Recently I have been taking the childrens’ talks at a new church plant and doing a series on animals in the bible (more to come from this later). But on Sunday I did a Father’s Day talk using a slide show game. I started by doing a recap on the previous Sundays and then asked if the kids could guess what the picture was? I gave them the clue that is wasn’t an animal!

I then asked “What has Darth Vader to do with Father’s Day?” Yes, he was a father – don’t say who is son was, in case some people haven’t seen the ending of Star Wars. Was he a good father? No. But in the end he realised he needed to be kind to his son. Do you remember? Well, if Darth Vader can learn to be good to his kids, do you think God will not be kind to the children he has made? This is what Jesus says in this verse – read it together:

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Jesus speaks to the crowd, Luke 11.11

If we are honest your daddies (and me) sometimes do things that are unkind, or unfair or naughty. But it doesn’t stop us knowing how to love their children and want to look after our sons and daughters – you. Your daddies love you deeply and want the best for you every day, if you ask them for some food (a fish or an egg) – would they leave you hungry? No. Every day they provide for your needs, even though they are not the perfect daddy. 

Well, Jesus is saying here, imagine if there was a daddy who is completely loving, always kind, never lies, never harsh, always patient and never lost their temper, never broke their promises, always made the best decision for you. Well there is – God is our true father. He is the perfect daddy and we can trust him to look after us and do the best for our lives.

Jesus here asks us: do you think he will not give us good gifts if we ask such a good daddy? Of course he will, and not just food – but the most important thing we can ask for – the Holy Spirit, God within us living inside of us. Have we asked God for his spirit today? A long time ago I asked God to come into my heart and he answered and gave me the Holy Spirit – have you asked him too? If not then ask him today – speak to me or your mummy or daddy today.

Jesus’ father was God and he called him Abba – which means Daddy, and we are going to sing a song using that name:

Abba Father, let me be,
Yours and your alone
May my will forever be
Evermore your own
Never let my heart grow cold
Never let me go
Abba Father, let me be
Yours and yours alone