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Our Father's Business PDF Print E-mail
Written by David Charlton   

Luke 2:41-52
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Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; 43 and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47 and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." 49 And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.

John 5:19-20

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel.

Summary and Purpose

Summary: Jesus is God in the flesh providing us with the perfect example of how to be human. Jesus is the example we should all follow. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is the type of relationship we should have with God.

Jesus was always about his Father’s business. What was important to the Father is what was important to Jesus. What the Father was doing in this world is what Jesus wanted to be doing. We should have the same outlook.

What is important to God is what should be important to us. What God is doing in this world is what we should be doing. In other words, God invites us to join Him in his work.

So, what is important to God? What work is God doing that we should also be doing? I think the answer is three-fold. God is 1) Saving lost souls, 2) making disciples and 3) providing for people’s needs. We should join God in this work by evangelizing, teaching people about Christ and serving those in need. By joining the Creator in his work, we can not fail. Since it is God’s work, he will empower us to succeed!!

Purpose: To motivate the congregation to join God in his work.

The Sermon

I. Introduction: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”

1. There’s an old expression: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”

  • Its meaning: The children (represented by the apple) becomes a lot like their parents (represented by the tree)
  • Children of drug addicts or alcoholics have a much higher probability of becoming drug addicts or alcoholics
  • Children of ethical and moral parents have a much higher probability of becoming ethical and moral adults.
2. This old expression is true because children want to be like their parents. They are
‘about their Father’s business’

3. This was true for me

  • My dad was in the Army for 20 years. He served in the Korean and Vietnam War.
  • Although I was born after he retired, I still understood my Dad’s love for the Army and his pride for serving.
  • That’s why I joined the Army. I was following in my father’s foot steps. I was ‘about my father’s business.’ It was actually the greatest compliment I could give my dad.

4. Jesus did the same thing. He was ‘about his Father’s business’.

II. Jesus was always ‘about his Father’s business’

1. Luke 2:49: And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know
that I must be in my Father's house?"
  • At the age of 12, Jesus knew he was the Son of God.
  • As the Son of God he went to his Father’s house to learn what the Father expected of him. He was learning the family trade. He was ‘about his Father’s business’.
  • The King James Version translates this verse as Jesus saying, “…wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
2. Jesus again demonstrates this in John 5:19-20 when he says, “Truly, truly, I say to
you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father
doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves
the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these
will he show him, that you may marvel.
  • What was important to the Father is what was important to Jesus.
  • What the Father was doing in this world is what Jesus wanted to be doing.

3. This is the example for us to follow

III. We should follow Jesus’ example and be ‘about God’s business”

1. Jesus is God in the flesh providing us with the perfect example of how to be
human.
2. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is the type of relationship we
should have with God. After all, through faith in Jesus, we also become God’s
children.
3. John 5:19-20 could apply to us. It could say: ”… we can do nothing of our own
accord, but only what we see God doing; for whatever he does, that we do
likewise. For the Father loves us, and shows us all that he himself is doing; and
greater works than these will he show us, that we may marvel.”

4. We should be ‘about God’s business’

  • What is important to God is what should be important to us.
  • What God is doing in this world is what we should be doing.
  • In other words, God is inviting us to join him in his work
5. So, what is important to God? What work is God already doing that we should be
doing?

IV. What’ important to God. The work God is doing that we should be joining.

1. God is saving lost souls. We join God in this work by…

  • Evangelizing: Sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone we can
  • Giving our testimony
  • Inviting people to church
  • Outreach events: Alternative Halloween, Easter egg hunt, Vacation Bible School

2. God is making disciples. We join God in this work by…

  • Teaching people about what it means to follow Christ
  • Strengthening our children, youth and adult ministries.
  • Participating in small groups and Bible studies

3. God is providing for people’s needs. We join God in this work by…

  • Serving people who have a need. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, teaching the illiterate, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison, mentoring the fatherless, assisting the elderly, helping the single parent etc… The list is infinite.
  • Some specific examples: Meals on wheels, visiting Riverwood nursing home, Family Promise, supporting Arlington Community Service, providing a summer free lunch program and upward soccer.

V. Conclusion

1. We must look at our personal lives and our congregational life and ask: Are we
‘about our Father’s business’?
2. Then we must make adjustments to our lives, so we can honestly say: We are
‘about our Father’s business’.
 
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