Read: 1:13-17 The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias the priest to tell him about his son that would soon be born. John the Baptist was to have a tremendous ministry. Part of that ministry is described for us in verse 17, "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children". Since today is Fathers Day, I want to deviate from our current study through the gospel of John and focus on the subject of 'Fathers'. Somehow Father's Day doesn't seem quite as important as Mother's Day, and it may only be a marketing ploy to sell more greeting cards, but I would like to address those of us who are fathers, especially fathers who still have children at home. This is a very important time to be a father. The children born between 1976 and 1996 represent one fourth of America's population. This generation is called "The Millennials," or "The Bridgers" because they are the bridge to the new millennium. For at least the next half-century, they will be the most influential people in the world. If you are a dad, some of them probably live in your house; but maybe not, because many Bridgers do not live with their fathers. At any given time, nearly one-third of all children 18 and under do not live in the same home with their fathers, and less than half spend their entire childhood with both of their parents.
Fathers are supposed to provide for the material needs of their families. They are supposed to teach the difference between right and wrong, and to show what it means to be gentle as well as strong. Fathers, more than anyone else, teach their sons what it means to be men and their daughters what it means to be women. Bridgers are being raised in a world without absolutes. Although they have some interest in spiritual things, they have little or no interest in organized religion. They have been trained to be suspicious of anyone who claims to know the truth. Listen to these sobering statistics, while 60% of their grandparents, 40% of their parents, and even 25% of their older siblings claim to be Christians, only 4% of the Millennial generation will profess faith in Jesus Christ. What can dads do about this? To put the question another way, what can a father do to promote the spiritual welfare of his home?
I. Improve His Own Spiritual Walk With God
A. The best way to strengthen a family's faith is to strengthen the faith of its father.
1. Before faith can be strengthened it must be possessed.
2. Our faith in Christ must be genuine and we need to communicate it to our children!
3. The term 'faith' here is exclusively a reference to personal faith in Christ!
a. Do you believe the gospel message of the Scriptures?
b. That Jesus is the one and only sinless Son of God?
c. That He died on Calvary in our place to pay the penalty for our sin?
(Rom 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(Rom 6:23b) For the wages of sin is death…
(Rom 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Rom 10:9-10) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
d. That is what it means to have faith in Christ.
e. That is what it means to be a Christian.
B. It all begins with the Fathers.
1. Whatever spiritual changes need to take place in our households must begin in our hearts.
2. We must rededicate ourselves and our families to the glory of God.
3. That means taking the lead when it comes to spiritual matters.
4. Wives should never have to 'drag' their husbands out of bed in order to get them to church!
5. Dad your children will follow your lead.
C. The dad's role is not just authority, but example as well:
1. The 'do as I say not as I do' philosophy just doesn't work anymore!
2. Actually it never did work.
3. Children look to their parents for an example.
(Gen 18:19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
4. We need to lead in such a way that our children will follow our example.
(1 Cor 11:1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
5. Dad's, where are we leading our families?
II. Love and Cherish His Wife
A. Once again, it starts with the father.
1. Dads, all the love in your household flows through your love for the woman you married.
2. More than anything else, what gives your children confidence to face the world is the absolute certainty that you will always care for their mother.
3. I submit to you that your love for her is as important to your children as your love for them.
4. Children learn what love is from their father's heart.
B. Again, we must set the example for them.
1. God has commanded husbands to love their wives.
(Eph 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
2. How? '…even as Christ also loved the church…'
3. The love a husband is to have for his wife is to emulate the example we have of the love of Christ.
4. Our love is to be self-sacrificing, long-suffering, unconditional, and genuine.
III. Provide For His Family In All Ways
A. That doesn't sound very spiritual does it?
1. But it is!
2. The importance of this is sometimes overlooked these days.
3. But providing for his family is a father's God-given responsibility.
(1 Tim 5:8) But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
B. Consider the ways fathers are to provide.
1. They must spend time with the family.
a. That means that dad shouldn't be a workaholic!
b. How can a man love his wife and be the right kind of influence on his children if he's never home?
c. I read where the average American dad spends only fourteen minutes a day with his children.
2. Fathers should talk to their children.
a. Have you ever thought or said, "I can't talk that kid!"
b. That isn't optional … fathers must talk with their children!
c. They should teach them and play with them.
(Deu 6:6-7) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: {7} 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.
d. "when thou sittest…when thou walkest …and when thou liest down…"
e. That about covers it…Dad, talk to your kids constantly.
3. Fathers should also worship with their children.
a. The best way to teach your children that knowing Jesus Christ is the most important thing in the world is to treat it as the most important thing in the world.
b. It may sound a bit overworked or trite but it is an eternal truth: "The family that prays together stays together!"
c. That means going to a Bible teaching Bible believing church together, sitting together and spending time in family worship.
d. Dad, your children need to see you read your Bible and hear you pray, sing and worship.
How can a father promote the spiritual welfare of his home and family?
In retrospect, I know I could have done a better in every one of these areas…we all could · But it's never too late to begin!