Healthy Fathers

1 Thessalonians 2:11,12

June 15, 2003

^“11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹²encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

The Cat’s in the Cradle:

            “I’m gonna be like you dad…”
 
It’s all about time

God wants me to be the kind of dad who …

1.  Is seen by my children.
          encourage - “comes alongside”
          Deuteronomy 6:4-7

              “Impress them on your children.”

2.  Hugs my children when they hurt.
          comfort - “to console”
          Ephesians 6:4

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

3.  Tells my children “why” not “because.”
               Proverbs 22:6 – teaching our children

“Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

“moral reasoning”

common grace vs saving grace

Conclusion:

          In a childhood of dads …
          In a world of dads …