A Healthy Church NEEDS Good Fathers

INTRO: Best Father in Bible

Mother’s Day - easy; Father’s Day - not so much

(Ladies, bear with us, pray for us today)

QUESTION: What is the best thing you, dads, can give your children?

A Healthy Church - Good Fathers

In very, very short supply. How about us, Cornerstone?

READ: ,

In light of present, surrounding evil, we can model:

1) Priorities - “No other gods before Me”

Resisting ungodly, unhealthy influences

Beware worldly wisdom,

Help children discern evil vs good,

2) Teach

You are teaching something

God’s Word needs to get in you

What role does God’s Word play as you (not your wife) guide your family?

, starts with Dads at home, also (Train up a child..)

3) Live as though Christ is in YOU - Faith & Faithful Living

Every day, life declares Jesus as your Lord

What role does God’s Word play as you (not your wife) guide your family?

Obey Scripture - rest on it for all matters pertaining to life/godliness (2 Peter 1:3)

4) Stated Life Goals -

Decide ahead of time to pursue righteousness

Explain to kids your goal to live for God

Don’t assume they know. Actually, they KNOW what is important to you already.

Your life goals dictate how you handle trials and temptation -

What is your desire for your children, young or grown? Do they know? (YES, they DO)

5) Patience - (God is patient)

Trust God

Bridle the tongue (James)

Promote peace -

6) Love -

Selfless mindset regarding following Christ

Then, Selfless to others, BEGINNING with wife and children

7) Steadfast, in challenges and trials

God is steadfast -

Dads, ALWAYS moving forward in faith

8) Enduring hardships (suffering) - for the faith

What has your faith cost you? -

Jesus endured.

When hardship comes, your children will watch how you endure, how you respond and react.

Leading the Way - So others will follow in truth - Our Job, Discussion

All this, above, evident in a father, a man, who takes relationship with God SERIOUSLY

ILLUST: Dads, stand up - thank you

Genesis 18:19 NASB95

“For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”

3 John 4 NASB95

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

ILLUST: Dads, stand up - thank you, MEN, stand up - thank you

Bulletin stats...

Best things to each children

Passionate pursuit of Christ

How to love your wife

Boys will see and learn what you teach

Girls will seen a learn what to look for in a husband

How to repent

No guarantees

Hezekiah > Manasseh

Amon > Josiah

ULTIMATE SUCCESS LIES WITH GOD

Best father in Bible - God

(My story, growing up, needed better father role model, found Him when I found Christ)

Don’t be jealous if/when your child grows up and loves God more than he.she loves you. THAT’s the plan! Is it YOURS?

MUST be involved with God, not:

2 Timothy 3:5 NASB95

holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

POINTS:

Kids see what you make important

They even see if you make THEM more important than God - what you place at the center of life as important

Time is indeed good to spend with kids

If you are forsaking God, in the process:

Involvement with church

Praying with believers

Actively learning and growing in your faith - purposeful

TALK is very cheap

LOOK at the facts

The church, THIS church, needs men who put God first

What are you asking your wife to submit to?

“But it’s family time, we can go to church NEXT week”

“But it’s what the kids want to do”

MY PERSONAL POINTS:

Men need the church, just as the church needs the men

My personal leadership -(need to step up)

There WILL be a men’s Bible study in the Fall

If we have 2 guys who show up, then we have 2 guys who show up

SOMEONE has to make this important

God’s kinda told us so

I asked last week, can we handle the truth?

Men, overall, do these less (not just attendance):

Pray, lead, give, volunteer/serve,share Christ, read Bible

THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP

Men, we (US, you and me) need:

Humble, Pray, Worship, Follow, Lead

Pray

Worship

Follow

Lead