#1 Dad

Intro

Being a dad is big responsibility.

As I prepared for this I thought about my dad. Then that turned to thinking about all the great TV dads.

Andy Griffith—single dad, took Opie fishing, always teaching him moral lessons, played the guitar

Charles Ingalls—Father of 3 girls and one adopted son, hard working, man’s man

Philips Banks (Fresh Prince…)—White collar, cornerstone, firm yet kind

So I took one of those online quizzes, “Which TV dad are you?”

I wish I was joking but after answering a dozen or so questions this was my match… Homer Simpson (slide)

So I want to use today, Father’s Day, to launch into a new sermon series about the family and what the Bible says about what a family looks like. I’m calling it Family Portrait. Our first snapshot will cover husbands and fathers. In the next several weeks. we’ll cover topics including wives & mothers, singleness, marriage, parenting and leaving a godly legacy.

I started listening to this podcast the other day called #1 Dad.

Here is the synopsis: As kids, most of us look up to our Dads. A Dad should be a positive role model who shows us the value of hard work. Dads are supposed to teach us the difference between right and wrong. But that’s not the story we’re telling here. This is the story of Gary Vider, a successful stand-up comedian, who grew up with a Dad unlike any other. Manny Vider was a con man, whose schemes and lies span over 4 decades. It’s been 24 years since Gary has seen his father and he doesn’t have a clue what he’s up to these days. But Gary is ready to open Pandora’s Box and take listeners on a deeply personal and comedic journey to uncover the outrageous truth about his Dad before he attempts to meet him face to face. Does Manny regret his con man life? Is he finally on the straight and narrow? Or is he still wearing a fake neck brace, forging documents, and creating sham businesses to scam anyone who will take the bait? Welcome to the hilarious and heartfelt true story of Gary Vider and his #1 Dad.

In the fist episode Gary talks about how his dad would you use him to run a con so they could go to pro sporting events and meet professional athletes. Including the one and only Michael Jordan. His dad call the media directors of these sports teams, tell them he was from Sports Illustrated for Kids and that they’d like press passes so that they could cover the game and interview certain athletes. Gary was 6 or 7 at the time and he would be the “reporter” his did the “camera man” and they would show up, get there passes and enjoy free games, get autographs and pictures and no one was ever the wiser.

In the second episode Gary talks about how is dad would help him photo copy $1 bills so he get pay for his school lunches.

Eventually Gary gets fed up with his dad and thus the decades of alienation.

Today I want to talk about...

1. The ways a husband and a father can walk in integrity.

The are two different definitions for integrity that I want to address today. The first deals with personal moral character.

I’ve often heard integrity defined as “doing the right thing especially when no one is watching.”

A righteous man who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him. Prov. 20:7 (NASB)

Let’s define some terms

Righteous—acting in accord with divine or moral law; morally right or justifiable

Integrity—firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values

We can also look at some of the synonyms of the word integrity in order to gain a better understanding.

PURITY

Psalm 24:3–4 NIV

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

Matthew 5:8 NIV

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

That sounds great don’t they until we realize something (at least if your anything like me). Purity is not something that comes easy.

Listen to the words of King David

Psalm 51:10 NIV

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

So purity, biblical purity, comes not from pure will but from God. It’s some thing that has to be created in us. The context of this psalm is David’s response to being called out on his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband.

If we flip over to the NT Peter adds some more teaching

1 Peter 1:13–16 NIV

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

(expound on text)

*The standard of purity is found in the person of God. Not in a popular vote, or a cultural norm.

So what does this look like in real time?

Stop looking at pornography

Stop using foul language

Treat your wife with love and respect

TRUTH

We might also call this honesty

Proverbs 12:22 (NIV)

The Lord detests lying lips...

Proverbs 19:1 ESV

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech...

Lying, stealing, cheating… these are all addressed in the 10 commandments, the prophets, in Jesus’ teaching and in the writings of the apostles.

They guy in pod cast I was telling you about said he had no idea when his dad was telling the truth because he was so dishonest.

Men, be examples of honesty and truthfulness in your family, for your wife and for your children.

A moment of vulnerability

It took me a while in our marriage for me to be honest when I had made a mistake or forgot something. I didn’t want to disappoint Kim I was usually very disappointed and angry so I’d tell a white lie or a half truth.

Just like purity, the standard again is found the person of Almighty God.

Isaiah 45:18–19 NIV

For this is what the Lord says— he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited— he says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

So we can trust what he says to be truthful (He’s a good Father) but when we look at God as realize that he also the standard of truth we should desire to emulate that.

Matthew 5:33–37 NIV

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

So what does this look like in real time?

Tell the truth

Deal honestly with your co-workers, employees, employers, neighbors, community, your wife and your children

TRUSTWORTHINESS

I like to think of this as being a promise keeper.

What is your word worth? Again if we take our cue from God the Father he is always faithful, always trustworthy

Psalm 18:30 NIV

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Therefore can we echo the Psalmist?

Psalm 116:12–14 NIV

What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

So what does this look like in real time?

This time I want to share from the Promise Keepers Organization

1.  A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer  and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. 2.  A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises. 3.  A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity. 4.  A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through  love, protection and biblical values. 5.  A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honoring and praying for his pastor, and by actively giving his time and resources. 6.  A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity. 7.  A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment (see Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20 ).

2. Integrity can also be defined with regard to how well something is built and is holding together.

Are you a safe and secure place for your wife and/or children?

Are you modeling what it means to be good citizen and member of your community?

Are you building your family up on the rock that is Christ Jesus?

BE THE SPIRITUAL LEADER IN YOUR FAMILY!

TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO CHURCH!

MODEL CHRIST!