A father's day sermon

Scripture Reading - (Eph 6:1-4)  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. {2} "Honor your father and mother," which is the first com-mandment with promise: {3} "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." {4} And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

INTRODUCTION

      A. it is interesting that God chose to refer to Himself as our Father. He could have chosen: Creator, Maker, Source of Life, Benefactor or any number of other designations.

      B. The fact that he chose Father makes Him an example to us earthly fathers to show us how we should "father" our children.

      C. We're going to look at ten examples for us to follow as fathers.

1. Remember That Faith Is Developed, Not Inherited. - (Rom 10:17)  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2. Teach Your Children To Be Responsible. - (Ezek 18:20)  "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

3. Make Their Faith Personal. - (Luke 17:19)  And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."

4. Stress Love For Souls. - (Prov 11:30)  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

5. Cultivate Practical Christianity. - (Mat 7:24-25)  "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: {25} "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

6. Encourage Doing Right; Discourage Wrongdoing. - (1 Sam 3:13)  "For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.

7. Be As Consistent As  Possible In Discipline. - (Heb 12:5-6)  And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; {6} For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son    whom He receives."

8. Practice Forgiveness. - (Luke 15:20)  "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

9. Instill In Them  A Spiritual Interest. - (Col 3:1-3)  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. {2} Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. {3} For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

10. Be Impartial Toward Each Child. - (Gen 37:3-4)  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. {4} But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

conclusion - To Be A Good Father…

1.  Remember That Faith Is Developed, Not Inherited.

2.  Teach Your Children To Be Responsible.

3.  Make Their Faith Personal.

4.  Stress Love For Souls.

5.  Cultivate Practical Christianity.

6.  Encourage Doing Right; Discourage Wrongdoing.

7.  Be As Consistent As  Possible In Discipline.

8.  Practice Forgiveness.

9.  Instill In Them  A Spiritual Interest.

10. Be Impartial Toward Each Child.

 

 

 

--TEN GUIDE-LINES FOR FATHERS IN DEALING WITH THEIR CHILDREN

Larry Pasley – Jackson Street church of Christ – Alexandria, La 71301