Close Close Watch Close Close Go to our giving website Note: You will be taken to another browser tab to give online. If on phone/tablet, simply click the back button to go back to this notes page. Give Watch Interact × Bible Questions & Surveys Events Important: You will NOT lose your data entered or the tab location you are in when you close this panel. Imporant Items of Note Week of June 19, 2022 Volunteer ExpoCalling all willing hearts and helping hands. Visit our Volunteer Expo after service on Sunday, March 26th, to see where you can get connected in serving. There are a variety of places that are a fit with your gifts and talents. Your professional and spiritual background can serve in a needed volunteer opportunity. We […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amPalm SundayJoin us for Palm Sunday as we celebrate Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a special Musical Celebration featuring our children and adult choirs. We will also celebrate our Youth who completed their first Discipleship Class. Invite friends and family to the celebration and hear a special message from Dr. Joshua. If you would […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amEaster SundayOn Easter Sunday, we invite you to join us in worship and In the Text as we hear biblical insights on “The Power of the Resurrection” and how we celebrate the resurrection with our daily lives. Invite friends and family to join you for our Easter Service. Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 am“In the Text” Video Podcast on the BibleTune in online on Wednesdays for our new video podcast! “In The Text” is a contemporary conversation about the Bible focused on helping people relate to God through scripture. Take your bible reading experience to a whole new level in an engaging and creative way! Purchase an “In the Text” T-Shirt Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amSynergy Youth MinistryThis month, we’ve got big plans for helping teenagers grow closer to God like they never knew they could before. Here’s what’s coming up in our ministry: · Volunteer Expo on March 26th · We will have Synergy on March 12th, 19th, 26th at 10:30am · Movie Night March 24th at 6pm at Zoe […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amBaptism SundayHow important is baptism? It is your personal identification with the greatest act of human history, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Water baptism is a step of obedience to the Word of God and an important expression of faith for a believer. Sign up to publicly acknowledge that you have made […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amDiscoverAre you interested in becoming a member or just curious about our church? Have you joined Zoe within the past year? If so, you are invited to join Dr. Joshua for our Virtual Discover Gathering on Thursday, April 6! During Discover, you will learn more about our ministry, beliefs, and will have an opportunity to […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amPrayer CallsWe invite you to pray on our 30-minute weekly Prayer Conference Calls. The calls are empowering, life-changing, and a dynamic way to start or end your day. Connect to a Prayer Call (562) 999-7729 Mondays • 6am • 7pm on Zoom only Connect at 7pm Tuesdays • 6am • 7pm Thursday • 6am • […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amDrive-Thru Food GiveawayThe Zoe Center Drive-Thru Food Giveaway is a caring community of volunteers who serve our church families and community with free nutritious food. We are committed to providing food at no cost on the first Saturday of the month. If you would like to volunteer, arrive at the church at 9am. Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amBaby DedicationDo you want to dedicate your child to the Lord? Invite your family to witness and share this moment with you on Sunday, May 7. The Baby Dedication Class will be held on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30pm on Zoom. Sign Up Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 am Add Sermon Notes This note will be displayed at bottom of your sermon note when you save to pdf or email them Questions Click to open/close Full NameEmailIn case we need to write back to you, please leave us your email address. This is a:CommentQuestionYour messageHidden Email IDCommentsThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ Guest Survey Click to open/close We would love to hear your thoughts about your first time visit to our church, so if you are a current or recent guest, we ask you to fill out the survey below. 