Fathers Day 2023

Fathers Day 2023: As for me

June 18th, 2023/Casey Middle School

Dad Jokes:

#1 I tried to explain to my four-year old son that it’s perfectly normal to accidentally poop your pants… but he’s still making fun of me.

#2 What do you call a magician who’s lost his magic? Ian.

#3 I’ve never seen the inside of my ears… but I've heard good things.

#4 I asked an old man I know, “Even after 95 years, you still call your wife ‘Darling’, ‘Honey’, ‘Love’... What’s the secret? Old man said “I forgot her name 10 years ago and I’m too scared to ask.”

Title: A Man, A Father, And Godly Leadership. The character of a man and the influence of a godly father.

Passage: Joshua 24:14-15 CSB

“Therefore, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the Lord. 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”

Honor dads and my dad

Pray:

Acronym for “F.A.T.H.E.R.S. D.A.Y.”:

1. FORGIVER - A father that has been forgiven much, generously and quickly extends forgiveness to his children.

   1. “Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.” - Matthew 18:21-22
   2. “There is nothing that you could ever do that would make me love you any more, and there’s nothing you could do that would make me love you any less”

   3. This is why discipline is so critical in the home. It’s not so that you can reign with an iron fist, but so that you can demonstrate true repentance and forgiveness. Your children need to see you look them in the eyes, when they’ve done wrong time and time again, and say “I FORGIVE YOU AND I LOVE YOU!”

      1. You want to teach a child about grace?! Teach them about forgiveness and the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father.

         4. A father never gives up on his children, he knows how to forgive much, because he’s been forgiven much.

      2. Not only should a father be the forgiver, but often he needs to be the one asking for forgiveness.

      3. Your child also needs to hear you say “I overreacted and shouldn’t have said that, will you forgive me?” Often what I’ve seen in my children is that when I’ve genuinely messed up and asked for forgiveness, their next words are “Dad, I forgive you. I’m sorry too.”
      4. “Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” - Romans 2:4

2. ATTENTIVE

   1. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. - Luke 15:17-20

   2. This father saw his son while he was still a long way off. A father pays attention to where his kids are. Not just physically, but spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.

      1. You see, the son thought he was coming to the father, but the father was already watching for him, and he ran to him.

      2. A pastor friend of mine said this quote and it’s always stuck with me “There's a race to the heart of every kid, and the first one there wins." Jim Britts - Parkside Church

         3. Don’t be a distracted dad, be a detective dad! You’re leaning in as if you’re trying to solve the most complex situation.

      3. Illust: “Dad, get off your phone.”

      4. We don’t serve a distracted God! He is present in your life! He is leaned in to your situation! He is listening to your prayers!
      5. A godly father is attentive, just as God is attentive to the needs and desires of His children. He listens, understands, and cares for his family members with compassion.

3. TEACHER

   1. “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates. - Deuteronomy 6:4-9
   2. Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, 2 for I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching. 3 When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, 4 he taught me and said, “Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth. 6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. 8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. 9 She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty.” - Proverbs 4:1-9

   3. Teach your kids the Word of God and how to listen to the voice of God.

      1. Practically you can read the bible with your kids, listen to sermons together in the car, study the bible using online theological studies resources, and memorize Scripture together.

      2. When your kids are trying to navigate truth in their lives, ask them “Does God say anything about that?” or “Have you prayed about that?”

         4. Men, we need to raise a generation of kids that know the Word of God and apply the word to their lives.

      3. Kingdom men, grounded in truth, shape a home, build churches, influence neighborhoods, transform cities, and change the world!

4. HUMBLE

   1. “and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
   2. “But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6

   3. Nothing brings more shame on the legacy of a man than a prideful spirit.

      1. Humility can often be associated wrongly as the opposite of strength or as appearing soft.

      2. God first said this to Israel about their land. Here’s how I’d apply it to a dad: if you want to heal the land, enjoy God’s favor in your life, and experience the power of God in your family, then it’s time to humble yourself before a mighty God and pray!

         4. Humility and Honor, are the secret sauce to a lasting Kingdom Legacy.

      3. It’s

5. EMPATHETIC

   1. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” - Psalm 103:13

   2. Dads can often forget. Forget what they were doing at their child's age. Forget the attitude, forget the mistakes.

      1. But when you remember yourself at that age, and the questions you were asking, the thoughts you were having, then you can take a step towards understanding what’s going on in your child's life.

         3. Application: Ask a lot of questions… lean in!

      2. How are you feeling these days? Anything stressing you out? What are you most excited about right now? Are you interested in anyone? Who’s your best friend and why? Do you ever feel lonely? What’s one thing you would do differently? What’s your favorite sport, drink, food, activity, day of the week… anything?!

      3. As you lean into them, they lean into you!
      4. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” - Hebrews 4:15

6. RESPONSIBLE

   1. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”” - Genesis 3:8-9

   2. WHERE’S THE MAN? He took the blessing of God and used it to hide from God in his own home!

      1. They both sinned, and God questions them both, but He calls for the man first.
      2. A godly father is the foundation of the household. He is in authority because he is under authority.
         3. We’ve got too many Peter Pan men. The boy who wouldn’t grow up.
         4. They don’t fire teams, they fire coaches. Why? Because he’s responsible for having the team ready for play! I’m holding you responsible, even if it’s not your fault. I’m holding you responsible for fixing it.
         5. “An irresponsible man is unworthy to be a husband.” - Tony Evans

7. SELFLESS

   1. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” - Romans 8:32 NASB
   2. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

   3. The moment you look at your new baby boy or baby girl, you have a moment that you realize, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for this child.

      1. There’s a unique moment in the life of a new dad, where all of life's priorities shift in a moment.
      2. There’s a bigger story being written. There’s a responsibility I have to give an account for. This life is bigger than myself.

8. DEFENDER

   1. “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” - 1 Corinthians 16:13 NASB
   2. “After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” - Nehemiah 4:14

   3. Illust: Too many jellyfish men

      1. Too many men are like jellyfish. They can be cute and colorful, but they have no substance or backbone. They just go with the current.

      2. It’s time for men to get a backbone

         4. As much as you defend your career, health, and investments, how much more should you defend your family!
         5. If the devil wants my family, he’s going to have to come through me!

      3. There’s a covering! There’s a war waging for the souls of our children! There’s a real enemy, a real battle, and it’s time for God’s mighty men to rise up!

      4. When the Kingdom man wakes up, it’s an issue for the enemy!

9. ADVISOR

   1. “Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy—and do not sell—truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.” - Proverbs 23:23-24
   2. “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; 3 furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” - Proverbs 2:1-6
   3. We don’t do _____, because it’s God’s house. We don’t say _____, because it’s God’s house. We listen to God, submit to Him, because we want His covering over His house.
   4. Fathers, you cannot pour out what you have not put in! If you want to produce wise children, you must pursue wisdom from God!

10. YARDWORK

    1. “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.” - Genesis 2:15
    2. “But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” - 1 Timothy 5:8
    3. The work for a man was in God’s perfect creation! The work was not a punishment to the man, but it was a purpose given to the man.
    4. “If there is no finance, there will be no romance.” - Tony Evans.

Closing: Your Heavenly Father