1. “How to live in the Father’s Family” Reflections on being: “The Community of Prayerful Love” Matthew 7:6-12

2. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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 good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

3. Context: How does this passage fit together? SOTM = “What it means – in concrete detail – to be God’s people” Bringing the kingdom to those around us, by building healthy relationships Unhelpful v. Effective Strategies

4. How to “save someone else’s bacon” (verse 6) An often misunderstood proverb God’s pearl was “despised and rejected” – Isaiah 53:3 “Not who is worthy of help but HOW to help in a sensitive way”

5. “Our ‘pearls’ are often offered with a certain superiority of bearing that keeps us from paying close attention to those we are trying to help. WE have solutions. That should be enough shouldn’t it? And very quickly some contempt, impatience, anger or even condemnation slips into our offer.” (Dallas Willard: The Divine Conspiracy)

6. CARE’s Top 7 Tips for Dad’s (And for all of us!) 1. Honour their mum 2. Praise your child 3. Stay calm 4. Chose your battles & stick to them 5. Be silly once a day / don’t take yourself too seriously 6. Assume the best 7. Pray for your family

7. Prayer: The best way to influence others for good (v. 7-12) Jesus and Peter’s betrayal (Lk. 22:32) Prayer is an excellent way to: “treat others as you would like to be treated” (v. 9-12)

8. Child-like trust: how we can live & pray as Jesus describes (v. 9-11) 1. Intimacy: “Daddy” 2. Generosity: “Good gifts” 3. Perfection: ONLY good gifts

9. 2 threats to our confidence: 1. The defective example of our human parents. 2. Unanswered prayer

10. Building confidence: how to cultivate greater awareness of God “Walk with our heavenly father & talk about what we are doing together” Open our eyes to His “good gifts”

11. The Importance of Confidence in our heavenly Father The only way to fulfil the ‘Golden Rule’ (v. 12)