SPEAKER_00: Good morning.
SPEAKER_00: Happy Father's Day.
SPEAKER_00: My name is Tim Ward, and my wife Pendy and I sit on this side of the church.
SPEAKER_00: If you don't know us from this side.
SPEAKER_00: And we've been at Redeemer about four years.
SPEAKER_00: And one of the things that keeps bringing us back that we love to hear each and every Sunday is that we are more broken than we originally thought, but more loved by God and Jesus than we ever dare to dream.
SPEAKER_00: I'm a father and grandfather.
SPEAKER_00: I'm very grateful for that.
SPEAKER_00: I have three children, four stepsons, countless daughter-in-laws, and five grandchildren.
SPEAKER_00: So I've had plenty of training.
SPEAKER_00: I don't know about experience, but I have plenty of training and practice.
SPEAKER_00: The one thing I've learned is that fatherhood is a lesson in humility.
SPEAKER_00: But I've learned that grandparenting is sort of the final exam.
SPEAKER_00: A grandchild will stop, look you dead in the eye, obviously be intently listening, and then go and do what they want to do anyway.
SPEAKER_00: Seems like every time.
SPEAKER_00: See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.
SPEAKER_00: Scripture makes this clear.
SPEAKER_00: No father gets fatherhood right.
SPEAKER_00: Many of us carry real regret over where we've fallen short.
SPEAKER_00: But the good news is the gospel doesn't call us to perfection, it calls us to faithfulness.
SPEAKER_00: So keep turning to Jesus, lead with humility, and depend on Him.
SPEAKER_00: For many, Father's Day is a bit awkward and even difficult.
SPEAKER_00: It can remind us of a loss, a father who is gone or wasn't present, can bring up painful relationships and even a longing to be a father that has not been fulfilled.
SPEAKER_00: This is my first Father's Day without my father.
SPEAKER_00: So I understand some of that weight.
SPEAKER_00: But here's the truth that I stand on.
SPEAKER_00: God is a perfect father.
SPEAKER_00: He has made a way for us to come to him as his children through Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: Our Heavenly Father is steadfast, present, and good.
SPEAKER_00: He does not fail or abandon his children.
SPEAKER_00: He meets us in kindness and strength right where we are.
SPEAKER_00: So on this Father's Day, no matter your experience, Scripture calls us to honor our father and mother.
SPEAKER_00: Let's do that today by caring well for one another.
SPEAKER_00: And fathers, be encouraged.
SPEAKER_00: What you do matters.
SPEAKER_00: Keep showing up, keep loving your family, keep turning to Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: He is always faithful.
SPEAKER_00: Let's pray.
SPEAKER_00: Abba Father, thank you that you call us your children and love us with a steadfast and undeserved love.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you that your love is not distant or reluctant, but lavish, and that you delight in us.
SPEAKER_00: Lord, help us reflect this love in our homes.
SPEAKER_00: Make us present, patient, and quick to show grace.
SPEAKER_00: Teach us humility when we fall short, draw our hearts back to you.
SPEAKER_00: For those of us who carry pain on this day, whether from loss, absence, disappointment, or unfulfilled longing, meet us with your mercy and grace.
SPEAKER_00: Remind us that you are a perfect Father, steadfast, present, and good.
SPEAKER_00: Be with Russ as He teaches from your word.
SPEAKER_00: Speak clearly through Him and prepare our hearts to receive what you have for us.
SPEAKER_00: We pray this in Jesus' name.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.