God Bless Good Fathers!

Why the Lord Trusted Abram: Gen18.19

Where Have All the Fathers Gone?

• Men shirk leadership at home >> seed      anarchy in society (Ex20.6).
• Divorce judges, by default, grant custody of      children to Mom.
• Over 1/3 of nation's kids in single-parent      homes. Poor fatherless kids.

Good Fathers...Have Good Wives

• The 1^st Command: "Be fruitful and      multiply" (Gen1.28).
• A bitter, disrespectful wife will breed      foolish children: Prov19.13&14.
• Marry a crown and a fruitful vine: Prov12.4 /      Psa128.3.

Get a wife who loves God & respects her husband >> good children.

Dad is a Real Man

• Good, hard-working men provide for family:      Prov13.22.
• Through respect for God, give them shelter:      Prov14.26.
• Walk honest, brave, upright -- model of      maturity: Prov20.7.

Good fathers and their children - proud of each other! Prov17.6

Wisdom for Raising Children

• Delight in your children -- and train them:      Prov3.11,12
• Seek their blessing -- for many generations:      Prov4.1-4
• Loving them -- is hard at times -- but leads to      life: Prov13.24 / 22.6

We must show our children who God is -- Heb12.5-11.

Fathers are Spiritual Leaders

• Job was a priest for his family (Job1.4,5) /      Moses: "teach" (Dt6.7)
• Elders and deacons must guide their family      well (1Tim3.4,5,12)
• Nothing makes Dad's day as children living in      truth (see3Jn4)

First, Honor Your Father in Heaven

• A real man honors and serves the LORD. First,      He trains you up!
• Then, you can be a good example and trainer to      your children (Eph6.4).
• Be their mentor in humility, repentance, and      obedience to Jesus.

Now, that's leaving a legacy for your children.

God, the Father, yearns for His wayward children to come home (Lk15.20-24)

notes by David Teel Saturday, June 14, 2014

special thanks to Mark Driscoll, Seattle WA