A Faithful Father
SERMON STARTER
Father’s Day is the time when pastors crank out their best encouragement for the dads who attend his church. Nuclear families with dads who participate with their wives in raising their children are in short supply in our country. When I started preaching 40 years ago, the nuclear family was described as a husband, wife and 2 kids with no divorce. Those family systems represented more than 40% of America’s families in 1976. Nuclear families are less than 20% today.
Fathers who join with their wives in raising their children physically, emotionally and spiritually are refreshing and they are rare. Today, the absentee father is the core of family dysfunction and economic loss in this country.
Statisticians have interviewed hundreds of families and gathered this information"
What did persons being interviewed need most from their fathers?
TIME
LISTENING SKILLS
FAIRNESS
NURTURE
SUPPORT
DISCIPLINE
QUALITY TIME
Who were the problem fathers that caused the most disruption in their families?
SUBSTANCE ABUSIVE
PHYSICAL ABUSERS
SEXUAL ABUSIVE
ABANDONMENT FATHERS
MENTALLY ILL
This sermon is written and given to encourage fathers to spend time with their children and show they care about them. After all, how our kids see us dads is how they will view God. Don’t we call Him, “Our Heavenly Father?”
Pastor Phil <><<
Sheepfold Ministries - Father's Day
June 18, 2016 - Rev. Phil Roland
A Faithful Father
1 Thessalonians 2:1-11
“Father’s Day is a great time to re-examine the gifts you are giving to your children. Will they bring blessing or cursing? Will they produce light or darkness?” Pastor Phil Roland
6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
1 Thessalonians was Apostle Paul’s First written Epistle in the New Testament. It was written approximately 50 AD. This Epistle was written on Paul’s Second Missionary Journey with Silas. He stopped six weeks at Thessalonica and founded the church there.
FIVE THINGS PAUL DOES THAT PROFILES A FAITHFUL FATHER
I. PAUL DEMONSTRATES A FOND AFFECTION - v.8
8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
A. Paul Loves His converts like a Father loves his Children
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children. . . v. 11
1. He has a convincing love for those he led to Christ
2. Paul expresses strong emotion for his spiritual children
3. What father wouldn't be anxious about his offspring
4. You want the best for them
B. Paul feels he has conceived and birthed his spiritual children
4 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you
do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the
gospel. 1 Corinthians 4:14-15
1. Healthy Fathers support, nurture and love their offspring
2. Paul had to leave Thessolonica after only 6 weeks
a. Paul's "Thorn in the Flesh" was probably angry Jews who believed Paul was preaching heresy to his converts
b. They plagued Paul wherever he went
3. Paul didn't "abandon" his flock, he was driven away
4. Healthy Dads don't abandon their offspring for others to raise
PAUL PROFILES A FAITHFUL FATHER BECAUSE
II. PAUL IS WILLING TO IMPART LIFE - v. 8b
8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
A FAITHFUL FATHER, cont. p. 2
A. A Faithful Father IMPARTS Life to His Children
1. Father's don't just INSTRUCT their offspring
2. Impartation is the flow of life to life
3. Eg. In my education and preparation for the ministry I had
approximately 100 Elementary, High School, College, and Graduate level instructors. Maybe only 10 of them IMPARTED life to me. It was the flow of life to life.
4. Real Fathers share themselves with their children
B. Paul left a good part of himself behind as he left this budding church
1. He Loved his new disciples with a Father's Love
2. Discipleship is more than teaching facts and rote learning
3. Greek word for disciples, "Mathetaise" means life-long learners
4. A discipler instills in their disciples a hunger for more of Jesus
5. A life-long learner yearns to know more of God's Word
Psalms 119:11
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
6. Fathers do not just "Dine, Dip and Drop" their Offspring
a. Our evangelical movement is only 300 years old
b. We have ritualized the process of spirituality and growth
PAUL PROFILES A FAITHFUL FATHER BECAUSE
III. HE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HARD WORK AND UNSELFISHNESS
9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. Verse 9a
A. Paul labored Night and Day
1. He preached the Gospel each day
a. His sermons would last for hours
b. The world is ripe for those who will not just preach the Gospel, but will lay down their lives for what they believe
2. Paul worked and earned his own money at night
a. Paul's willingness to earn his own support gave him credibility
b. He was a tentmaker, working with his hands
3. Paul had those then as well as now that expected to be treated like royalty with their every need met
4. A real spiritual father doesn't TAKE, they GIVE
5. Effective Fathers Impart and Give to their Offspring
B. An Effective Father's Attitude is Everything
1. A Father's Attitude is contagious and passes on
2. His Wife gets the positive attitude
3. His Children gets it
4. Zig Ziglar Quote,
"Your Attitude, not your Aptitude will determine your Altitude"
