Sermon Tone Analysis

God’s Man First!

Men want to be great.

Healthy males want to be great.

Often, if when cannot find what we deem as greatness for ourselves what we will do is try to live through some other men’s greatness, or we we try to emulate who we perceive as great, or we will despise or even destroy other men who we think are great.

What is also sad is that men are told on a regular basis that it is wrong for them to aspire to greatness.

Men are being told everywhere they go that it is wrong for them to be great.

Men are being told that the answer for them is to be docile, weak, and spineless.

Yes, it is true that Jesus says blessed are the meek.

Meekness isn’t weakness.

Meekness doesn’t mean you are a pushover, but meekness means you are great.

Jesus says that the greatest among will be a servant.

It is important for us to realize that we are a servant to God.

A man who is Christ’s man, is a servant of God.

We love, we are kind, everything we do is because God told us to do it.

Some people think that being a servant means that you are a servant of people first and foremost.

If we serve people we do it because God told us to do it.

We are servants to God, not humans.

This distinction is important because failure to realize this and make this distinction makes you a people pleaser.

You will be like the O’Jays, and say “Got to give the people, give the people want they want.”

But ultimately, we have got to do what God wants.

This is distinction is causing a lack of male leadership.

We have a lack of male leadership all over the place but one of the two most important places is the house and the church.

We have homes where men’s voices aren’t heard, aren’t respected, aren’t appreciated, and men accept this framework, but God calls for men to lead and do it effectively.

In the church, the problem is men just don’t show up and because these two things lack our society is dying.

God created male and female for a reason.

One shouldn’t overtake and overpower the other, but they both must work together.

The problem we have is that for a myriad of reasons men are MIA.

It reminds me of what God said in the garden, “Adam, where are you?”

Today, I want to look at fatherhood and manhood.

Let me say that a few weeks ago we had the brothers come up front and all share testimonies about their wives and wonderful mothers.

We know that mothers can raise sons, some of the men who came up said that they were raised by single women.

So, we know that single women can raise men, but is it ideal?

Secondly, it takes a special kind of woman, a strong woman, and woman who sacrifices much of herself in ways that many will never understand to raise a boy to be a man by herself.

So, I just want to say that today by no means do I bash mothers, single mothers, but I want to uplift and encourage men and fathers.

We celebrated mothers day, we do it real big for mother’s day, so let us a have a moment with the brothers.

I really believe that father’s matter.

I have met too many who carry around hurt and bitterness because of a bad relationship or the lack of a relationship with their father.

There are people mad at our Father in Heaven because when they hear the word “father” they don’t think of embrace and care but abandonment and neglect because of what their earthly father’s did.

I remember what it was like looking up to my dad while he shaved, while he tied his tie, and I remember wanting to be like him.

I remember trying to wear his shoes when he was not looking.

I said to myself, I want to be like him.

I know what it was like when I became a teen and my voice got deeper, my muscles grew a little, and I was raging with hormones, and I started trying to hang out with the tough guys, and my dad pulled me to the side after a particular event and told me if you keep hanging with these guys, you are going to end up dead or in prison.

Spend time with people who are going where you want to go.

When I grew up even when I became stronger than my dad (don’t tell him that), still I don’t want to disappoint him.

So, father’s matter.

Today I want to look at a father in the Bible and explore both fatherhood and manhood.

Let’s turn to NRSV.

11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.

12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’

So he divided his property between them.

13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.

14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.

15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.

16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.

17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!

18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”

’ 20 So he set off and went to his father.

But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’

And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.

27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’

28 Then he became angry and refused to go in.

His father came out and began to plead with him.

29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen!

For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.