Father's Day 2016

What I want my kids to know & Communion
Various Passages
Sunday, July 19th, 2016-MRWC

Well, good morning everyone, and Happy Father’s day to all the dad’s here today. May you get tons of bacon this day!
Normally, we’d be continuing on in our Waiting Rooms series, but I’m slightly tired of waiting rooms, so we’ll continue that the next time I’m scheduled to preach, and seeing how today is Dad’s day, I want to share about that today.
So, I would direct your attention to the video screen for a quick video clip.
SHOW SERMON BUMPER
ILLUSTRATION- There are some things in this life that my kids may never know about. For example, (and I have found a few of these to illustrate my point):
~ My kids will never know about a 1 dollar bill. All they will ever know is a loonie.
~ My kids will never know about a 2 dollar bill. Again, all they will ever know is a toonie.
~ My kids will never know anything about an 8-track. Now, this gem, for those of you who don’t know, has music on it.
To play this awesome thing, one needs this beast, an 8-track player.
Brent had this thing just lying around, and we Intend to hook it up and listen to it....someday.
My kids will never know what an 8 track and player is all about.
Because I get my navigational expertise from my mother, my kids will never know how to read one of these……a map.
But that's what Google Maps is for, right? It can speak to you and tell you where to go.
My kids will never know my grand-father, their great grandfather. He died in 1996, and I still miss him to this day.
Much of my personality can be traced back to Eldon Graham.
My kids will never know what people did before everyone had a cell phone. ( I don't even remember what people did before cell phones.)
My kids will never “enjoy” a black and white television.  And, my kids will never know what it was like to ride in an old Austin.
On and on I could go, listing all of the things that my kids may never experience.
Now, I am in no way, shape, or form suggesting that we go back to the way things were, because I am not prepared to do that, and most of you are not prepared to do that, either.
I am simply making an observation of the things that my kids may never see.
While there are some things that my kids will never see, there are at least 3 things I never want them to forget.
#1 I want my kids to know that I love them with all my heart.
ILLUSTRATION- I remember December 16th 2004 like it was yesterday. This was the day that Emma entered our life. I remember taking Emma into my arms a few minutes after she was born.
I talked with her for a while, telling her that she could be a rocket scientist or the Prime minister… her dad would support her in whatever path life led her down.
Then I remember praying. I asked God to take her. I recognized at that moment that she was a gift from God to Beth and I, and I gave her over to the Lord.
Thinking back on it now, what better way could I love her than by giving her over to the God who loves her more than I ever could?
I doubt very much that Emma remembers our conversation that day, but I do want both Emma and Erica to know this day—and every other day that I have them around---that their father loves them and wants only what’s best for them.
It’s like the love of the Father as told in Luke 15.
When his youngest son came to his father and asked for his share of the inheritance, his loving father gave it to him, and the son flew the coop and spent his inheritance on sex, drugs, and probably rock and roll.
The Bible tells us that “When he (the young son) came to his senses, (Luke 15:17 a),he left where he was and started walking back to his father, who saw him coming off in the distance, and ran out to meet with him.
The Father then clothed his son in his own robe, gave him a ring, killed the fatten calf and welcomed him back home, no questions asked.
I want to try and love my kids the in the same way that this father loved his wayward son.
ILLUSTRATION- I found this photo a while back, and I think it expresses how I feel.
It says: "of all the things I've been called in life, dad is my favourite".
 I love being my kids father. It's one of the things I do fairly well.
I will let my kids know at I love them. If Emma is on the couch, and I'm sitting in my chair, I make it a point to look over at her, and smile or just stare at her.
Erica’s love language is touch, so she will often ask for a hug, and I will give her both a hug and a kiss.
These things might not be something big, but they demonstrate my love for my girls.
Parents, are you telling your kids that you love them?
They might be gone from your house and have a family of their own, but it does no harm to pick up the phone and say “I love you”. It might be just what they need!
Of all the things that my girls will never know about, I want them to know that I love them with all my heart.
#2 The second thing that I want my kids to know is that their dad loves their mother.
My wife is my best friend. She is my partner, she is my helpmate. She is my lover, she is my confidant. She also drives me crazy from time to time!
My wife helps me in more ways that I can express. She and Jesus have gotten me through many a dark valley.
Who I am today is to be contributed, in part too, Elizabeth Graham.
Proverbs 31:12 says: She—a wife of noble character-- brings him—her husband-- good, not harm, all the days of her life. (NIV)
Sometimes I forget this truth, but my wife is a blessing to me.
Proverbs 18:22 says: He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. (NIV)
The day I married Elizabeth Joy Brown, I received a blessing from the Lord.
I want my kids to know that I love my wife. So, I am showing them.
ILLUSTRATION- A few weeks ago, while I was on parole from the Halifax hospital, we all ended up in the grocery store.
As I walked into the store, I came face to face with the flower display.
I immediately thought to myself, that I hadn't purchased flowers for Beth in the longest time, so I picked up a bunch of red roses.
When Beth picked me up with the car,  I noticed the big smile that came across my kids faces. They lit up like the 4th of July.
Someone wise once told me: the best thing a dad can do for his kids is to love their mother.  I am trying to show my kids that I love their mom.
This is Biblical. Ephesians chapter 5 says:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Eph. 5:25-28, NIV)
Just as Jesus Christ laid His life down for the Church, we are to love our wives in the same
 way that Christ loves the Church.
While I have a way to go in this area, I am trying to show my kids—and my wife for that matter—that I love her and the second best decision I’ve ever made, was saying yes to her 14 years ago this week.
So, those dad’s who are married, how are you showing your love to your spouse?
Are you investing in your marriage? When was the last time you purchased flowers for your spouse? When was the last time you did the dishes?
