Think about what good fathers do:

What Good Fathers Do

They work to take care of their family.
1. Men are the only ones in the Bible that are specifically told to work in order to provide food and necessities for their family.
2. 1 Timothy 5:8
3. Genesis 3:17-19—implies that God intended for the man to work to provide for his wife and children from the beginning.
They protect their family from harm.
1. How many wives feel safe only around their husbands?
2. We work hard to make our family feel safe and secure. That is vital to the growth and development of children, and vital to the happiness of wives.
They train up their children (Ephesians 6:4). This means that they teach them how to live.
1. Fathers are important in raising children.
  1. research done on impact of fathers—father led home is by far the most successful in raising healthy, emotionally mature children.
  2. Women know this instinctively.
  3. (His Needs, Her Needs)—“For a woman, the ideal situation is to marry a man she admires and respects and raise her children to be just like their daddy.”
2. Statistically, if only one parent goes to church, if the father is the one that goes, the chances are bad, but much greater that his children will also go to church when they grow up. If the mother goes without the father, the likelihood is much worse
3. That training may stop when the children leave, but the influence can remain—if you can influence anyone in your life, then you can influence your children.
4. This also includes discipline.
  1. No one enjoys discipline. Fathers often must be the strong one. He typically understands discipline and its value more than mothers.
  2. Hebrews 12:9—they should be respected for their roles in discipline.
The rule their households.
1. “Husband”—originally “house” + “freeholder” He is the one who makes the house stay together.
2. Later “husband” came to mean farmer—a fitting statement for the role of a husband/father.
3. 1 Timothy 3:1-5—applies to those who would be elders, but is for all to obey.
4. Fathers are generally not afraid to take charge and rule strongly when it is needed.
  1. We need that strength.
  2. We do not need abuse of that strength, but we all need it.
  3. Children NEED to hear “no” and to know what that word means.
  4. Children, and sometimes even wives, need to know that there is a line that they cannot cross.
  5. Fathers are not afraid. They are able to stand up and say, “No! Our family will do that!” and “This is what our family will do.”
  6. Mothers, support your husband when he puts his foot down. Often he is doing what is best for your children, even if you do not agree.
A few words to fathers
1. You are needed.
  1. Families don’t need 2 mothers. They need a father and a mother.
  2. Our nation needs men who will stand and fight—because that’s what men do!
  3. Our community needs you.
  4. Our church needs you.
  5. Your family needs you—your wife, your children, they need you to be men.
2. Stand your ground.
  1. Provide strength for your family.
  2. Be firm and decisive.
  3. Be loyal.
    1. Protect your family from danger and harm—physical, spiritual, even emotional.
    2. A man will take the hit for his family.
    3. Example: If you’re asked to check on a noise in the house—don’t complain, consider it an honor to be the man of the house.
3. Serve your family with honor.
  1. Slogan on TV for a while—“It takes a MAN to be a father.”
  2. Our world laughs and scoffs at masculinity as something out-dated, left over from our ancient past.
  3. That is not true. You were created to be masculine, to be strong. Don’t let people take that from you.
4. Imitate Jesus.
  1. Being a man is not just strength—John Wayne is not our ideal.
  2. Jesus is our ideal.
    1. He loved enough to sacrifice for others.
    2. He loved enough to instruct others.
    3. He loved enough to stand strong against injustice.
    4. But He also loved enough to be tender to those who were weak, to show compassion on those who needed it.
    5. And He died to save His bride.