WHAT FATHERS CAN TEACH THEIR CHILDREN #4
September 12, 1999 PM
Sermon Outline
Col 3:18-21
INTRO: There was once a television program called The Trouble With Father. (Those were the days of small screens and black and white.) I suppose, in a way, that title is very much the direction of my thinking in recent years and months. Fatherhood is in trouble. Fortunately, though, fatherhood is very much an individual, family by family thing. Fatherhood in my family does not have to be in trouble. And the teaching, training, exemplifying role of father must befulfilled by fathers. No one can take his place. We must teach our children:
I. TO BE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS
A. Flaunting the law is a sin!
1. narcotics and alcohol laws; traffic laws; laws protecting property ... are routinely broken
2. shoplifting has become epidemic among adolescents (even among the affluent)
3. where is the limit? is it murder?
4. are juveniles exempt from law?
B. 1 Pet 2:13,14Submit ... for the Lords sake
1. fathers, what do our children see and hear in us here?
2. do we teach our children that the law is what permits civilizationto be civilized?
3. do we teach them that (in the main) that the law protects us?
4. yes, it is hard, at times, to honor the law and its agents when so many of them seem to use or abuse law to their own ends
5. but I see those words for the Lords sake - we are Christian dads attempting to rear children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4)
6. recall Jesus words: Mt 22:21
II. TO BE ACCOUNTABLE
A. So much behavior today seems to be without thought of any consequence or accountability
1. so, senseless things are done, said
2. and there is no regret, remorse ... and accountability is laid at societys door
3. further, punishment, consequences seem to evokeno concern, no fear
B. Fathers must teach their children of accountability
1. so, Heb 12:9-11 why? for the afterward
2. Hos 8:7 is still truth - and is seen around us
3. Gal 6:7 this is not theory - it is fact
4. so, fathers, unless we want to endure heartbreak and to see our children in terrible situations, we must teach our children to be responsible in view of accountability
5. Rom 14:12 we must not overlook this!
III. TO BE HONEST; PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY
A. Lying, cheating, dishonest are found everywhere
1. a commentator said recently that lying is almost expected
2. lying in all its forms damages so much
3.there is little which damages trust more than will lying - dishonesty
B. Dads must be men of integrity
1. we must be truthful, upright - children are watching
2. Prov 12:22 - Eph 4:25
3. teach your children that a lie virtually always comes to light ... and there is no explaining the lie when it becomes known as a lie
CLOSE: Dads, how involved are you in your childrens lives. Are you only involved in their sports activities? Or do you have involvement in all spheres of their lives? They need you!
Cecil A. Hutson
12 September 1999