The Impact of Fathers: Influencing with Faith and Purpose

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Isaiah 38:19 NIV

The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness.

Introduction:

Influencers can have a significant impact on people's lives.

They can shape opinions, trends, and purchasing decisions.

For example, a study showed that around 49% of consumers rely on influencer recommendations for product purchases.

Additionally, influencers can impact social and cultural attitudes, like promoting body positivity or sustainability.

However, the extent of influence varies, and critical thinking is important to differentiate between genuine content and sponsored posts.

"Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." - St. Francis of Assis

“Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something." - Andy Stanley

3. "Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first." - John MacArthur

5. "Your influence will grow when your identity is grounded in serving others." - T.D. Jakes

8. "Our influence grows when we serve others without expecting anything in return." - Charles Stanley

9. "You have influence when others believe in you and follow your example." - Tony Evans

10. "Don't underestimate the influence of a life well-lived." - Max Lucado

Today, as we celebrate Father's Day, we turn our attention to the influential role that fathers play in our lives.

Just as fathers have the power to shape their families and society, we'll delve into seven areas in which fathers can make a lasting impact.

Drawing from the examples of biblical figures, let us explore how fathers can wield their influence to guide their families with faith and purpose.

I. Influencing with Prayer, Like Paul:

Fathers, take inspiration from the apostle Paul.

Embrace the power of prayer in your role as a father.

Just as Paul knew the importance of personal connection with God, so should you.

Understand the essence of prayer (Eph. 3:11-12

Ephesians 3:11–12 NIV

11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

make prayer a consistent practice (1 Thess. 5:17

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

17 pray continually,

and rely on prayer in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:25

1 Thessalonians 5:25 NIV

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

Your commitment to prayer will shape your family's spiritual journey.

II. Influencing with Obedience, Like Joshua:

Following in the footsteps of Joshua, fathers should lead their families with obedience.

Joshua's faithfulness is evident in his obedience, whether in reporting about Canaan (Num. 14:6–9,

Numbers 14:6–9 NIV

6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

crossing the Jordan (Josh. 3:13–17,

Joshua 3:13–17 NIV

13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” 14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

or conquering Jericho (Josh. 6:3–5, 20.

Joshua 6:3–5 NIV

3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

Fathers, demonstrate obedience to God's Word, modeling a life of faith and trust for your family to follow.

III. Influencing with Purity, Like Joseph:

"The best way to influence people is to inspire them, and the best way to inspire them is through your actions." - John C. Maxwell

In the story of Joseph, we find a fatherly figure who exemplified purity.

Fathers, strive to be like Joseph, who remained morally upright even in the face of temptation (Gen. 39:6 ;12

Genesis 39:6 NIV

6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

Genesis 39:12 NIV

12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

Let your children see your commitment to righteousness and kindness, fostering an environment of love and integrity within your household.

IV. Influencing with Patience, Like Job:

Patience is a virtue every father should cultivate, just as Job did. Despite losing his family and health, Job maintained his patience (Job 1:21 Job 2:9 10

Job 1:21 NIV

21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Job 2:9 NIV

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Job 2:10 NIV

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Fathers, remember that your patience during trials not only strengthens your own faith but also serves as a powerful example to your family.

Trust that your endurance will lead to rewards (Job 42:12–17

Job 42:12–17 NIV

12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. 15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. 16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

V. Influencing with Faith, Like Abraham:

"True influence is not about impressing people, but about inspiring them." - Steven Furtick

Abraham's faith is legendary.

Fathers, let your faith guide your decisions and actions.

Just as Abraham left his homeland (Heb. 11:8,

Hebrews 11:8 NIV

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

embarked on a journey (Heb. 11:9

Hebrews 11:9 NIV

9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

and even offered his own son (Heb. 11:17

Hebrews 11:17 NIV

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,

demonstrate unwavering faith in God's plan.

Your faith can inspire your family to trust in the divine purpose that guides their lives.

VI. Influencing with Decisions, Like Moses:

"Influence is not about making noise; it's about making an impact." - Craig Groeschel

Fathers, like Moses, your decisions shape your family's path.

Moses chose against worldly treasures (Heb. 11:25–26 and sin

Hebrews 11:25–26 NIV

25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

setting an example of principled decision-making.

Just as Moses turned away from Egypt's allure, make choices that prioritize your family's spiritual growth and well-being.

VII. Influencing with a Vision, Like Noah:

Lastly, fathers should have a vision for their families' future, much like Noah.

Noah's vision of a perishing world and a way of escape guided him to safety

Hebrews 11:7 NIV

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Fathers, cast a vision of hope, purpose, and salvation for your family.

Let this vision guide your actions and decisions, offering a steady compass in an ever-changing world.

Conclusion:

Dear fathers, your influence is profound.

Just as these biblical fathers shaped the course of history and faith, you have the opportunity to shape the lives of your loved ones.

Embrace the call to influence with prayer, obedience, purity, patience, faith, decisions, and vision.

May your legacy be one of unwavering faith, love, and purpose, leaving an indelible mark on generations to come.

Happy Father's Day!

Here are conversation starters, thought-provoking questions, openness-inducing questions, and action-oriented questions for your small group meeting based on the sermon:

Conversation Starters: Start Talking:

1. Reflecting on today's sermon, what aspect of the seven influences of fathers resonated with you the most? Share a brief experience or thought related to it.

2. In your opinion, why do you think fathers' influence is crucial in shaping families and society? How does this align with your personal experiences?

Thought-Provoking Questions: Start Thinking:

1. How do you see the role of prayer playing out in the lives of fathers? Can you share an example of a father who effectively influences through prayer, whether from your life or from the sermon?

2. Considering the influence of patience, which of Job's challenges do you find most relatable in today's context? How can fathers today channel patience during difficult times to inspire their families?

Openness-Inducing Questions: Start Sharing:

1. In light of the discussion on purity, can you think of a personal story or a story you've witnessed where a father's commitment to righteousness positively affected his family dynamics?

2. Share a moment from your life or from someone you know when a father's faith influenced a significant decision. How did this decision impact the family's spiritual journey?

Action-Oriented Questions: Start Doing:

1. As a result of today's discussion, what specific step can you take this week to incorporate more intentional prayer into your role as a father or your relationship with your father?

2. In line with the theme of patience, how can you practice and model patience in your interactions with family members this week? Consider a practical scenario where you can exercise patience.