Fatherhood

Today we want to honor our fathers and show appreciation for their dedication and hard work for the family.

But I also want to challenge us today as well.

Legacy

We saw the mother’s legacy passed on in the beginning of 1 Timothy.

Sincere Faith

We also see the Fatherly connection between Paul and Timothy.

2 Tim 1:2 - To Timothy, my beloved son.

2 Tim 2:1 - You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual father and son.

Passing on the mantle

I will springboard off of this for Father’s Day, and come back to it next week.

2 Timothy 2:2 NASB95

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Gentlemen, our goal as men and fathers is to prove ourselves faithful enough that we could be entrusted with a treasure far surpassing it’s weight in gold, entrusted to deliver that treasure to the next generation, even at the expense of suffering for it.

We do that by being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and by being faithful stewards of what God has commissioned to us.

Strength,

Integrity,

Faithful Stewardship

Strength

Being Strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Grace

We really can’t be what some have called “the self-made man”. That is a myth perpetuated by culture and media.

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 NASB95

For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB95

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Grace not only saves, it sustains and strengthens.

Grace is the gift that keeps on giving.

So we pray, God strengthen me by your grace to be who you want me to be and do what you want me to do.

G.od’s

R.iches

A.t

C.hrist’s

E.xpense

Ephesians 1:3 NASB95

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

The Treasure Chest of everything that we need.

Hebrews 4:15–16 NASB95

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Integrity

In Christ Jesus

Promise Keepers

Who are we in Christ?

We are a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Integrity: Who are you when no one else is looking?

You are the same by yourself as you would be around your family as you would be around your friends as you would be around non-Christians, as you would be at work or at play.

It is a temptation for us to be chameleons and change how we talk and act depending on who we are around.

Do we bounce back and forth between our dead self and our new self? That is called duplicity or double mindedness in Scripture

Ephesians 4:14 NASB95

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

Ephesians 4:15 NASB95

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Integrity is spiritual growth and maturity

Ephesians 4:13 NASB95

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

We need to grow in our knowledge of Jesus.

We need to grow in our relationship with Jesus.

Jesus is our measuring stick.

John 15:5 NASB95

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 14:20 NASB95

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

Being Faithful to God

Faithfulness

Trustworthy

Do I say what I mean, and mean what I say?

Do I follow through on what I say?

Responsible

Duties to oneself and to others

Am I dependable?

Will I take care of my responsibilities without being asked?

Firmness in faith

What I do I do as unto the Lord.

I don’t compromise the essentials.

I have a sure foundation under me.

Fear of the Lord

Part of faithfulness is being a good steward

Faithful Stewardship

Our families are the greatest thing we have to steward.

We are called to Govern our Family in Christ

Psalm 128

The Blessing Of A God-Fearing Family (vs. 1-4)

It Starts At The Top

Men, Christ is our head

We are the head of the family

Fear the Lord and walk in His ways = integrity and strong in grace in Jesus.

Trickles Down Through The Wife

A Fruitful Vine

Production

Health

Within the house (family)

Fleshed Out In Our Children

Olive Shoots – an indication of wealth and value, and preparedness to continue in the father’s footsteps. In due time they will continue the work that their father has begun.

Around your table – enjoying the warmth of family

A big piece of that stewardship is being able to pass our faith on to our children.

3 John 4 NASB95

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 NASB95

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

Faithfulness negatively consists in their not losing, neglecting, ignoring, or falsifying what Paul has said.

Positively it consists of their handling accurately the word of truth.

A comment on these faithful men being teachers in the church. But, the goal is for all men to rise up and be leaders in the church in some capacity and leadership starts at home in the family. The goal of mentoring, and discipleship within the church should be to raise up other men who can teach and then disciple others.

Raising Up Faithful Men

It starts in the home, when they are children.

We need to set the example for our kids.

They are watching us.

Often more is learned through observation than from what we tell them.

What are our kids learning about being a father by watching us?

A Day in the life of a Dad video

Ephesians 6:4 NASB95

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

Do Not Provoke Your Children to Anger

Colossians 3:21 NASB95

Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

Bring Them Up

To nourish, rear, feed.

to nurture, bring up to maturity.

To train or educate

In the discipline of the Lord

paideia - to instruct

instruction and training by act and discipline.

directing and correcting

would be incomplete without nouthesia

In the instruction of the Lord

nouthesia - admonishment

words of encouragement or reproof which leads to correct behavior

In both words there is an appeal to the conscience, will, and reasoning facilities.

You should want to do the right thing

Here’s why.

Why are mothers not addressed here?

Is it because their training methods are perfect?

Is it because they are always right? Mother knows best?

No, it’s because Fathers must remember the stewardship role God has given us.

We are given the responsibility of being the covering over our kids.

We are the ones responsible for making sure our kids are brought up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

We are responsible to help our children reach their full spiritual maturity and giftedness.

We are training future warriors and supporters

The goal for Fathers is not to teach personal preferences, but rather spiritual truths.

The goal is not parental authority, but passing on God’s authority to children.

The Ultimate Example Of Fatherhood? God the Father

Exodus 34:6–7 NASB95

Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished...

Fatherhood:

Strength - Grace in Christ

Integrity - Growth in Christ

Faithful Stewardship - Governing our Family in Christ

We want to be faithful men who can raise up faithful men to faithfully deliver the truths of God to other faithful men.

Closing Song: Good, Good Father