The Importance of a Present Involved Christian Father

A Father's Day Sermon, By David Lee Brown

Pray

First, I want to thank all the women raising children without a father. Research studies have found that both boys and girls need a father in their lives. The children have fewer behavioral problems and are more emotionally stable. So, if you are raising a child with little or no male influence in their life and your child is healthy and well-adjusted, you are doing an outstanding job. Thank you!

Now, if you are a father, stepfather, or adoptive father, please stand! Give them a hand!

You can be seated.

Sermon:

The Importance of a Present, Involved Christian Father

As fathers, the importance lies not only in being present but also in being involved. This equation works for both secular and Christian fathers. Christian fathers take this truth to a higher level by teaching their children the Bible, Christian doctrine, and theology.

The problem with many secular fathers and some Christian fathers is that they are present but not involved in their child’s life. We, as fathers, need to use God as our example. Please turn to: Matthew 3: 16-17 says, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:10-11 says, “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

And finally, we also hear from Luke 3:21-22. “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

In these verses, we learn that Jesus is an obedient son who honored his father by being baptized as an outward public demonstration of His faith and by performing many other acts of obedience to the Father.

Because of Jesus’ obedience, God praised him as his beloved Son, with whom he is well pleased. When Jesus needed his father, he was always there, ready to praise his son for his obedience. God was present in Jesus’ life, and he was involved. Which is what we need from our earthly fathers.

A present father is one who has a personal quality that commands attention, respect, or admiration, even without speaking. This includes poise, posture, and confidence.

An involved father provides many other important attributes.

·         He communicates a sense of belonging.

·         Acknowledges your feelings, whether positive or negative.

·         He is a good role model for his son or sons.

·         He shows his daughter or daughters an example of a godly man. She needs to understand love with appropriate godly intimacy. She needs to know the difference between appropriate and inappropriate intimacy. She doesn’t need to seek masculine influence from other men or boys because she has her father's approval, admiration, trust, and protection.

·         He teaches his children the Bible and acts as the high priest of his household.

·         He demonstrates how to treat a woman or wife by example. Showing his children how to treat women, what a Biblical marriage is, and how to maintain it. Ephesians 5:22-25, Genesis 3:16   Ezer kenegdo (עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ), which translates literally to "a helper corresponding to him" or "a strength opposite him".

God, through Paul, writes about three important functions of a father. Let’s flip over to:

Ephesians 6:1-4 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

First, fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath. Wrath is a strong, vengeful hatred or resentment. Fathers will say things and do things that anger children; that’s just part of parental discipline. What fathers must not do is push their child to the point that they persistently resent them or want to commit vengeful acts against them. You can manage this difference between fleeting anger in your children and their wrath by always thinking about what is best for the child's health and mental stability, without compromising Godly and necessary discipline.

Second, fathers are to nurture, instruct, discipline, or train their children. Fathers nurture their children by raising them in the fear and admonition of the Lord. We must raise our children to have reverence and love for the Lord and teach them what they need to know about being good versus evil. Fathers must also be good providers. Providing the needs of life and the training or nurturing for your children so that they can sustain life and always do the right thing, even when you're absent. Fathers train their children to know right from wrong.

Third, admonish (teach, disciple) your children. Fathers must teach their children. First and foremost, they must teach them the Word of God, but they must also teach them life skills. Hunting, fishing, repairing things, how to write a check, how to manage a checkbook, barbecue operation, and field cooking, among many other things. All the knowledge and skills you possess should be imparted to your children.

From the very beginning of our faith, fathers teaching their children the Word of God has been commanded.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Fatherhood is a profoundly important (slowly) job, honor, and sacred obligation that we, as fathers, should welcome and take seriously. If done right, it is the most important role in any family. Fathers must be present, involved, dedicated servants of God, and must lead their wives and their children in a manner pleasing to God. Every child needs a father or a father figure, yes, I said every child. So, even the children of a single mother need a father or a father figure in their lives. Not because it would be nice, but because it’s necessary for the children’s health and well-being.  (See statistics)

Statistics

Approximately 18.3 million children in the U.S. (nearly 1 in 4) live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home. Extensive research from the National Fatherhood Initiative indicates that fatherless homes drastically elevate risks for childhood poverty, behavioral issues, incarceration, and high school dropouts. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Poverty: Children raised in father-absent homes are 4 times more likely to live in poverty compared to those with involved fathers.

Academic Performance: Students in father-absent homes are 2 times more likely to drop out of high school or repeat a grade. Conversely, children with actively engaged fathers are 43% more likely to earn mostly 'A's. [1, 2, 3]

Crime & Incarceration: Studies suggest youths from fatherless families are at a much higher risk of confronting the criminal justice system.

Teen Pregnancy: Girls in homes without an involved father are 7 times more likely to experience a teen pregnancy.

Substance Abuse: Youth are more at risk for early substance, alcohol, and drug use when they lack a highly involved father.

Behavioral Problems: Children from single-mother families are twice as likely to suffer from mental health and behavioral problems as those living with married parents. In a study of 56 school shootings, only 10 of the shooters (18%) were raised in a stable home with both biological parents.

The American Psychological Association indicates that children in single-father households often display fewer emotional and behavioral issues.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Children raised by single dads tend to have higher GPAs and fewer disciplinary problems.

So, Christian fathers, I commend you. You make a complex, profoundly important job look easy. I pray that God blesses you and keeps you present and involved in your children’s lives. Keep up the good work and raise your children to love and cherish our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Does anyone want to add anything or share a father-oriented testimony?

Pray!