Understanding Our Relationship With the Father: Embracing God as More Than a Boss or Teacher

By Dwayne Moore

You’ve probably heard the saying “You are what you eat.” While that might be true for our bodies, when it comes to our hearts and minds, we are what we think. And the most life-changing thoughts any person can have are thoughts about God.

As men and women in ministry, worship leaders, and church leaders, how we view our relationship with God affects everything – from how we lead our praise teams to how we approach worship discipleship in our communities. That’s why we need to get our thinking straight about who God really is in our lives.

Three Ways We Relate to God (And Why Two of Them Miss the Mark)

Let’s be honest – most of us fall into one of these three categories when it comes to how we see God:

1. He’s the Boss, I’m the Employee

When we think of God primarily as our boss, what happens? We focus on performance, productivity, and results. We believe we have to earn His approval through our ministry of worship or our faithfulness as a lead worshipper. In this mindset, those who perform best win God’s favor, while those who struggle get “written up” or worse.

But here’s the problem: a boss is only interested in what you produce, not who you are. A boss has limited obligation to their employees beyond the work relationship.

I’m so thankful God isn’t just our boss, aren’t you?

2. He’s the Teacher, I’m the Student

In the teacher-student model, we focus on grades, test scores, and making sure we’re learning enough about faith, bible study, and spiritual disciplines. Some of us might feel like God’s “favorite students” when we understand scripture well or lead pure praise effectively.

But teachers typically don’t get involved in their students’ lives outside the classroom. And some teachers care more about whether you’re making the grade than whether what you’re learning is actually transforming your life.

I’m grateful God isn’t only our teacher either.

The Supreme Revelation: God as Our Father

Here’s what changes everything. Look at what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:18:

“And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

The supreme revelation of God in scripture is that He is, first and foremost, a Father. John 1:14 tells us that Jesus came “from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Did you catch that? The Father is full of grace and truth.

God’s love for us is unconditional. He wants us to be His children so desperately that He sent Jesus to die for us. As 1 John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!”

What Makes the Father Relationship Different

As our heavenly Father, God certainly expects obedience – but unlike earthly bosses, He only wants what’s best for us. We don’t have to perform to earn His acceptance. He loves us exactly as we are. When we mess up, He doesn’t fire us or give up on us. Instead, He lovingly disciplines us to help us become more like Jesus.

As our teacher, God patiently instructs us through His Spirit. But His purpose isn’t so we’ll ace some spiritual pop quiz. It’s so we’ll know how to live for His glory. And if we’re not as quick to understand as other worship leaders or church leaders, it doesn’t mean we’re less favored. Every one of God’s children is His favorite!

A Personal Story That Changed My Perspective

Let me share something personal that illustrates this beautifully. My father passed away when I was only 10, but I have vivid memories of his love. Dad was far from perfect – I’m not even sure he was a Christian – but I never doubted he loved me. I can’t count the times I fell asleep in his lap while his strong arms held me tight.

I remember once accidentally setting off an entire pack of firecrackers inside our house! I’d been playing with them in the living room while Dad watched TV. The sight of him jumping out of his chair at the sound of those explosively loud firecrackers hopping across our hardwood floor is burned in my memory forever!

He managed to kick the pack out the front door, but most had already exploded, leaving our living room full of smoke and shredded paper.

When he turned to look at me, I saw my life flash before my eyes. I was already imagining my tombstone! But instead of the punishment I deserved, he slowly walked back to his chair and sat down, staring quietly at the TV.

After I cleaned up the mess and opened doors to clear the smoke, the most amazing thing happened. Dad motioned for me to climb back into my favorite, safest place – his lap. He never said a word. He just held me, and I knew he still loved and accepted me despite my dangerous mistake.

When I think of how loving my imperfect earthly father was, I’m overwhelmed by how much greater our heavenly Father’s love must be. Jesus said, “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!” (Matthew 7:11).

Accepted in the Beloved

Here’s where this gets incredibly beautiful for those of us in worship ministry. In Luke 3:21-22, after Jesus was baptized, God the Father spoke from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus lived 33 perfect years on earth – over 12,000 sinless days. He was the spotless Lamb of God. Even near the end of His life, at the Transfiguration, the Father repeated these same words of delight over His Son.

Now, here’s the life-changing truth: look at Ephesians 1:6 in the King James Version: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.”

Let’s connect these dots:

• Jesus is the Father’s beloved Son
• We are “in” Jesus (according to Ephesians 1:6)
• Therefore, we are accepted by God the Father!

If you’ve trusted Jesus as Savior, there’s absolutely nothing more you can do to make yourself more pleasing to your heavenly Father. Whether you’re a seasoned lead pastor or just starting in vacation bible school ministry, whether you’re leading worship missions or struggling with your godly vision – you are completely accepted in Christ.

Transforming Your Prayer and Worship Life

This Father-heart of God transforms everything about our whole-life worship and lifestyle prayer. We don’t approach Him with fear or formality, but with the trust and openness a child brings to a loving parent.

For worship leaders—women and men—in leadership roles, this means freedom from performance-based approval. You don’t have to be the perfect worshipper to be loved by God. Your worth isn’t determined by how well your praise team performs or whether your worship discipleship programs are successful.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey

Take a moment to honestly assess: How do you most often relate to God? Do you feel like you’re constantly trying to prove yourself worthy? Do you worry that God might be disappointed in your ministry or spiritual growth?

Perhaps your earthly father was distant, harsh, or even abusive. If so, it might be difficult – even painful – to think of God as Father. Remember Romans 12:2: God wants to transform the way you think. Ask Him to shine His perfect love into those broken places and reshape your understanding of what a perfect Father looks like.

At Next Level Worship, we’ve seen countless church leaders and worship teams experience breakthrough when they truly grasp this Father-heart of God. It changes everything about how we lead, serve, and connect with our congregations.

Your Next Steps

Read Psalm 103 slowly and thoughtfully. What attributes of God as Father resonate with you? Which ones are harder to accept? Talk to God honestly about both.

Thank Him for what He’s already revealed about Himself to you. Ask Him to help you not just say these truths about Him, but to truly see and experience them in your heart.

Remember: before we can hope to hear Jesus say “Well done” one day, we must understand and embrace this foundational truth – God is first and foremost our loving heavenly Father who accepts us completely in Christ.

Whether you’re just beginning your journey in ministry or you’ve been a worshipper faithfully serving God for years, this truth remains: you are beloved, you are accepted, and you belong in His family forever.

Want to dive deeper into these truths? Check out our resources on worship discipleship and leadership development designed specifically for church leaders and worship teams.