"Dads That Make A Difference" Series

"Dads That make a Difference"

Central Zion Baptist Church - Fathers Day - June 16, 2013.

Genesis 6-8

Salutation – Welcome Guests

General comments…..

Salute the fathers - commend them for the work they do.

I want to personally congratulate and applaud the many hard-working men and fathers who are committed and involved in the life of their home and children.

Keep up the good work. While the women are doing a whole lot of things right, they just can’t do it alone and in fact, there is one thing she cannot do, that is, teach a boy how to be a man - only a man can do that. Similarly, I believe that a girl needs a man in her life to help her learn how to relate to another man and to model for her what a decent husband should be like – it takes a man to do it.

So fathers are important to the growth and development of the child and they help to bring balance and stability to the home –

Think about it in this way – when a father is missing from a family or just not involved in the life of the children, it leaves in the heart of that child with a void and an emptiness that no other man can fill, it can only be filled by the Holy Spirit himself.

Additionally, when a dad is missing, THE FUTURE WELLBEING OF THAT FAMILY is severely compromised. I say that because A FATHER IS MORE THAN A MALE PARENT:

GOD HAS MANDATED HIM TO BE THE PATRIARCH TO HIS FAMILY – The Priest - THE CHIEF PLANNER, A PROTECTOR; A PROVIDER; THE ONE WHO PULLs AND KEEPs HIS FAMILY TOGETHER – SO I APPLAUD AGAIN THE FATHERS OF OUR CHURCH – YES, WE MAY NOT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER, BUT I BELIVE THAT WE ARE TRYING.

Say: So the task before me today is a simple one – I have come by to encourage and lift up the men in our church and those visiting who are striving to be the kind of fathers that God mandates.

Think of it this way, today, a large percentage of all children (right in this country) under the age of 18 will probably eat their dinner today - in a home where the father will not be sitting at the table with them, not because they are at work or away working, but because they are just absent.

But I have come to encourage and challenge our men to stay involved for when dads are involved, it makes a difference in the life of the children and the home.

Topic for today is - “Dads that Make a Difference”

If fathers are going to make a difference in the lives of their children, they must be involved.

So today, I want to use a familiar story for this sermon – I want to examine Noah and the experiences of him and his family to bring to life three or four principles that may help us as we seek to make a difference in the life of our children and our families.

Text: Genesis 6& 7 - 9

A dad that makes a difference is a dad who,

1. His Relationship with God is current and up-to date –

I mean it’s Consistent, strong, healthy and growing– v-8-9.

I am afraid, but many families in this nation are in problems because the fathers have allowed their relationship with God to become delinquent – so some it has lapse – 30 days in arrears – 90 days in arrears – 120 days in arrears – let’s check our spiritual statements to see how we are doing – are we current and up to date in our walk with God. v-9 (read). If in arrears – you need to begin looking at how you can bring that up to date before you get cut off.

Spiritually speaking – when a dad’s relationship with God is current, that man is not wishy, washy, (unstable) but is striving to cultivate a meaningful relationship with God.

He is a growing Christian who knows that he doesn’t have it all together and is still open to learning from others. He is not a spiritually Mr. know it all.

But more specifically, what do I mean when I say that a dad that makes a difference is a dad that has a strong and consistent relationship with God- up to date – not delinquent? I mean that he…

1. He distinguishes himself as a real man of God v-8.

He stands out, not like a sore thumb, but rather as one who is taking the lead in matters relating to the spiritual and moral wellbeing of his family. He is seeking to lead his family – lead and train his children in a way so that when they are old they would not depart from it.