John 3:16

1. John 3:16 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.

2. The best illustration of John 3:16

3. There is an Almighty God who is a loving Father to us! Lesson 1My Father God • Where there is fatherhood, there is __________. relationship relational • God as our Father is a _______ God who values • and treasures relationship. Probably the greatest truth in the universe is this: • This is one of the major differences between • Christianity and other religions — we have a God • who is not just a powerful and holy Creator and • Judge but also a loving, caring _____ to all his • children. Father

4. HOW DO I BECOME A CHILD OF GOD? Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God(John 1:12). • We become children of God through _______ in • Jesus and ________ Him as our Lord and Saviour. believing receiving Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). • Jesus is the only ____ to the Father. way

5. HOW DO I BECOME A CHILD OF GOD? Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father...” (John 14:8-9). reveal • Jesus came to _____ the Father and make Him • known to us.

6. HOW DO I BECOME A CHILD OF GOD? Jesus’ prayer to the Father: I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them (John 17:26). know • To _____ God as our Father is to experience the • ____ of the Father. Love

7. THE BENEFITS OF EXPERIENCING GODAS OUR FATHER 1. _________ Significance To know God as Father and to experience His love meets our 3 most basic needs: This is the question of our identity — ‘Who am I?” My identity is tied to who my father is. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8:15-16). Therefore, if I truly know God as my father, I will no longer have an identity problem. I will know who I am — a child of God.

8. THE BENEFITS OF EXPERIENCING GODAS OUR FATHER Self-worth 2. _________ 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! (1 John 3:1) Therefore, if I truly know God as my Father, I will no longer have an identity problem. I will know who I am — a child of God. • When we understand that... • We are God’s children • God loves us personally • God loves us abundantly • He is never too busy for us • He desires to have a personal relationship with us • ….. this gives us self-worth!

9. THE BENEFITS OF EXPERIENCING GODAS OUR FATHER 3. ______ Security • It is primarily in the arms of the father that a child feels absolutely • secure. • A father must not merely love his children “in his heart”, he must • outwardly express it. Unexpressed love is not enough to satisfy • their needs! • An “un-hugged” child is an insecure child. Even though he may • have adequate food, clothing and shelter, he would often grow up • wondering if he is really loved. • This insecurity often becomes the root of subsequent problems in • adult life, for example, not being able to give or receive love. • People who feel rejected also have difficulty expressing love • openly to their loved ones, especially to their children. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).

10. THE BENEFITS OF EXPERIENCING GODAS OUR FATHER 3. Security As God’s children, we can now experience the security of God’s love for us. This happens as we believe his promises and experience his presence in our lives. In turn, we will be able to express God’s love to others.

11. Group Discussion • Before you come to Christ, what was your • self-worth based on ? (e.g. job, abilities, social status, • relationship with important person, etc.) • 2. When you were growing up, how did your parents • show their love for you?

12. Memory Verse Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of sod. John 1:12

13. Read through the book of Mark in 2 months • God speaks to us through His words. • Begin now to spend time daily reading the • Word of God and listening to Him. • Please turn to Appendix 2 together……

14. Quite Time Journal Date :________ Passage read : _________ Step 1 – What are the main ideas? ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Step 2 – What can I learn? ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Step 3 – What should I do? _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________