10 things dad should teach their children

Introduction

Happy Father’s Day Dads-

Dad Jokes.........

1. Why was Cinderella so bad at soccer?

She kept running away from the ball!

2. What did the horse say after it tripped?

Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t giddyup!

3. Why do cows wear bells?

Because their horns don’t work.

4. What did the triangle say to the circle?

You’re pointless.

5. . What does corn say when it gets a compliment?

Aw, shucks

And those were my dad jokes for the year!!!!

Today we come to the phrase in our church covenant that says

We will seek to teach our children and all those placed in our care in the wisdom of the Lord;’

Dads we have a job to do, We have a role to play in our kids lives.

God has a plan for you as a father. He has called you to raise up godly children!

and Men this job doesnt start when you have your first kid, or end when the last one leaves the home.

The role of raising up godly children is something that begins in our lives before we have kids and only ends when we stand before the Lord face to face ain eternity

Fatherhood is a lifelong committment to investing spiritual good into your kids lives.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Men, God has called us to raise Godly children

and this morning what I want to give you 10 things we as dad’s should strive to teach our children.

Number One is the most important, Dad’s teach your children the fear of the Lord. WHY?....Prov 19

1. To Fear God

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Men we need to teach our children the fear of the Lord.

At first glance, this may seem contradictory to associate fear with a loving and compassionate God.

This"fear" does not refer to being terrified or scared of God. Instead, it signifies a profound reverence for who he is, it means that we stand in respect for the Almighty God.

To fear God is an acknowledgment of His holiness, His perfection, His greatness, and His sovereignty over our lives..

Fearing God is the starting point of true wisdom and understanding.

And it is only When our children understand Who God is in all of his perfection that they will see their desperate need for His son as Their savior.

It also when we have a right understanding of who God is that leads us to obedience and righteous living as the redeemed.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

The point the author of Ecc. is making is that in the end, If you feared God with your life and kept his commandments you will have lived a good life.

Dad’s we need to teach our children to fear God.

To have a right foundation of who he is in their lives.

Transition:

it is only When our kids understand Gods holiness that hey will begin to understand their sinfulness.

And this is the 2nd most important thing we need to teach our children.

To believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation

2. Believe in Jesus

Dad’s Your kids need jesus in their lives.

The most important decision they will ever make is not what college degree to go after or who they will marry or what Job they will be the most successful at

THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION your kids WILL EVER MAKE IS whether or not they will believe in Jesus for their eternal salvation.

Jesus died so that your kids may have eternal life and this eternal life that Jesus is offering them comes only through belief in His name

I love the passage in Mark 10 where Jesus is sitting in a crowd of People and the children start working their way up to him,

Listen to what Jesus Says about these kids

Mark 10:13–16 (ESV)

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Dad’s dont miss an opportunity to share Christ with your kids. Believing in Jesus is the single most important decision they will ever make.

Transition: Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom for your children, Belief in Jesus is the foundation of their walk with God

But just because our kids have accepted Jesus and are eternally secure in His hands doesn't mean our job of teaching our children is over. In fact, it is just beginning.

#3 ... Dad’s teach your children to Honer their parents.

3 Honor Your Parents

Dad’s we are not called to rule our homes with an Iron fist making our kids do every thing we command, but on the opposite side we are not called to be so passive that our kids have no responsibility or respect for your authority in the home.

in Ex. 20-12 God instructs the children

Exodus 20:12 (ESV)

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

When we teach our children to honor their parents we are teaching them to obey God,

We are teaching them to align their lives with God’s plan.

We teach them what it means to obey and not to rebel.

When our children learn to honor their parents they learn to be submissive to other authorities in their lives.

Dad’s - When we teach our children to honor their parents It instills in them the necessity to follow Gods commands as well.

But think about it logically for just a minute.

When you teach your kids to honor & obey authority, they learn how to Honor and respect

their teachers at school,

their bosses at work,

their spouses in marriage,

their pastors and leaders in church,

their authorities in government.

