Pastor Kent was upset that he and his father weren’t going to be able to beat this skilled tag team du and decided to walk off the court and quit. His dad chased after him, grabbed him by both shoulders and said “you don’t quit…Museys don’t quit, you are going to get back on that court and lose this game with me!” It’s easy for us to quit. To quit on ourselves, to quit on others, and quit on God. It’s good news to know that our Heavenly Father’s love never quits on us! He doesn’t walk away even when we do. He love refuses to quit! Scripture: Psalm 136 “Give thanks to the LORD , for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever……” Romans 8:35-39 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Main Point: We have a heavenly father who refuses to quit.
Additional Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 6:18 “ I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Exodus 14:14 “ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 2 Chronicles 15 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” Psalm 136 “Give thanks to the LORD , for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever……”