One of the best things you can do for your
children is love their mother, so take some time this week to show your kids— and your wife— that you love her.
I want my kids to know that I love their mother, so I am showing them.
For some of you, this might be slightly difficult because of the circumstance you find yourself in.
Even though you might not get along with your former spouse, you can still teach your kids something; you can speak well of their parent. It takes work, but it will be worth it in the long run.
The last thing that I want my kids to know is: I love Jesus.
Words cannot express, nor do i have the time, to tell you how and what Jesus has done for me. I owe Him my life.
He has taken the heart of stone from my life and replaced it with a heart of flesh. He has called me His very own and He has taken my sins away.
The Bible tells me that Jesus loves me. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.(1 John 4:10, NIV)
Titus 3:5 says …he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. (NLT2)
Romans 5: 6-8 says: …at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died
for us.  (NIV)
Because Jesus loves me, I want to love Him back. I want to serve Him. I want to let His Word influence my life. I want to show others that a relationship with God means life, not death.
I want to let His love fill me and flow through me. I want His love to reach into the lives of my kids.
I want them to know that Jesus loves them. I want them to know that He loves them with an unconditional love—a love that will welcome them back no matter what they’ve done.
I want to show my kids that I love Jesus. How am I doing this?
Notice I did not say “how will I do this”. I said “How am I doing this?” — I must show my kids and my wife that I love Jesus at this moment, not when they are older.
So, how am I showing them?
I’m praying. Let me rephrase that. I am letting them see me pray.  We pray together as a family before we eat. I pray on my knees at home. I want them to see me pray.
I am reading my Bible at home and they know what it is that I am reading.
My kids go to a Christian School, where they are getting grounded in the Word of God.
My kids know that I work in the church for a living, but I also want them to know that the Author of the Church has changed my life.
If you ever find yourself having “one of those days”, you need to read 1 John chapter 3:1:
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (NIV)
To think that the God of the universe loves us with an unconditional love—a love that will welcome us back home regardless of what we have done, regardless of what we have said, regardless of how we’re feeling, is incredible.
To know that He loves us so much that He was willing to become one of us, and then to be humiliated, rejected, ridiculed, disfigured and nailed to an old rugged Cross, can be mind-numbing at times.
For Jesus to die the death that we were supposed to die; and rise again 3 days later, is humbling and should be enough for all of us to fall at His feet in worship.
Friends; this is the great love of God as expressed through His Son, Jesus Christ. And in just a moment, we are going to celebrate what He has done for us.
We are going to reflect on how His body was beaten, how He shed His blood so we could experience true freedom, and to know that it is by his wounds (that) you have been healed. (1 Peter 4:24, NIV)
As we prepare our hearts to observe the Lord’s Supper this morning, we need to be mindful of 1 Corinthians 11:27-29:
…anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.
If you’re heart is not right with God, can I encourage you to take a few moments to make things right with God, before partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
If you need to let the Elements pass you by, that’s fine too.
 Communion is a time when followers of Jesus reflect on the lengths He endured to set us free.
And it is with this thought in mind that I want to give time for all of us to ask God to search our hearts and allow His Holy Spirit to cleanse us as we seek to become more like Him.
If you are struggling with being wanted or even loved, know that Our Heavenly Father loves you and invites you to come into fellowship—and a personal relationship with Him.
He has provided His Son Jesus Christ as the way for you to come into relationship with God
the Father.
Coming into a relationship with Jesus is as simple, and as difficult, as A-B-C.
Admit that you are a sinner. Admit that you have done wrong, and no amount of “right living” can ever change this fact.
Believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty that Sin demanded;
Confess that Jesus Christ is the Only way to God, and invite Him into your life.
Of all the things that this world has to offer—both good and bad—I want my kids to know at least 3 things:
Their father loves them, their father loves their mother and their father loves Jesus.
 Let’s Pray-
Heavenly Father, we thank you for what You have done for us. While I have had the opportunity just now to share, I believe that there are several more people here today who feel the same way about You that I do—they love you God. They are thankful for what You have done—for what You are doing-- for them.
AS we pause to reflect on your sacrifice, we pray that in these moments, we would talk with you, and allow you to cleanse our hearts and fill us with your Spirit.  
Might we pray, as David did in Psalm 51: Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.(NKJV)
May we also pray: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps 139:23-24, NIV)
Allow this to be a time where we make things right with You, or to rejoice that things are right between You and us.
Thank you that you have trusted us enough to be called "dad", may we keep our eyes on you as we seek to become more like our Heavenly Father.
At this time, I would ask the communion stewards to come to the front, and as they come, please hear the invitation this morning:
You who are walking in fellowship with God, and are in love and harmony with your neighbours; and you who do truly and earnestly repent of your sin and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from this time in His holy ways, draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God.
If you are not walking with the Lord today, it’s ok to let these emblems pass you by… this is a time for believers to remember what Jesus did for us.
(Remove the cloth, folding it neatly, and then pray)
O God of grace and mercy, we thank you that you ever loved us and provided for our redemption. We thank You for Your Son who died to save us, and for Your Spirit who invites us to draw near.
Guide us now as we commemorate the suffering of our Lord. Help us to remember the cost of our salvation. Help us to commune with You and with each other.
And so consecrate the bread and juice which are here prepared, that as we partake of them we may receive the spiritual benefits of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. In His Name we pray, Amen.
Distribution of Bread
The Bible says: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it.
Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.
The Body of the Lord Jesus Christ was broken for you.
So take and eat this remembering that
Christ died for you, and feed on Him in your heart, by faith, with thanksgiving.
Distribute the Cup
The Bible also says, that “he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ has the power to make you whiter than snow.
So drink this cup remembering that Christ’s Blood was shed for you and be thankful
(Cover the elements) & PRAY: