Sermon Tone Analysis

Joshua 24

 

“As for Me and My House…How to be a ‘Thanks Dad!’ Kind of Dad”

 

Intro:

 

A young father in a supermarket was pushing a shopping cart with his little son, who was strapped in the front.

The little boy was fussing, irritable, and crying.

The other shoppers gave the pair a wide berth because the child would pull cans off the shelf and throw them out of the cart.

The father seemed to be very calm; as he continued down each aisle, he murmured gently: "Easy now, Donald.

Keep calm, Donald.

Steady, boy.

It's all right, Donald."

A mother who was passing by was greatly impressed by this young father's solicitous attitude.

She said, "You certainly know how to talk to an upset child—quietly and gently."

And then bending down to the little boy, she said, "What seems to be the trouble, Donald?"

"Oh no," said the father.

"He's Henry.

I'm Donald."

The human need to be well-fathered is illustrated by the enormous response to Bob Carlisle's 1996 ballad, "Butterfly Kisses."

The song speaks of the tender love between a father and his daughter.

Reflecting upon the song's phenomenal success, Bob Carlisle said, "I get a lot of mail from young girls who try to get me to marry their moms.

That used to be a real chuckle because it's so cute, but then I realized they don't want a romance for mom; they want the father who is in that song, and that just kills me."

The TV show "60 Minutes" ran a segment that tells us something important about fatherlessness.

The park rangers at a South African wildlife preserve were concerned about the slaughter of 39 rare white rhinos in their park.

It turned out that the rhinos were killed not by poachers but rather by juvenile delinquents—teen elephants.

The story began a decade ago when the park could no longer sustain the increasing population of elephants.

They decided to kill many of the adult elephants whose young were old enough to survive without them.

And so, the young elephants grew up fatherless.

As time went on, many of these young elephants roamed together in gangs and began to do things elephants normally don't do.

They threw sticks and water at rhinos and acted like neighborhood bullies.

Without dominant males, the young bulls became sexually active, producing excessive testosterone and exhibiting aggressive behavior.

A few young males grew especially violent, knocking down rhinos and stepping or kneeling on them, crushing the life out of them.

Mafuto the gang leader eventually had to be killed.

The park rangers theorized that these young teen-aged elephants were acting badly because they lacked role models.

The solution was to bring in a large male to lead them and to counteract their bully behaviors.

Soon the new male established dominance and put the young bulls in their places.

The killing stopped.

The young males were mentored—and saved.

Joshua:

 

* Man of (Inspiration)

 

* Man of (Integrity)

 

* Man of (Influence)

 

Following Joshua’s Example

 

And as Joshua comes to the end of his life, he stands and gives Israel a great challenge, and in it he gives us a model of how men can be “Thanks Dad!” kind of men.

(And by the way, you may not be a dad…but remember that Joshua was this great mentor to people who were not biologically related to him at all.

And you can be, also.)

\\ Because our world is desperate for people…men and women…young and old…that we can look up to as models…who (To borrow some words from Zac’s dad, Jon Randles,)  know who they are; know who they are living for; and know where they are going.

!

·        Declare Your (Testimony)

 

What you notice about Joshua 24 is that  a large part of the chapter is a reciting of the great things that God had done for Israel.

Verse 2 tells how God called Abraham…even though he at that time served other gods…false gods.

And vs 6-9 tell how God used Moses, a man that Joshua had personally known very well, to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt.

And then look at verses 12-13.

(Read aloud)

 

What is Joshua doing, dads?

He is declaring his testimony.

He is giving his story...

And that’s something you need to do with your kids.

APP: Stories are Huge things to kids…One of our favorite lines to hear is “Once upon a time…” 

 

“Grandpa, Tell me bout the good old days…”

And in just a minute I’ll tell you why that’s such a big part of being a “Thanks Dad!” kind of Dad…but notice with me…the 3 parts of Declaring Your Testimony…(Now, stay with me cuz it’s not like we teach in Evangelism training…)

 

                                                                  

* What (God) has (done)

 

This is what Joshua does in the verses we just talked about…v2-13.

Dads, listen to me.

You need to be able to tell your kids, about what God has done in the Bible… that’s very important.

It’s not enough just to say, “Well, you can read it.”

You need to be able to show them that YOU have read it.

They need to know that it is important to you.

If it’s not important to you…why should it be to them?

Tell them what God has done through history…in the lives of others.

Our kids need to know that this God we come to worship every week is not some distant God who has made no showing…

 

And then also…and perhaps most importantly…we need to tell what God has done in our lives…

 

Dad, let me ask you something.

Do your kids know how you became a Christian?

Do they know any stories about how God has delivered you?  Have you told them how God has led you?  Have you told them about any blessings that God has given you that were shocking and astonishing to you?

 

* (Where) You (Stand)

 

Another part of your testimony is where you stand.

EXP: Joshua says in light of all of these things, “Here’s where I stand…”  Look at verse 15.

 

I’m not talking about being a grandstander…or a big talker…or a crazy man looking for a fight at the city council meeting.

I’m talking about being transparent enough so that you can say, “This is what I believe in…This is what I am going to be and do…and it is that way whether I live or die, prosper or stumble…alone or surrounded.”

You don’t have to be perfect…may have made many mistakes…but let your kids know what you believe…don’t leave it up to them to guess…

 

I love the fact that Joshua says, “You can make up your own minds, boys, but here’s where I stand.”

APP: Dads, let’s go back to that question.

Do your kids know where you stand on drinking?

Do they know where you stand on abortion?

Do they know where you stand on the inspiration of the Bible?

Do they know where you stand on the big issues of life?

 

* (Why) You (Believe)

 

And the third part of that…is equally important.

You need to declare not only where you stand, but why you stand there.

May not seem that important when your kids are little, but as they get to be teens and young adults…they go through a stage, where they want to know “WHY?”

 

Deut.

6:20

"When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?'

Take that part from Deut 6:20 “What is the meaning…?”

Listen, God designed them to be that way…

 

And you’d better have a better answer than, “I dunno.

Ask your mother.”

Now, I want you to notice the rationale for what Joshua believed.

It was based on 2 things.

Write these down…

 

(1)   God’s Activity

(2)   Joshua’s Observation

 

After detailing the activity of God in verses 2-13, Joshua says in verse 14…Now, therefore.