Dad’s when we set rules and boundaries for our children it is not being restrictive or unloving- In Fact, I would argue that it is the most gracious loving thing you can do for your kids, because it is teaching them how to obey God’s Commands in their life.

#4 Dad’s teach your children to live out the golden rule in their lives.

4. Love Others

Kids- who knows what the golden rule is?

Treat others the way that you want them to treat you

The golden rule is not just some great advice to live at peace with other people- it is actually a command Jesus gives us in the book of Matthew

Matthew 7:12 (ESV)

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

It’s pretty simple right? Jesus wants you to love others the way that you want them to love you.

Dad’s tour kids human nature is just like yours- it is selfish and loves to have its own way!

This is why we must teach our kids the principle of treating others with kindness, fairness, and gentleness.

Help them understand that by treating others the way they would like to be treated, they are exemplifying Jesus Christ to the world.

Think about it

- When we love others the way we want to be loved we are loving them like Jesus

-When we are kind to others in an unselfish way we are sharing the kindness that Jesus has shared with us,

-When we have compassion for the hurting we are sharing the compassion Christ has for us,

Dad’s teach your children through your life, to love others the way that Jesus loved them.

#5 Dads teach your children to Guard their hearts

5. Guard your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

(READ NLT) 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Did hear the importance of guarding our hearts- ABOVE ALL ELSE- The ESV says “with all vigilance guard your heart”

Because it is is from the heart that all of our action flow.

Dads’ we have a great responsibility to not only teach our children why we need to guard our hearts but to show them how to guard our hearts

When the Bible speaks of our heart it is referring to to the innermost core of our being, its our thoughts, our emotions, our desires, and our motives. It’s who we are as an image bearer of God.

Guarding our heart means protecting and prioritizing what influences and shapes our inner being.

This world is after your children's hearts- and it will do anything it can to influence the way your children view this life, Why because if the world can grab their heart- then their actions will follow suit.

Dads, dont let the world be what influences your children's lives- teach them the truths of Gods word, Lead them in the way of righteousness and give them an example to follow.

Transition: #6 Dads teach your children to have integrity in all things

6. Have Integrity in all things

Integrity is the idea that you are honest and true in all you do, It means that you stand firm no matter how difficult the circumstances are around.

Dad’s do you know how we teach our kids integrity? BY living our life with integrity-

When your kids see you bend the rules. Do you know what that teaches your kids?

—That its ok to bend the rules

When your kids see you take the time to do things right- They learn to live their life that way as well.

People with integrity display an unwavering adherence to the principles and truths of God’s Word, and this leads them to act honestly and honorably, and to remain steadfast in the face of the challenges in this life.

Dad’s Instill in children the value of honesty and truthfulness, teach them to have integrity in all they do. (Proverbs 12:22

Proverbs 12:22 (ESV)

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

When your children have integrity in their life - they are the delight of the Lord.

#7 Dad’s teach your kids to be generous with all that God has given them to Steward.

7. Be Generous

Dad’s how would your kids describe your giving?

Would they say your a tight wad our generous giver?

Teaching our children to be generous is a valuable lesson that has the power to shape their character and impact the world around them. Jesus said “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (acts 20:35)

As parents, we have the opportunity to instill in our children the joy of giving, the compassion for others, and a heart of generosity.

Proverbs 22:9 (NET)

9 A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

Jesus said “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (acts 20:35)

This seems pretty simple to me- God blesses those who live generously with their lives.

Why -because our Generosity is a reflection of God's nature and the powerful generosity He has given each of us through Jesus Christ.

Dad’s teach your children to not just share out of obligation but to generously give to others..

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (ESV)

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Dad’s be an example to your kids of what a cheerful generous giver looks like in the church. Teach your kids the biblical truth that it is better to give than to receive.

#8 Teach your children to depend on God’s Provision in their lives.

8. Depend on God’s Provision

last week we looked into this in more detail iN Proverbs 3:5-7

trust God not your self- lean on him and He will direct your paths

We should desire to equip our children with the tools they need to navigate life's challenges. And in order fro them to do this well they need to learn a right perspective on their dependency on God

Dad’s it is your job to Cultivate Trust in your kids lives

: Helping your children to understand that God is trust-worth.

