Father’s Day Message

The following is my Father’s Day outline for this Sunday, June 19th. Happy Father’s Day!

Father’s Day Message:

“WE NEED FATHERS!… AND THE HEAVENLY FATHER”

INTRODUCTION

                Chicago, many mass shooters

                Pregnancy Centers

WE NEED FATHERS!

                Raise up a child… [not a guarantee]

                How not to raise a child

                   Eli—would not intervene when sons going down wrong path

                   Samuel—away from home too much?

                An outstanding father—Zechariah, father of John the

Baptist

                An outstanding stepfather—Joseph, husband of Mary

                           Listened to God and His messengers… and obeyed

                                                After Mary is pregnant

                                                While in Bethlehem

                                                Return to Nazareth

                                                Mentoring boy Jesus

                Children crave limits and love from their parents

                What Paul writes to Fathers:  Ephesians 6:4

                                Don’t:  exasperate your children

                                Do: Bring them up in the nurture and

admonition of the Lord.

                The need for mentors/male role models/father figures

WE NEED THE HEAVENLY FATHER

                Pastor Phil’s story

                                Hebrews 13:5

                God rarely called “Father” in the Old Testament—Isaiah 63:13

                Jesus’ relationship with His Father helps us

                                Mostly in prayer

                                                Pattern—Matthew 6:19 (first and holy)

                                                Prayer—John [John 11:41-42, John 17:1, Luke 23:46]

                Paul’s “Father” prayer—Ephesians 3:14-16

APPLICATION

                All Christian men can be role models

                All Christian women can help raise sons and grandsons and/or be role models to men who will become good Christian fathers.