Luke 2:41-49. My father's business. I. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS PEOPLE II. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS SERVING PEOPLE. III. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS RECONCILING PEOPLE. ARE WE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS? A. Caring for people. B. Serving people C. Helping people to know God.

1. MY FATHER'S
BUSINESS

2. Luke 2:41-49 His parents went to Jerusalem every year
at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve
years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the
custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days,
as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in
Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they
went a day's journey, and sought Him among their
relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not
find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in
the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both
listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all
who heard Him were astonished at His understanding
and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were
amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have
You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought
You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you
seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My
Father's business?“

3. FATHERS AND SONS
A. Cats In The Cradle--Harry Chapin
My child arrived just the other day,
He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay,
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking fore I knew it and as he grew
He'd say: "I'm gonna be like you, Dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."
My son turned ten just the other day,
He said, "Thanks for the ball dad come on let's play."
"Can you teach me to throw?" "I said not today,
I got a lot to do." He said "that's ok."
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed.
"I'm gonna be like Him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him.”

4. Well he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just Had to say:
"Son I'm proud of you, can you sit for awhile?"
He shook his head and he Said with a smile:
"What I'd really like dad is to borrow the car keys,
See you later can I Have them please?"
Well, I've long since retired and my son's moved away, I
called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind,
" He said, "I'd love to dad, if I could find the time.
You see my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu.
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, son,
you know we'll have a good time then“

5. FATHERS AND SONS
B. Sons imitate their fathers - Jesus was no
different
1. John 4--"My food is to do the will of Him
who sent me."
2. John 8:29--"I always do those things that
please Him."
3. Lk 22:42 Even in the Garden --"Not my will
but thine!"
C. Is it any surprise where we find Jesus in
Luke 2:46-49
1. In the Temple
2. "Don't you know that I must be about my
Father's business?"
D. What is My Father's Business

6. I. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS PEOPLE
A. God so loved the WORLD!
1. Loved the world - John 3:16-17 For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did
not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be
saved.
2. Sacrifice for the world - John 6:51 I am the
living bread which came down from heaven. If
anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;
and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which
I shall give for the life of the world."
3. People in it, not the planet.
4. Are we about our Father's Business of
PEOPLE?

7. I. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS PEOPLE
B. God so loved us PEOPLE--and it doesn't specify
WHAT people
1. Love even enemies - Matthew 5:43-44 "You have
heard that it was said, 'You shall love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you,
love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do
good to those who hate you, and pray for those
who spitefully use you and persecute you,
2. It doesn't matter if they like us, hate us, male or
female, young or old, what color, what culture,
moral or immoral.
3. It doesn't matter if they smell good or stink, tall or
short, intelligent or ignorant, whether they deserve
or not.
4. If we are about Our Father's Business, we will love
PEOPLE!

8. I. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS PEOPLE
C. My Father's Business is PEOPLE and that makes it MY
business.
1. To love God, we must love others - 1 John 4:20-21 If
someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he
is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he
has seen, how can he love God whom he has not
seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him:
that he who loves God must love his brother also.
2. Do we love those who hate us? Even love those who
love us?
3. To live above with Saints we love will certainly be glory
To live below with saints we know Well, that's another story.
4. Our Father's Business was, is and always will be love
for people.
5. ARE WE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS OF
PEOPLE?

9. II. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS SERVING PEOPLE
A. The mind of Christ - Philippians 2:5-9 Let this mind be in
you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the
form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with
God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form
of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even
the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly
exalted Him and given Him the name which is above
every name,
1. Compassion, touching the untouchable, loving the
unlovable.
2. "Friend of Sinners" Luke 7:34 The Son of Man has
come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a
glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and
sinners!’

10. II. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS SERVING PEOPLE
B. The Good Samaritan-- Luke 10:29-37 But he,
wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And
who is my neighbor?" 30 Then Jesus answered
and said: "A certain man went down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves,
who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him,
and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by
chance a certain priest came down that road.
And when he saw him, he passed by on the
other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he
arrived at the place, came and looked, and
passed by on the other side. >>>

11. II. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS SERVING PEOPLE
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came
where he was. And when he saw him, he had
compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his
wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his
own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of
him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out
two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to
him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend,
when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of
these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell
among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed
mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do
likewise."
1. Who is my Neighbor?
2. Anyone in need.

12. II. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS SERVING PEOPLE
C. Serving the Lord--Matthew 25:40 And the King will
answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My
brethren, you did it to Me.'
1. "You serve ME when you serve PEOPLE!"
2. Serve one another - Galatians 5:13 For you,
brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use
liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through
love serve one another.
3. Our service to God is authentic only when we love
PEOPLE and serve PEOPLE
4. Feed hungry PEOPLE, clothe naked PEOPLE, care
for sick PEOPLE.
5. ARE WE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS OF
SERVING PEOPLE?

13. III. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS
RECONCILING PEOPLE
A. Not really Heaven and Hell.
1. None should perish - 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord
is not slack concerning His promise, as
some count slackness, but is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any should
perish but that all should come to
repentance.
2. "Do you want to go to Heaven when you
die?"
3. John 14:1ff . . . In my Father's House are
many mansions . . .

14. III. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS
RECONCILING PEOPLE
B. Instead renewing our relationship with God.
1. See God - Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in
heart, For they shall see God.
2. With Him - Luke 23:42-43 Then he said to Jesus,
"Lord, remember me when You come into Your
kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I
say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
3. Always we with the Lord - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with
the Lord.

15. III. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS
RECONCILING PEOPLE
B. Instead renewing our relationship with God.
4. Reconciled to God - 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 Now all
things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself
through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ
reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their
trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word
of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors
for Christ, as though God were pleading through us:
we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to
God.
5. Our relationship with God determines our position to
Him.
a. We will go to heaven because of our relationship to
God.
b. We will go to hell because of our relationship to
Satan.

16. III. MY FATHER'S BUSINESS IS
RECONCILING PEOPLE
C. My Father's Business is restoring relationships
1. "If a brother be overtaken by sin, RESTORE
HIM!" - Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is
overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2. "if someone is lost . . . SAVE HIM!" - Jude 1:22-
23 And on some have compassion, making a
distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling
them out of the fire, hating even the garment
defiled by the flesh.
D. ARE WE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS OF
RECONCILING PEOPLE

17. ARE WE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S
BUSINESS?
A.Caring for people.
B.Serving people
C.Helping people to know God.