5. Paul forgets himself as he lays down his life for his friends
A FAITHFUL FATHER, cont. p. 3
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. John 15:13
IV. PAUL IS A SPIRITUAL LEADER IN THE HOME - v. 9b
9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. Verse 9a
A. Who is the Spiritual Leader in your home?
1. In my family it was my Mother
2. Dad only rededicated his life to Christ 4 months before death
3. In a sense my mother had to be BOTH parents
4. Although there were FIVE kids, my mother actually had SIX
5. My father was the oldest and he was a problem child
B. Do your kids have trouble calling God, Heavenly Father?
1. House Policeman Father
a. Blows the whistle and calls out infractions of the rules
b. Demands instant obedience
2. Insecure Father
a. Crawls into his "cave" and zones out
b. Fearful of making decisions
3. Hot Tempered Father
a. The Family Volcano, with an explosive rage
b. Everyone walks on eggshells around him
C. Paul wasn't afraid to burn the midnight oil to unburden his children
1. Paul was bi-vocational - We call it "tent-making"
2. His love for his spiritual offspring was genuine and they knew it
V. PAUL IS H O N E S T - v. 10
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
A. Fathers, If you’re wrong, “ADMIT IT!”
1. More than once I apologized to my kids for wrong-doing
2. Each time I did I vowed to them and myself I'd improve
3. In a sense I was learning without a role model
B. Nine Words of Power -
“ I’M SORRY. I WAS WRONG. WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?”
C. Verbal Affection: - V.11
For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
1. Exhort
2. Encourage
3. Charge
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:
Derick Redmond Story
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:
In the ‘92 Barcelona Olympics an interesting story occurred. . .
After suffering a leg injury, Derik Redmond, a distance runner continued his race. With the opportunity to win gone, his desire was to finish the race. From high up in the stands, the athlete's father witnessed his son's attempt to finish. Sensing the hurt, the father left his seat, made his way through the crowd, past security, and onto the track. Lending his strength, the father helped him cross the finish line. Later, the athlete commented,
“I didn't know it was my father until I heard him call me ‘son’.” Doesn't that sound like our Heavenly Father?
Just when we feel we've been hurt so badly by life that we can't make it across the finish line, we hear the voice of our Heavenly Father as He comes alongside to give us strength. The circumstances are so difficult that we don't know He's there until we hear His unmistakable voice. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:30-31)
NOW THAT'S A FAITHFUL FATHER!
Have a GREAT Father's Day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V93-mOwkw3I
A FAITHFUL FATHER
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV)
1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.
2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness.
6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,
7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:
In the ‘92 Barcelona Olympics an interesting story occurred. . .
After suffering a leg injury, Derik Redmond, a distance runner continued his race. With the opportunity to win gone, his desire was to finish the race. From high up in the stands, the athlete's father witnessed his son's attempt to finish. Sensing the hurt, the father left his seat, made his way through the crowd, past security, and onto the track. Lending his strength, the father helped him cross the finish line. Later, the athlete commented,
“I didn't know it was my father until I heard him call me ‘son’.” Doesn't that sound like our Heavenly Father?
Just when we feel we've been hurt so badly by life that we can't make it across the finish line, we hear the voice of our Heavenly Father as He comes alongside to give us strength. The circumstances are so difficult that we don't know He's there until we hear His unmistakable voice. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:30-31)
NOW THAT'S A FAITHFUL FATHER!
Have a GREAT Father's Day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V93-mOwkw3I
My Father
When I was:
Four years old: "My daddy can do anything."
Five years old: "My daddy knows a whole lot."
Six years old: "My dad is smarter than your dad."
Eight years old: "My dad doesn't know exactly everything."
Ten years old: "In the olden days, when my dad grew up, things were sure different."
Twelve years old: "Oh, well, naturally, Dad doesn't know anything about that. He is too old to remember his childhood."
Fourteen years old: "Don't pay any attention to my dad. He is so old-fashioned."
Twenty-one years old: "Him? My Lord, he's hopelessly out of date."
Twenty-five years old: "Dad knows about it, but then he should, because he has been around so long."
Thirty years old: "Maybe we should ask Dad what he thinks. After all, he's had a lot of experience."
Thirty-five years old: "I'm not doing a single thing until I talk to Dad."
Forty years old: "I wonder how Dad would have handled it. He was so wise."
Fifty years old: "I'd give anything if Dad were here now so I could talk this over with him. Too bad I didn't appreciate how smart he was. I could have learned a lot from him."
Writer Unknown
Courtesy of Sheepfold Ministries, 2016