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All fields are optional First NameLast NamePhoneEmail* Date of Your Visit Date Format: MM slash DD slash YYYY Age range of adults living in the home? 18-28 29-38 39-48 49-57 58+ Married or Single (with or without children)?Married with NO ChildrenSingle with NO ChildrenMarried with ChildrenSingle with ChildrenChurch ExperienceLots of church experienceOnly on holidaysRarely, if ever have been to churchLooking for a new churchNever been to churchWill you join us again this Sunday or an upcoming Sunday?YesNoStill thinking about itI would recommend this church to family and friendSelect ValueStrongly AgreeAgreeNeutralDisagreeStrongly DisagreePlease evaluate your experience (HONESTLY)Were you greeted at the front door?YesNoN/ADid you feel welcomed upon entering the sanctuary?YesNoN/AIf you had children with you, were you told about our Nursery and Children’s Church?YesNoN/AIf you had children, were the Nursery and Children’s Church workers friendly and helpful?YesNoN/AHow did you hear about us?FriendRelativeOther Word of mouthSignageSocial MediaAdvertisementIs there anything you would like our church to pray about?Comments (Please share your comments here – they are greatly appreciated!Hidden Email ID Δ Interact Zoe Center The Blessing of Fatherhood Archived – June 19, 2022 View This Weeks Note View All Past Notes View This Note w/o Blanks The Blessing of Fatherhood June 19, 2022 Introduction Remarks Fatherhood is about parenting. Parenting is about developing people into maturity. Fatherhood is a specialized role held by men for developing people into maturity. To value fatherhood is to value other people’s growth and development. God Relates to us through Fatherhood The entire way that God has related to humanity in Scripture has been mediated by fatherhood. The Bible record documents God’s relationship with humanity in terms of “three great plans” or, as some Bible scholars would say, “dispensations” (29). [Jim Eichenberger. Training For Bible Service: A Basic Overview for Every Christian. Standard Publishing: Colorado Springs, 2011.] “A dispensation is a plan or way by which God dispenses, or gives out His revelation, His blessing and His punishment” (29). [Jim Eichenberger. Training For Bible Service: A Basic Overview for Every Christian. Standard Publishing: Colorado Springs, 2011.] Patriarchal Dispensation Led by Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Related to God through alters and sacrifices. Jewish (or Mosaic) Dispensation Led my Moses. The children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob grew and were organized into a large family and then a nation. They related to God with laws that Moses received from God and shared with the people. The Christian (or Church) dispensation. Led by Jesus. Jesus makes it possible for us to become one of the children of Abraham and benefit from the blessings of his family. Galatians 3:7 (ESV) Fathers Are a Pathway to Blessing The blessings God has given you are mediated by your relationship to a human father.(Galatians 3:9 (ESV)). Abraham is your father. The church becomes family to you (Mark 10:29–30 (ESV); 1 Corinthians 4:15 (ESV)) Human beings are different from other mammals in that when we are young, we are incredibly dependent on our parents. The offspring of other mammals achieve a large degree of independence in a relatively short period of time, some within a matter of minutes. For human beings, it takes years. The reality is that up until your early twenties, your brain is still developing. God designed things so that you would receive vital nutrients—emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual—from your biological parents. Why Fathers Receive Such Disproportional Attention Throughout Scripture, especially in the Old Testament, we see fathers as markers of the direction of the community. Psalm 78:2–3 (ESV) Psalm 44:1 (ESV) The emphasis on fathers in no way disregards the influence of mothers or women in general as leaders and agents of transformation. There are times when the Scripture is very explicit about a mother’s influence. The most instances are of the relationship between mothering and God’s plan for redemption: the Messiah would come through the seed of a woman. The book of Proverbs places the instruction of the mother right along side the instruction of the father (Proverbs 1:8-9; Proverbs 31:1 (ESV)) The first commandment with promise is an admonition to honor both parents [Ephesians 6:1–2 (ESV)] Scripture has high regard for the influence of mothers. What it also communicates is that the influence of fathers is such that the status of fatherhood can be shorthand for the status of the entire community. Exodus 20:5–6 (ESV) Malachi 4:5–6 (ESV) Romans 5:19–21 (ESV) When men pivot, they can be a bless to the same degree they cursed. The Blessing of Honoring Fathers Ephesians 6:1–3 (ESV) To honor parents is to acknowledge that you have an origin. To honor parents is to acknowledge that there is no self-made person. To honor parents is to acknowledge your dependence on God To honor parents is to acknowledge your dependence on other people for your flourishing. Honoring parents is not just about honoring your individual parents, but also the institution of parenting itself. Seeing the accountability between you and your parents is to see the accountability between you and your children. (Genesis 2:24 (ESV)) You have a responsibility to parent. Parents are essential workers. Most of us like the blessings of other people’s maturity, but not the sacrifice involved in helping them mature. If you want to be great, be a parent. Matthew 20:25–28 (ESV) Proverbs 24:10-12 (ESV) Proverbs 127: 3-5 (ESV) © Joshua D. Smith, Ph.D., 2022 Save PDF Locally Click to save a copy of the filled-in notes to a PDF file on your device Download File Click to View PDF Save PDF to Google Drive (Android & PC Only) Click to save a copy of the filled-in notes to a PDF file on your Google Drive account Save File Send to Email Enter your email address below to receive a copy of your filled in notes Send