WHAT FATHERS CAN TEACH THEIR CHILDREN (1)
August 8, 1999 PM
Sermon Outline
Prov 4:10,11 and 20-22
INTRO: A young husband, and soon to be father, stopped me not long ago and said, I need to talk with you. I want to know how to be a good father. I rejoice in the fact that there are young fathers who want to be good fathers. Being a father is among the greatestof earthly joys.Seeing faithful Christian childrenaround my table is a sight more beautifulthan any natural or man made beauty. What can fathers teach their children?
I. THAT GOD IS REAL!
A. Their world will be a skeptical, godless place
1. God is derided, ignored, denied on all sides
2. belief in God is not intellectual, chic
B. Strong Christian fathers can offset culture
1. by your praying, by your reading, by your example, by your speech, by your defending truth
2. be unashamed of the great commandment: Mt 22:37
II. THAT BEING A RELIGIOUS PERSON IS GOOD
A. Certainly, I speak of committed discipleship
1. it is not easy - among peers - to be a living letter about Christ
(2 Cor 3:3)
2. we worry about losing our young people - but they too seldom see commitment in parents - fathers
B. Strong Christian fathers are powerful example
1. but children see strong Christian mothers and equate commitment with women
2. Eph 6:4 means more to me every passing day - where did God assign spiritual leadership?
III. THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS THE ANSWER
A. What will make the world better, safer?
1. more laws? more wars? fewer guns? more social programs?
2. no! that has all been tried ... and will always fail
B. Fathers, we must instill in our children a great love, appreciation for the Scriptures
1. Ps 19:7-11 is fact ... not just poetry!
2. the word of God working in peoples lives is what will make the world better and no where will this be more powerfully conveyed than in the lives of Godly fathers!
IV. THAT THE CHURCH IS VITALLY IMPORTANT
A. Our heads know this is true (or do they?)
1. Col 1:18 the body of Christ - Eph 3:21 the glory of God is in the church - Acts 2:47 the saved are in the church - Eph 3:10 the wisdom of God is made know in the church
2. I know of no entity of greater importance
B. Are we, though, demonstrating this belief?
1. by our attendance, our worship, our conversation, our giving, our positive interest?
2. do you, fathers, have a passion for the Lords church? or do we in fact just warm a pew?
CLOSE: Prov 1:1-4. A wise father will not leave instruction in matters grave and serious to others ... or to chance. The effectiveness of our teaching will depend so much on how committed we are to what we teach. So, fathers, it all begins with you and me.
Cecil A. Hutson
08 August 1999