A Father's Example

Introduction:

What are some funny things dads love to say?

Have you ever noticed how dads have to:

Comment on the weather or become a human radar

Say things like, “What’s the damage?” when the bill comes

They will say, “Well, they don’t make them like they used to” when something breaks

Dad’s also have the responsibility of making sure that you don’t take yourself too seriously by doing things that might embarrass you in front of your friends.

Do you know what I mean? They tell jokes that are so stupid they become funny!

So on this father’s day, I thought I would share a couple with you.

What is brown and sticky? A stick

How does the man on the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it.

After having been on two back to back mission trips, I’m tired. I slept like a log last night and woke up in the fireplace!

Last one…

When you are leaving today and say to your dad “I’ll call you later” you just might here him say...

“Don’t call me later, call me dad!”

We love dads and today we want to talk about their examples that they set. We can lean a lot, good or bad, from our dads and we want to make sure that we are being a good and godly example to our kids.

1.Godly Fathers Serve the Lord (v.3)

2 Timothy 1:3 ESV

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

2. Godly Fathers Follow Faithful Examples from the Past (v.3)

2 Timothy 1:3 ESV

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

The key is to follow godly men

We are not limited to following only our fathers.

Read books written by godly men who can lead you.

Listen to sermons written by godly men.

Am I a godly example worth emulating?

What will people say about my life and legacy when I am gone?

3. Godly Fathers are Thankful for Their Families (v.3-4)

2 Timothy 1:3–4 ESV

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.

Paul longed to see Timothy

Paul gave thanks to God for Timothy

Paul invested in Timothy and Timothy wasn’t even his own son. We have no evidence that Paul was ever married, yet he adopted Timothy in the faith.

Timothy had both a godly mother and grandmother as we see in v.5.

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

However, Timothy’s dad doesn’t seem to be involved, at least in his faith.

Acts 16:1 ESV

1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

Notice how the text mentions that Timothy’s mother was a believer but it calls his dad a Greek. This isn’t just a reference to his ethnicity, it is a reference to his faith or the text would say that both were believers.

We have not real mention besides this of Timothy’s father, so he either died or was not involved in Timothy’s faith.

Paul calls Timothy his son in the faith.

1 Timothy 1:2 ESV

2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Timothy 1:18 ESV

18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

Paul invested in Timothy and became a spiritual father to him. Timothy also traveled with Paul.

2 Timothy 3:10–11 ESV

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

Paul even took the responsibility of having Timothy circumcised in order that Timothy might have access to go with him and preach in places that otherwise he might not have been able to go.

Acts 16:1–5 ESV

1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

Through all of this Paul and Timothy developed a spiritual father-son relationship and Paul was thankful for Timothy. Paul invested in Timothy.

We have a crisis in our country today of uninvolved parenting. You cannot lead your family if:

You are not physically present

You are not mentally present

You are not spiritually invested

Your kids don’t accidentally become followers of Christ.

I will tell you one thing. I am grateful for the many people that invest in my children’s lives spiritually, but I am jealous to be the man that God has put in their lives to help them know Jesus.

I do not want to outsource that to anyone else or be “out of the picture” in their spiritual lives. I want them to say that part of the reason they love Jesus is because I was a godly example to them and I invested in them. I want them to know that I thank God for them and I want to be sure to actually do that by being in prayer for them.

Paul wasn’t just thanking God for Timothy, he was praying for him too.

And, remember, Timothy was not Paul’s own flesh. This was someone else’s kid.

Are you willing to invest in your own kids?

Are you willing to invest in someone else’s who has no godly father or example to follow?

4. A Godly Father Encourages His Children to Use Their Gifts for the Kingdom (v. 6-7)

2 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Timothy struggled with fear and self-esteem

He was young

He was at a difficult church

He needed constant encouragement

Illustration: Dad telling his son to hold the flashlight.

Papa Jerry and corn hole.

Kenny and encouraging kids to get involved in missions projects.

Paul constantly reminded Timothy to use his gifts.

Look at 1 Tim. 4:14

1 Timothy 4:14 ESV

14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

Timothy was not a bother to Paul, but he needed encouragement and Paul was ready to give it to him. Paul didn’t do it once and tell Timothy not to forget it. He did it again and again, because Timothy needed that reminder.

As godly fathers, it is our job to encourage our wives and children and not exasperate them.

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.

Conclusion:

As we think about the example of a godly father, how do you measure up this morning?

You may find yourself a little discouraged or frustrated that you aren’t doing some of the things we have mentioned. That’s okay. There is grace for you.

Pray and ask God to help you become the man He wants you to be.

But realize something else as well. There is only one way we can be the man God wants us to be, or the woman for that matter.

We have to have Christ in our hearts living out the faith through us. We will never measure up to the standard God has set for us if we do not have Jesus.

Our heavenly Father sent his own son to be the sacrifice for our sins so that we could be with Him in heaven.

He is the only way to be saved. He loves you that much that Jesus died for your sins.

Will you accept his offer to adopt you into His family this morning?