FATHER'S DAY
Introduction:
1. Today is a day, set aside from the many others, as a
special day of remembrance. A day to remember Fathers.
2. Not that fathers should not be remembered on other days.
3. One fact is rather evident: EACH ONE OF US HAS A FATHER.
4. One from whom our lives began, as well as our mother.
5. Many in our day and time have shown their ability to beget
a child, but do not take the responsibility that comes with
begetting children.
6. They show no interest in how the child is raised, what he
or she does, nor what becomes of their child.
7. On this day set aside to honor fathers, I wish to challenge
each father to see the need for fathers to take that
responsibility--for themselves, their children and the
society in which we live.
BODY:
I. WHAT ARE THE NEEDS?
1. To provide physical care. 1 Tim. 5:8.
2. To provide spiritual nurture and training. Eph. 6:4.
3. Not to provoke them. Col. 3:21a. Children do not need to be
brow-beaten. Do not be too hard to please. Do not be harsh
or too severe. Children are to be taught obedience, but it
should be in love. REMEMBER: they are children.
4. They should not be discouraged. Col. 3:21b. Show the child
that obedience is the desirable thing. When the child never
is praised, never encouraged, the child becomes sullen,
despondent, then rebellious.
4. To provide social and recreational instructions. Children
need to be shown how to live in our society. How to be a
part of the world in which we live. It is not enough just
to provide a roof over their heads, clothing on their backs
and food in the stomach. They need to be shown HOW to live.
5. For this reason, as well as others, let us be careful how
we talk about our neighbors, our community, our national
leaders, the church, etc., in the presence of our children.
6. Not suggesting that they be sheltered from the wrongs about
us, but that they not become bitter with the world.
II. NOTICE SOLOMON'S ADVICE: Prov. 22:6, "Train up a child in the
way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart
from it."
1. There is no better way to produce a good citizen, to have a
child who respects father and mother, and not bring
heartache to the family than to follow Solomon's advice.
2. Yet, remember, the child has a personal responsibility in
this matter also.
3. Ezek. 18:20-24. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die; the
son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither
shall the father bear the iniquity of the son...."
4. Both father and child have a responsibility to do right.
5. A child may have a good father and still do wrong. As the
child becomes an adult, he/she must take the responsibility
for their own actions. It may be the child does wrong in
spite of the father's efforts. The father is not always to
blame for the wrong decision of their offspring.
6. Cf. Was it the Father's fault when Adam and Eve sinned? Can
we blame Jehovah for their decision?
7. On the other hand, there are fathers who failed in every
way to raise their child; yet, the child grows to be a
responsive and upright individual.
III. A SERIOUS PROBLEM:
1. One of the great problems in our society today is related
to this fact.
2. Men who have begotten children, yet, do not accept the
responsibility to provide for the child they have helped to
bring into the world. They do not respond to the needs of
their offspring.
3. Many do not provide for their physical needs. They feel no
obligation. They have no spiritual background, thus provide
none for their children. It does not take many generations
of this kind of abuse to raise a generation of young people
who have no respect for those who are older.
4. Look around us, what do we see. A generation of fathers who
could care less what happens to their sons and daughters.
They are so engrossed with the material world, with the
mighty dollar, that they just do not have the time nor the
inclination to teach or instruct their children.
5. So, young people grow up with anyone to guide them, to lead
or to counsel them. They just take out their guns and begin
shooting others, or their turn to some other type of
deviations or abuse; many going into drugs.
IV. ANOTHER NEED:
1. There is also the need for children to RESPECT their
fathers and mothers. Many do.
2. However, some fathers have not conducted themselves in such
a way as to deserve that respect.
3. Yet, Paul did say, "Children, obey your parents in the
Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother...."
(Eph. 6:1-3).
4. Those of us who have parents, AND WE ALL DO, must show
honor and respect for them. Perhaps even when they have not
been the kind of parent that they should have been, but for
the simply reason that they did bring us into the world.
V. FATHER'S DAY:
1. Today is Father's Day. May we be encouraged to give honor
and respect to those who are Fathers.
2. May those of us who are fathers conduct ourselves in such a
way that our children can and will respect us as faithful
members of God's family.
CONCLUSION:
1. Actually, each Lord's Day is Father's Day. I now speak in
regards to our Heavenly Father.
2. He, too, above all others, deserves our honor and respect.
3. He has given us the perfect example of love. By sending His
only begotten Son to suffer, and die, for us.
4. We must obey His every commandment. He has given us the
perfect instruction book, the Bible.
5. We have noted that some earthly fathers fail in their
responsibilities; but, not our Heavenly Father.
6. When we go wrong, it is not His fault. He calls upon us to
"Repent, or perish."
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