Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!
Sammy: Good morning, boys and girls! Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads!
Pastor: Yes, happy Father’s Day! Sammy, did you know that our earthly fathers help to show us the heart of our heavenly Father?
Sammy: Do you mean that our dads and granddads and papas and pop-pops and grandpas and daddys show us part of God’s heart?
Pastor: Yes, we are created in the image of God, and God created men as a reflection of his own heart and his great love for his people. When our fathers raise us with the love of Jesus in their hearts, they show us who Jesus is, too.
Sammy: That’s great news! That means that when I run around the pasture and do something that I am not supposed to do, I don’t need to sit in the time-out pen anymore.
Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy?
Sammy: Well, God doesn’t put me in time-out for doing something wrong, my daaa-daaa does. So if my daaa-daaa reflects the heart of Jesus, then I don’t have to ever be in time-out again.
Pastor: That’s not how that works, Sammy. God disciplines his people all of the time in scripture, and in fact, part of his command for fathers in several books, including the Psalms, is for men to discipline their children.
Sammy: Oh.
Pastor: Boys and girls, what are some things that your dad or granddad or a dad here at church does for you that is special?
[Allow time for responses]Sammy: I like all of these answers. My daaa-daaa plays a lot of games with me in the pasture. He’s fun to be around, too.
Pastor: That’s great, Sammy. I want to encourage everyone here to always look to our Father in Heaven. Our dads here on earth try their best, but they are not perfect. They look to Jesus for hope and encouragement and wisdom to guide them in raising us. But we can always look to our Father in Heaven. He is a perfect Father. Let’s say a prayer. Can we please fold our hands and bow our heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for our earthly fathers. We thank you for being our perfect Father in Heaven. Today we ask for your blessing upon our fathers. We ask that you help them look to you as they guide and raise us. Amen.
Sammy: Bye, everyone!
Pastor: Bye, Sammy!
