Fathers: The Glory of Children
Partial Outline: FULL PDF HERE
Proverbs 17:6
Top Ten Things You’ll Never Hear A Dad Say:
10. Hey, let me hold your purse while you try that on.
9. No son of mine is going to live under this roof without an earring. Now quit complaining and let’s go to the mall.
8. When I was growing up, we had it so easy!
7. I’m lost! Looks like we’ll have to stop and ask for directions.
6. Oh, Hugh Grant and Clint Eastwood? That’s one movie I gotta see!
5. Take my credit card and the keys to my new car and GO CRAZY.
4. Son, don’t try out for football… join the chess club instead.
3. I don’t need any more tools… I have too many already.
2. Is there anything else on TV other than sports?
1. And the Number 1 thing you’ll never hear a Dad say: Here honey, you use the remote.
According to our text, I’m an “old man” because I’m a grandpa. I know I don’t look like an “old man.” I don’t feel like an “old man.” I can still run a 5-K in under 30 minutes. Not too bad for an 69-year-old man.
“Children’s children are the crown of old men…” Amen! My children’s children are a crown for me! (Makes me a KING!) I have 22 crowns. Some of my “crowns” are here this morning!
While grandchildren are a CROWN to a grandpa — Fathers are a GLORY to their children!
The man who wrote this Proverb was Solomon. His father was King David. He recognized his father was a glorious man and someone he could be look up to… glory in… and follow in his footsteps.
Solomon was saying that a good father is the foundation of a child’s character development. A child will look at his father’s integrity… his success… his wisdom… his love and gain confidence because of who their father is.
Solomon did NOT say, “The glory of children is their mother.” You don’t normally hear children brag, “My mom can do this or is better than your mom.” Rather they say, “My dad is a fireman, policeman, soldier. He can run faster and play ball better than your dad. My dad’s got ‘daditude.’” “The glory of children is their FATHER…”
A child’s greatest hero should be their Dad.
Children who lack a father, or whose father is irresponsible, have no one to boast about and no one to brag on or look up to… No starting point for their lives. With a righteous father in the home, a child can glory in his victories and his honor.
Acrostic D-A-D-S: Providing Direction Availability Discipline Spirituality
(Change Availability to Unavailability and you get D.U.D.S!)
I. The glory of a father’s LEADERSHIP.
The word “mother” occurs 363 times in the Bible. The word “father” is mentioned over 1,300 times.
The glory of children is their fathers. (Eli was a failure as a father—His two sons had no respect (no glory for him). NOTE: Before you can teach a child, the child must respect you. To gain their respect you must CONTROL them. Control➡Respect➡Teach
A. Spiritual leadership = Christian + Convictions + a Clean life
No spiritual leadership in Israel (See 1 Samuel 4:21-22).
The glory of Israel was the LORD. Because of Israel’s backsliding, the glory of the Lord departed.
The glory of a nation is their people (Israel was backslidden because of Eli’s failure).
B. FAMILY Leadership— God appointed the father to be the leader of the home (Eph. 5:23).
1. Example of Joshua’s leadership (Joshua 24:15 — “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”)
2. Example of Abraham (Gen. 18:19 — “For I know [Abraham], that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord…”
3. If there is going to be music in the home, Dad is going to have to be the leader of band.
II. The glory of a father’s LOVE.
A father is a LEADER, but not a DICTATOR. He leads in love. A child is more likely to follow a father when he knows loves him.
How does your child know you love them? By meeting their needs (physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual needs).
Your Attention / time — Listen to your kids.
Your Encouragement. 1 Thess. 2:11—“…ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.”
Your Security (of a Dad and Mom they know are committed to each other and the family unit).
Your Unconditional love. Children will do things that will make you understand why some animals eat their young.
- Love is committed… tenacious… and tough. Love holds on.
- But love is also very tender. Psalms 103:13—”Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” The Lord Jesus held children in His arms. Children need to see this love in the lives of their fathers.
III. The glory of a father’s LESSONS (Prov. 1:8; 13:1)
Partial Outline: FULL PDF HERE
