CRCF\u201d\u201d6-21-09
\nFather\u201d\u2122s Day<\/p>\n
How to Be a Powerhouse to Your Kids<\/p>\n
Introduction\u201d\u201d[Superman Dad slide]
\nWhen our kids are small, they just naturally think we\u201d\u2122re superman. But it doesn\u201d\u2122t last!<\/p>\n
It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.
\n(Pope John XXIII)<\/p>\n
Dads, if we don\u201d\u2122t learn to do this thing by God\u201d\u2122s design, then our kids\u201d\u2122 lofty view of us will soon fade!<\/p>\n
*The essence of Godly fatherhood is to flesh out God\u201d\u2122s grace in Jesus to our kids\u201d\u201dNOT simply to give moral instruction.
\nHOW do you do that?<\/p>\n
We need to be men like Jesus.<\/p>\n
John 1:14-15\u201d\u201d\u201cSo the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
1.\tFathers, we must lead our children in the ways of Jesus both by example and by instruction.<\/p>\n
Obviously, Dad\u201d\u201dyou can\u201d\u2122t lead your kids in the ways of Jesus if you don\u201d\u2122t know Him personally. (Gospel Appeal)
\nEphesians 6:4\u201d\u201d\u201cFathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.\u201d (NIV)<\/p>\n
NLT: \u201cRather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ephesians 5-6 and Colossians 3-4 are Paul\u201d\u2122s instructions on how we should live in light of what Jesus has done for us. We\u201d\u2122re going to boil it down quickly this morning:<\/p>\n
1.\tFocus on Eternity (Col. 3:1-4)
\nShow your kids what ultimately matters by your focus and priorities! Show them that the importance of obeying God and getting ready for eternity far outweigh running after career, money, and power here on earth\u201d\u201dcause they just won\u201d\u2122t last!<\/p>\n
2.\tImitate God by Loving Others Sacrificially (Eph. 5:1)
\nLoving others\u201d\u201deven those who are hard to love\u201d\u201dto the point of inconvenience and personal sacrifice is the best way to demonstrate to your kids Who God is!<\/p>\n
3.\tKill Sin Continuously (Col. 3:5-9; Eph. 5:3-14)<\/p>\n
This is really about loving Jesus, Who said, \u201cIf you love Me, keep My commandments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Be a man of integrity who does his best to practice what he preaches to his kids! One sure-fire way to make sure that your kids don\u201d\u2122t respect you is to live as a hypocrite, never admitting your inconsistency. Your kids aren\u201d\u2122t stupid\u201d\u201dthey see right through your mask. So, we must kill sin every day. And when we ARE hypocritical in our behavior or words, Dads, we must be humble enough to admit it\u201d\u201dto come clean with our kids. They will respect us all the more for it!<\/p>\n
4.\tPut on Jesus\/Be Controlled by God
\n(Col. 3:10-15; Eph. 5:15-6:9)
\n–In Marriage\u201d\u201dLove their mother sacrificially, like Jesus loved you!
\n–In Family\u201d\u201dTeach your kids to love you by obeying you\u201d\u201djust like we love Jesus by obeying Him!
\n–At Work\u201d\u201dShow the love of God on the job by working hard\/honestly, or by treating your employees fairly and compassionately!<\/p>\n
5.\tTalk to Others about Jesus\u201d\u2122 Ways\/Teachings (Col. 3:16)
\nThe message of God\u201d\u2122s grace in Jesus is what keeps us where we need to be. Let your kids hear you talking about Him. And show them the importance of the Body of Christ by being involved with a church family.<\/p>\n
6.\tRepresent Jesus in All You Do (Col. 3:17-4:1)
\nMake it plain to your kids that your whole life belongs to Jesus! Live wherever you are, whatever you\u201d\u2122re doing so that Jesus is honored!<\/p>\n
The Message: \u201ctake them by the hand and lead them
\nin the way of the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n
This includes BOTH instruction and example. Jesus certainly taught His disciples, as their Teacher. But He also modeled what He taught\u201d\u201dHe lived out God\u201d\u2122s ways in front of them.<\/p>\n
2.\tFathers, we must demonstrate the grace of Jesus to our children in how we relate to them.<\/p>\n
Ephesians 6:4\u201d\u201d\u201cFathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.\u201d (NIV)<\/p>\n
The Message: \u201cFathers, don\u201d\u2122t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them.\u201d<\/p>\n
NLT: \u201cFathers, do not provoke you children to anger by the way you treat them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of all the aspects of being a father that Paul could have focused on, WHY does he warn fathers about provoking their children to anger?<\/p>\n
a)\tChildren naturally respond to authority with anger and rebellion.
