Fathers… What Will You Pass On To Your Children?

Deut 6:4-9

Fathers have a responsibility to teach God’s Word to their children. (Deut 6:6-9)

· Do you love the Lord? Feed & care for His lambs. (Jn 21:5)

· What are you feeding the souls of your lambs… God’s Word, or worldly trash & lies?

· Jesus’ command... love others as I have loved you. (Jn 15:12)

· We love/serve others by meeting their needs... including greatest need of salvation.

· Christ He did not come to be served, but to serve. (Mt 20:28)

· The father is to be the servant leader in his home… he is there to serve, not be served.

o Those whom the Heavenly Father loves… He chastens. (Heb 12:5-11)

· If you don’t know children’s needs & have a plan to meet them, you probably won’t.

· An important goal of marriage is to raise godly children. (Mal 2:15)

· Godly children… faith comes by hearing, & hearing by the Word. (Rm 10:17)

· We are commissioned to make disciples... teaching them to obey Christ. (Mt 28:18-20)

· One great need every child has is to be encouraged to read, love & obey God’s Word.

o The Word guides & sanctifies… it makes us godly & holy. (Jn 17:17)

· Fathers need to see their family as their most important mission field.

· Deut provides valuable lessons on how to teach our children the Word. (Deut 6:5-9)

o Teaching the Word was to be a life style, not just an after-dinner ritual.

· How can you encourage love & obedience for Scripture in your home?

o It must be your goal & priority to impress God’s Word on your children.

· A home centered on teaching and obeying God’s Word is secure. (Mt 7:24)

o All families encounter storms... homes build on God’s Word will endure.

Tyranny of the Urgent

· Urgent tasks, although not nearly so important, seem to always fill our days.

· Our problem is not a shortage of time, it is basically a problem of priorities.

· Many of us have absorbed the world’s priorities, & we’re focused on them.

· Our culture encourages us to develop secular and spiritual compartments in our life.

o Church is spiritual; daily life is secular. (w/different priorities)

· If truly surrendered, God’s priorities permeate our daily lives. (One set of priorities)

o God will not be one of several important priorities… He must be first priority.

· Urgent tasks get attention, while important things like Bible study & prayer are undone.

· Taking a daily spiritual inventory will help us avoid the tyranny of the urgent.

· Making time daily for waiting on God will be a great struggle… spiritual warfare.

· Make the most of every opportunity… days are evil (time is short). (Eph 5:15-16)

Follow my example as I follow Christ’ s example. (1Cor 11:1)

· Most nonbelievers (adults & children) do not read the Bible… they read your life.

· Christ was a humble servant, fully yielded to the Father’s will. (Phil 2:3-8)

· Leaders must be humble servants of those they lead. (Mt 20:26)

· Whoever keeps commands & teaches others to obey will be great in Kingdom. (Mt 5:19)

· He who fears the Lord has a secure home and for children it’ll be a refuge. (Pr 14:26)

· What priorities, loves, and values are you demonstrating in your life?

· If only non-verbal communication counted, what does your life say about your god?

· Do you seek first God & His Kingdom? (Mt 6:33)

· Faith is generally not passed along based on what you say, but rather what you are & do.

· Do you profess Christianity but live a worldly life… your children will see the hypocrisy.

· Hypocrisy is rejected by the next generation. (lukewarm or carnal faith doesn’t “sell”)

· Children “buy” your areas of integrity… what is truly important to you is passed along.

What is your legacy… would those who followed you be led to Christ?

· To a large degree, your children will follow you… will you lead them to Christ?

· God has told us to number our days... for they are short. (Ps 90:12)

· We each are appointed to die once, & then face judgment. (Heb 9:27)

· Are there things in your life that you know displease or dishonor God?

· There is a family resemblance in all who belong to God... agape, kindness, humble.

o Jesus has revealed the heart & character of His followers. (Mt 5:3-11; Gal 5:22)

o Are you manifesting these qualities in your daily life?

· What will you pass on to your children... your legacy of faith? (2Cor 13:5)

o Will your legacy be one of true faith in Christ, & the Spirit-filled fruitful life.

o Are you a man of integrity… does your daily life & your professed faith agree?

o Your integrity will be passed on... it becomes a beautiful legacy of faith.

· Fatherhood is an impossible responsibility… seek anointing & strength of H. Spirit.

· It is never too late to love & train your children… when you sow God’s Word, it will bear fruit thru the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Father’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ died on a cross for my sins, and that he rose again that I might have new life, victory over sin, & eternal life. Please forgive my sins & cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I yield to you and ask you to become the Lord and Master of my life. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might have grace, love, & wisdom to be a wise & godly father, & to guide my family in the pathway that leads to eternal life. Thank you for being my Father and for the privilege of being a father myself. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.