Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/hxZqZLBXcTQ

Summary:
Main Questions:

• What do you want?
  Not just short-term desires, but ultimately—at the end of your life—what do you truly want?
• What does God want?
  This is the central question the lesson seeks to answer.

Scripture Foundation: Isaiah 53–57 (ESV excerpts)

• Isaiah 53: The prophecy of the Suffering Servant (Jesus), who bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, was pierced for our transgressions, and brought us peace through His wounds.
• Isaiah 54–55: A message of restoration, covenant love, and invitation to come to God freely:
  • “Fear not…your Maker is your husband” (Isaiah 54:4–5)
  • “Come, everyone who thirsts…without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1)
  • “Seek the Lord while He may be found…” (Isaiah 55:6)
• Isaiah 56: A declaration that even foreigners and eunuchs (outsiders) who seek the Lord will be accepted and given an everlasting name.
• Isaiah 57: A contrast between the righteous, who enter peace, and the wicked, who find no rest. God is high and holy but draws near to the contrite and lowly.

Key Themes:

• God’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53):
  Jesus willingly suffered and died for our sins—not for His own benefit, but because God wants us.
• God’s Desire for Relationship (Isaiah 54–55):
  Despite our past, God desires to restore, gather, and bless His people.
  He calls us to come freely, to return to Him, and to receive compassion and pardon.
• God Welcomes the Outsider (Isaiah 56):
  All who choose what pleases Him—regardless of background—are welcomed into His presence.
• God Revives the Broken (Isaiah 57):
  God does not dwell only in heaven, but with the one who is “contrite and lowly.”
  He sees, heals, and restores those who turn back to Him.

Final Message:

• What does God want?
  He wants you.
  From Genesis to Revelation, from Isaiah’s time to today, God has always wanted His people—His creation—to come back to Him.
• No matter how far you've wandered, no matter how broken you've been, God still wants you.
  His love is steadfast, His call is open, and His promise is everlasting.

Closing Appeal:

A call to respond—whether it be repentance, baptism, prayer, or simply returning to the Lord.

Let me know if you’d like this turned into a sermon outline, discussion guide, or PowerPoint.

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/aD1WUsL7FTI

Summary:
Summary: If You Believe Something, You Must Do Something

1. Real-Life Example: Irena Sendler and the Warsaw Ghetto

• Background: In 1941, Poland was under Nazi occupation. Jews were rounded up and confined to the Warsaw Ghetto in horrific conditions: starvation, overcrowding, and disease.
• Irena Sendler’s Courage:
  • Irena was a social worker with access to the Ghetto.
  • Deeply moved by the suffering, she decided to act—smuggling out about 2,500 Jewish children, giving them new identities and saving their documentation for later reunification.
  • Her belief in the value of every human life, taught by her father, drove her actions despite great risk and eventual arrest by the Nazis.
  • Main Point: If you truly believe all life has value, you cannot do nothing when you see injustice—you must act.

2. Belief and Faith: Not Just Feelings, But Actions

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

• Belief vs. Faith:
  • In English, “belief” and “faith” are often used interchangeably, but the Bible distinguishes them.
  • Belief is what you hold to be true.
  • Faith is belief put into action.
• Scripture Reference: James 2:14–24 (ESV)
  • “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
  • Abraham’s faith was completed by his works—he acted on what he believed.

3. Faith Is an Action Word

• Examples from Hebrews 11:
  • “By faith Abel offered…”
  • “By faith Noah…constructed an ark…”
  • “By faith Abraham obeyed…”
  • All these examples demonstrate faith through doing something.
• Main Point: True faith always produces action. You cannot claim to believe in something deeply and remain unmoved.

4. Application: What Do You Believe About God, and What Will You Do?

Scripture Reference: Philippians 2:9–13 (ESV)

• Personal Challenge:
  • If you believe in God’s word, it calls you to respond—to work on your salvation, to grow, to act.
  • Excuses come from Satan: Don’t wait until you’re “good enough” to act; respond now.
• Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 6:1–2 (ESV)

5. The Church: More Than Sunday Worship

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV)

• Being a Christian is not just about attending worship—it’s about a way of life, doing life together, and serving others.
• Acts 2:42–47: Early Christians lived, worked, and worshipped together as a community.

6. Final Challenge and Invitation

• What do you believe about God?
• What are you going to do about it?
• Faith must lead to action:
  • God doesn’t expect perfection, but He expects growth and obedience.
  • If you need help, support, or to act in faith today—don’t leave without responding.

Key Takeaway

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/qaOpaiROmRI

Summary:
Introduction: The Challenge of Being a Parent

• Recalls the previous Mother's Day sermon on how hard it was for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to watch her son at the cross.
• Shifts focus to Father’s Day, emphasizing: "Being Daddy is Hard Too."
• Notes there’s no instruction manual for being a dad—everyone starts out learning as they go.

Abraham: An Example of a Tested Father (Genesis 22:1–19)

• Reads and summarizes Genesis 22:1–19—God’s test of Abraham, asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac.
• Emphasizes that Abraham’s character and faith made his family (and all families) better and impacted generations.

Lessons from Abraham’s Example

1. A Father’s Love

• Biblical Reference: Genesis 22:2 — “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…”
• Dads are capable of deep love, even if they show it differently than moms.
• Abraham’s love is seen in his:
  • Obedience: He immediately obeys God’s command, even when it’s hard.
  • Preparation: He prepares everything needed for the sacrifice, showing care and responsibility.
  • Endurance: The journey took three days—Abraham persisted even though it was difficult.

2. A Father’s Presence

• Highlights the repeated phrase, “Here I am,” from Abraham (to God, his son, and the angel).
• Explains that “Here I am” means giving full, undivided attention—being present.
• Applies this to modern fathers: It’s possible to be physically present but emotionally or mentally absent. Families need fathers to be truly present.

3. A Father’s Faith

• Key Point: Abraham tells his servants, “We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
• Shows Abraham’s trust that God would keep His promises, even when the situation looked impossible.
• Applies to dads: Sometimes you don’t know how things will work out, but faith and confidence in God are essential.

4. The Role of Fathers as Leaders

• Notes that being a leader doesn’t mean knowing everything—instead, it means being the first follower of God.
• The greatest lesson kids learn may not be from formal Bible studies, but from watching their dad live out his faith.
• “More is caught than taught.” Kids pick up on honesty, integrity, and faithfulness from a dad’s actions.

Personal Story: Integrity in Action

• Shares an anecdote about being pulled over for speeding and choosing to tell the truth about not wearing a seatbelt, even when it could have been easier to lie.
• Son noticed the honesty, reinforcing the lesson that actions often teach more than words.

Encouragement and Invitation

• Acknowledges Father’s Day can be hard for some—maybe due to loss or absence.
• Reminds everyone of the love of our Heavenly Father and the family of God’s people.
• Extends an invitation for anyone needing help, support, or prayer.

Main Takeaways:

• Being a dad is hard, but Abraham’s example shows us:
  • Love is shown through obedience, preparation, and endurance.
  • Presence matters—be available and attentive to God and your family.
  • Faith and trust in God guide fathers through uncertainty.
  • Leadership is about following God first and letting your actions teach your children.