\nOur kids don\u201d\u2122t want to be told what to do. Every child comes into this world ready to do their own thing and be their own boss. But God has made us fathers to be the authority figure in our child\u201d\u2122s lives. And there will be sufficient anger simply because we are dads and our kids are kids!<\/p>\n
But, Paul also knows that . . .<\/p>\n
b)\tMen naturally love having authority and don\u201d\u2122t naturally use
\ntheir authority with grace toward those under them.<\/p>\n
For our children to experience grace and love from us as fathers should be our ultimate goal! That does NOT mean that we abdicate our authority. It means that we exercise our authority with the love\/grace\/mercy with which God \u201cfathers\u201d us every day!<\/p>\n
Colossians 3:21\u201d\u201d\u201cFathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.\u201d (NIV)<\/p>\n
The Message: \u201cdon\u201d\u2122t come down too hard on your children or you\u201d\u2122ll crush their spirits.\u201d<\/p>\n
This doesn\u201d\u2122t mean we don\u201d\u2122t punish our children when they do wrong. In fact, sometimes our children need strong consequences because of the nature of their sin. But HOW we mete out discipline is extremely important. You know, even when God has to \u201ctake us to the woodshed\u201d, He does so as our Father, with grace and gentleness\u201d\u201dyet, firmly and clearly getting His point across!<\/p>\n
Practically:<\/p>\n
1.\tWork hard to show your children that you care about the details of their lives and want them to talk to you about everything.<\/p>\n
1 Peter 5:7\u201d\u201d\u201cGive all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deuteronomy 32:10-11\u201d\u201d\u201cHe found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as his most precious possession. Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them in and carried them aloft on his pinions.\u201d<\/p>\n
2.\tWork on HOW you relate to your children\u201d\u201dwhether instruction or correction\/discipline.<\/p>\n
Think about the tone of your voice, your body language and the way you phrase your interaction with your children.<\/p>\n
Psalm 103:8, 10-14\u201d\u201d\u201cThe Lord is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love . . . He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u201d\u2122m \u201cin class\u201d on this right now with my kids. I\u201d\u2122m learning how important it is to deal with my anger\/aggravation and not let that come out in my relationship with the child. I\u201d\u2122m learning that \u201cthe medicine goes down a lot easier\u201d if I don\u201d\u2122t raise my voice as much and carefully choose my words so as not to \u201cpush the child\u201d\u2122s buttons\u201d.<\/p>\n
3. Go out of your way to show your children that you love them unconditionally, all the time, no matter what by doing things for them that are particularly meaningful to each child.<\/p>\n
\u201cnor does he deal with us as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.\u201d (Psalm 103:10-11)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a wise father that knows his own child.\u201d
\n(William Shakespeare)<\/p>\n
\u201cA man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.\u201d
\n(Knights of Pythagoras)<\/p>\n
For our children to experience grace and love from us as fathers should be our ultimate goal!<\/p>\n
Conclusion\u201d\u201d
\n\u201cOne night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.\u201d (Unknown)<\/p>\n
Proverbs 14:26\u201d\u201d\u201cThose who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
Men\u201d\u201dbeing a Godly father is NOT primarily about moral training, though that is a part. Being a Godly father is about incarnating God\u201d\u2122s grace\u201d\u201dthe Gospel\u201d\u201din your relationships with your children!
\nDad, love your kids with the God\u201d\u2122s grace as you take them by the hand and lead them in the ways of Jesus!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CRCF\u201d\u201d6-21-09 Father\u201d\u2122s Day How to Be a Powerhouse to Your Kids Introduction\u201d\u201d[Superman Dad slide] When our kids are small, they just naturally think we\u201d\u2122re superman. But it doesn\u201d\u2122t last! It is easier for a father to have children than for … Continue reading