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“Train up a child in the way he should go—but be sure you go that way yourself.” -Charles Spurgeon
“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” -Billy Graham
Scripture: Psalm 103:13, Malachi 4:5-6, Proverbs 22:6, John 1:12, Ephesians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 11:1
- The Fatherlessness Epidemic:
- Fatherlessness is a root cause of societal issues like crime, poverty, and behavioral disorders, as evidenced by U.S. Department of Justice statistics (e.g., 63% of youth suicides, 71% of high school dropouts from fatherless homes).
- Malachi 4:5-6 warns of a curse if fathers’ hearts are not turned to their children, highlighting the need for godly “fathers” to rise up.
- Sonship as the Foundation:
- To be a godly father, one must first be a son of God, resting in relationship with the Heavenly Father (John 1:12).
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- Accepting Jesus and walking in sanctification enables fathers to reflect God’s heart, as Jesus did (John 5:19).
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- Charles Spurgeon: “Train up a child in the way he should go—but be sure you go that way yourself” (Proverbs 22:6).
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- Reflecting the Father’s Heart:
- Godly fathers imitate God’s character (Ephesians 5:1), revealing His love, compassion, and action to their children and others (Genesis 1:26).
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- Fathers should live authentically, confessing failures and modeling repentance (Proverbs 24:16), so children see faith in action.
- Action-Oriented Love:
- Like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), godly fathers act extravagantly, breaking cultural norms to love and pursue their children.
- Jesus was about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49); fathers should act out of love, teaching, mentoring, and serving (John 3:16).
- Imitating Christ as an Example:
- Paul urges, “Imitate me, as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Fathers must model faith through devotion, prayer, and service, inviting others to follow their example (Philippians 4:9).
- D.A. Carson: “Do you ever say to a young Christian, ‘Do you want to know what Christianity is like? Watch me!’”
