Building a Legacy of Faith: A Father’s Role in Passing Down God’s Word

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Introduction:

• Warm greetings and acknowledgment of Father’s Day.

• Share a heartfelt story or anecdote about the influence of a father.

• Introduce the main scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9.

• Object Lesson:

• Object: A torch (symbolizing a father passing on the light of faith to his children).

Light a torch then put it out.

• Lesson: The torch represents the faith and values a father passes down. Just as the torch illuminates the path, fathers illuminate their children’s spiritual journey with God’s Word.

I. If we want to guide and protect our families we must obey God’s Word. (Deuteronomy 6:1-3)

Deuteronomy 6:1–3 ESV

1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

When you read the Old Testament sometimes it's staggering how complex the commands of God are to his people. There are literally hundreds of passages and laws that God gave to describe how his people should live. And yet there are a few moments where God crystallizes and summarizes things into a single command. The first passage in this section is is exactly that. It's what Jesus was referring to:

Matthew 22:38 ESV

38 This is the great and first commandment.

No looking at these versus God wanted to accomplish 4 things first of all he wanted Israel to fear the Lord and to respond to fearing the Lord by keeping all of his decrees and commands. And god did not want them to do this just to flex his divine muscles, he wanted them to enjoy a long life. He wanted things to go well for them.

He wanted to bless them.

I saw a post online mocking the Bible for God's judgment of humanity in the flood. It marked how God could be love and yet send the flood. The reality is God created us And therefore has the right to define right and wrong. And so he knew how we were created and when he tells us we will be blessed in fearing and obeying him than that what is best.

We live in a crazy changing world from the economy, to values, to politics and more. Our families need protection and guidance.

Israel was literally finding a new place to live when we run into this passage. They were facing all sorts of changes. And God gave them many commands and he challenged them that if they obeyed these commands, then it would go well with them.

This is still true for us today.

Part of being a Christian in today's world is trusting God. The problem is politics science and opinions change daily. But God's word doesn't change. We need to trust in and commit to obeying God's word.

And the reality is guys if we want God to work in our kids lives and to bless them then we have to lead by example.

• Application:

• Fathers should lead by example in obedience to God’s Word.

• Teach children the benefits of living according to God’s commands.

• Supporting Scripture:

Joshua 1:8 ESV

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

This is a promise made to the people of Israel. But in a powerful way it's true for us today. If we are obedient to God's word he will bless us.

• Object Lesson Connection:

• Just as the torch must be lit to guide, fathers must be grounded in God’s Word to guide their families.

II. Loving God Wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

These verses are the heart of biblical faith in Judaism they know them as the shamah which is a translation of the word to hear. The heart of faith according to the Bible is to know what God says and to conform how we live and believe according to what God says. Jesus reminded us of this later in the book of John.

John 14:21 ESV

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

First and foremost Israel needed to hear. They needed to hear that God is one period he's not one of 1000 different gods he is the one God of Israel. But then beyond that they were called to love God with all their heart all their soul and all their strength. Jesus uses the same phrase to summarize the whole duty of man and essentially all of scripture.

So for someone who lived in the time of the Old Testament the heart wasn't as much the seed of the emotions as it was the place where we thought about your thinking and your will. In other words in the Old Testament you think with your heart. It sounds weird but that's kind of how they thought. New paragraph that's probably why Jesus clarified and added when he quote this passage later:

Mark 12:30 ESV

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Strength here in deuteronomy is not as much your ability to lift a couch as it is your intensity your earnestness as it has been put. God called the Israelites and he calls us to love him with focus and intensity.

God wants us to take time two love him with focus and intensity. The followers God calls you to love him greatly. And he calls us to demonstrate the importance of following God to our children.

• Fathers should demonstrate wholehearted love for God in their lives.

• Show children that loving God is the foundation of a fulfilling life.

• Supporting Scripture:

• Matthew 22:37-38: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

• Object Lesson Connection:

• A torch needs a strong flame to shine brightly; similarly, fathers need a deep love for God to lead their families effectively.

III. Keeping God’s Word in Your Heart (Deuteronomy 6:6)

Deuteronomy 6:6 ESV

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

• Explanation:

• Verse 6: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.”

• Emphasize internalizing God’s Word.

Do you know what changes and do moralizes you like crazy? It's the changing opinions and ideas that you see on social media. It's the different views that you see in the news on TV. It's the opinions of people you run into at work. Our world is changing and you and I need to be grounded by promises and truths that do not change. That is the word of God.

We need to meditate on God's word daily. Maybe that looks like writing a scripture on a three by five card and looking over it when you get up in the morning or before you go to bed. Maybe that looks like a post it note on your bathroom mirror.

Keep God's word close to you and it will protect you

Psalm 119:11 ESV

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

• Application:

• Fathers need to meditate on and internalize Scripture daily.

• Show children the importance of God’s Word by living it out.

• Supporting Scripture:

• Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

• Object Lesson Connection:

• Just as a torch’s fuel must be maintained, fathers must continually fill their hearts with God’s Word.

IV. Teaching God’s Commandments to Your Children (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)

Deuteronomy 6:7–9 ESV

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

• Explanation:

• Verses 7-9: “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

• Highlight the responsibility of fathers to teach God’s Word consistently.

• Application:

• Incorporate God’s Word into daily life through conversations and activities.

• Use practical methods like family devotions, Bible stories, and faith-based discussions.

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.

• Supporting Scripture:

• Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

• Object Lesson Connection:

• A torch lights the way in all situations, just as fathers should teach God’s Word in all aspects of life.

V. The Legacy of Faith

• Explanation:

• These verses collectively emphasize building a legacy of faith through obedience, love, internalization, and teaching of God’s Word.

• Application:

• Fathers are crucial in creating a lasting legacy of faith for future generations.

• Encourage fathers to be diligent and intentional in their spiritual leadership.

• Supporting Scripture:

• 2 Timothy 1:5: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

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.

• Object Lesson Connection:

• Just as the torch can be passed from one person to another, the faith and values of fathers should be passed down through generations.

Conclusion:

• Recap the main points: Obey God’s commandments, love God wholeheartedly, internalize His Word, and teach it diligently.

• Encourage and pray for the fathers in the congregation.

• Challenge fathers to commit to growing in their relationship with God and leading their families spiritually.

Closing Prayer:

• Pray for strength, wisdom, and guidance for all fathers.

• Ask God to help fathers fulfill their role in teaching and modeling His love and commandments to their children.

Final Encouragement:

• Remind fathers that they are not alone; God is with them in their journey.

• Encourage the congregation to support and uplift the fathers in their midst.