Dad’s Encourage your children to trust God with their worries, fears, and uncertainties.

Teach them the truth of Philippians 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Dad’s dont just tell your kids to trust in God -Exemplify it with your life in front of them.-

Let them be a witness to your answered prayers and teach them from your life how God faithfully provides and guides you in your own life.

When you model dependency on God your kids will learn what it means for their own lives

When You fall on your knees in prayer Your kids notice - Teach your kids to pray!

When you open up Gods word daily to seek His will for your life your kids notice - Teach your kids to read the Word

And When you rejoice in all that God does your kids rejoice too. - Teach your kids to praise the Lord for Answered prayers

Simply put- Dad’s be a model of a man who seeks Gods provision in his life through prayer and reading Gods word faithfully

# 9 Dads teach yoru kids to serve the church.

9. Serve the Church

I have seen it over and over again-

Dad’s- the way that you view the church will most likely be the way that your kids view the church when they are adults.

If church is a priority in your life, then your kids will learn that church needs to be a priority in their lives,

but the opposite is true as well- If church is just an added benefit when its convenient in your life- then your kids will view it only as a benefit in their own.

Dad’s we need to teach our kids that the church is gift from God to them.

A gift that God intends for them to be part of.

The Bible doesn’t restrict serving in the church to just the adults, in fact

1 Peter 4:10–11 (ESV)

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Dad’s teach your kids to not just be attenders at church but to serve the church.

If your kids are born again -God has given them gifts that he wants them to use in serving the church.

At Clear Lake Baptist- we love when our kids serve in the church.

As parents, we have the privilege of nurturing a servant's heart in our children, teaching them the joy and fulfillment that comes from serving others within the church.

Finally Dad’s Teach your children to share the Gospel with the Lost

10. Share the Gospel

One of the greatest privileges we have as parents is to teach our children the joy and responsibility of sharing the life-transforming message of the Gospel with the lost.

By equipping our children to share their faith, we empower them to make an eternal impact in the lives of others.

Dad’s we need to teach our children that the greatest form of love they could ever have for someone else is to introduce them to the Savior Who loves them enough to die for their sins.

How do we do this? By living and exemplifying our own a gospel centered life in front of them.

Dad’s if you have a heart for the gospel then your kids will see how important it is for their lives as well.

I love what Matthew 5:14-16 says

Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Dad’s teach your children what it looks like to live a life that points people to Jesus. Dont let your gospel ministry be separate from your parenting- Bring your kids right into the middle of it so that they can see and experience the joy that Comes from a life that is saved.

Simply put dad’s teach your children by your life that the gospel is the most important message they could ever communicate to someone else.

BRING IT HOME

Dad’s we got a lot to do- Raising up kids in the Lord is not an easy task- but I promise you this-it will be the most rewarding thing you could ever do with your life.

Our job is not over when our kids leave the home- it just changes how we do it.

To the men here this morning who are still without children- I challenge you to begin now living a life that is dependent on God- To begin now living a life that is worthy to be followed so that when you have children - your life is already a picture of Jesus to them

To the dads who have young kids still at home- Dont wait until they are teenagers to start teaching them about living for Jesus- let them see how important he is to you now

To the dads of teenagers- I hope you understand how desperate the world is in trying to grab your children's hearts- they want their souls they want to drag them down with the lies of this world. Dad’s dont let the world win in your kids lives -stand up for your kids- teach them the truth of Gods word- Pray for them encourage them lead them- so that when they are on their own they will know the truth and follow it with their lives.

To the dads whose kids are already grown up and moved out of your home- I want to encourage to keep on teaching your children- your job is not done it has just changed how you do it- Stay in contact with your kids- encourage them to follow Jesus, rebuke them when they are not, and set the example for them to follow.

Dads- we need each other dont we?- We need our own accountability in our lives because the imp[act that we have on our families has an eternal value. Lean on each other- encourage one another- pray for one another- because being a godly father is hard work - but worth it!

lets pray