Text: Matt 1:18-2:22, Title: The Model Father, Subject: Father’s Day, Date/Place: NRBC, 6/17/07, AM
A. Opening illustration: The perfect husband—ill file, tell about Nemo and his dad Marlin, “The most urgent domestic challenge facing the United States at the close of the 20th century is the re-creation of fatherhood as a social role for men.”—David Blankenhorn, Institute for American Values.
B. Background to passage: The story of Jesus begins with a very influential earthly father. Explain the early Jewish wedding traditions. He sets the bar very high as a model.
C. Main thought: Our text gives us four roles that Joseph modeled for us as fathers
II. BODY
A. Priest of his family (v. 1:19)
1. Even before Joseph and Mary were living together as husband and wife, Joseph was preparing to be the priest of his home. This word righteous means that he was diligent to observe the law, and that his life was pleasing to God. Only 3 other men spoken about as righteous. Four times in the first two chapters, Joseph did exactly what God said. God wanted a man who would place faith in a position of prominence in the family, and teach the family about the things of God.
2. Pro 20:7, Ps 37:21, Josh 24:15,
3. Illustration: Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: “Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted.” His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: “Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life!” Tony Evans’ father reading in the wee hours of the morning to satisfy his wife and his hunger for the Word. If both your parents worshipped with you regularly while you were growing up, there’s an 80 percent likelihood that you’ll worship God regularly as an adult. If only your mother worshipped regularly with you, there’s only a 30 percent probability that you’ll worship regularly as an adult. If only your father worshipped regularly with you, the likelihood that you’ll worship regularly as an adult increases to 70 percent! When the father is an active believer, there is about a seventy-five percent likelihood that the children will also become active believers. But if only the mother is a believer, this likelihood is dramatically reduced to fifteen percent
4. Men, as fathers you have an enormous amount of influence over the spiritual life of you children. Your wife and children need to see a man who is deeply in love with Christ, submitting to His word, and is shaping his life, actions, priorities, speech, and attitude around the person of Christ. Your represent Christ to your family. And you are to minister as Christ. But your actions must speak louder than your words. Can’t tell them one thing and demonstrate something else. Do you lead your family in prayer? Are you the one who encourages church? Do you teach the principles of scripture to your family? Are you making disciples/missiles at home? Could God entrust His Son to you? Accountability!
B. Provider of love for his family (v. 1:19-25)
1. Joseph began the husbandly job of providing love even before they came together, and continued after they came together. He was concerned about Mary’s embarrassment-explain. But then he took her publicly accepting the brunt of the shame. He put her interests first. The best expression of love is commitment no matter what. Afterwards publicly treating her with grace and restraint.
2. Eph 5:25, Col 3:21
3. Illustration: The largest number of collect calls are made on Father’s Day. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.” On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers. “Honey...there’s Mommy, and Sarah, and Missy. Katie the dog is in the picture, and the sun, and the house, and squirrels, and birdies. But Sarah...where is your Daddy?” Harvard University, found that American parents spend less time with their children than parents in any other country except Great Britain. Even compared with their Russian counterparts, American fathers spend two fewer hours a day interacting with their children. 101 ways for a husband to show love to His wife…
4. The days of fathers who do not show emotion or affection are gone. You must be the leader of visible love. And I am not saying that you have to be mushy or cry a lot. You must teach your sons how to sacrificially love a woman. You must set the standard for your daughters as to what godly love really is. Children and wives spell love T-I-M-E. Husbands, when was the last time you got flowers for your wife? Left her a note? A gift? Took your daughter on a date? You won’t come to the end of life and wish you would have worked more, but spent more time with family.
C. Protector of his family (v. 2:14, 21)
1. Joseph was walking close enough to God for God to speak to Him and he knew it. His actions are described in the exact terms of the instructions. Four times he received divine directions, and four times he obeyed to the letter. He was the one who was in charge of making sure that no harm came to the family. He provided for them financially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. He was savvy enough to move his family 175 miles through the desert on foot with a baby. Work in different cultures with different languages. Why? Because God had entrusted him with His Son. Notice that Joseph didn’t complain about God’s method of protecting them.
2. Pro 11:29, 23:14, 1 Tim 5:8, 1 Pet 3:7
3. Illustration: Mackenzie running behind my leg when she is frightened. Tell about the phone call that I made to Terry about his fantasies of Erika.
4. Men, are you close enough to God to be lead by Him? God has entrusted to us the care and protection of individuals. You are the steward of those in your home. And we will be held accountable. This includes physical, as well as mental and emotional protection. Wives are not meant to bear all stress alone. Husbands are the strong one. During stressful times, husbands, you must bear the brunt of the situation. This means that you must know the state of your flocks. You must live with your wife and children with understanding, knowing everything about them. There may be things that you must shield your wife and children from. This includes correction and discipline for the children. To all our children to run wild is not to their benefit.
D. President of his family (v. 2:14, 21)
1. The position of headship in the family is primarily one of responsibility. This jumps back to God as father, and Christ as head of the church. God has designed the family to be reflective of Himself. Give a little pitch for God being the designer and author and judge of the family. And the role of husband and father is representative of God Himself. We are called Father. We are to demonstrate His character, personality, and leadership in our family. We are to lead in a fashion that promotes the kingdom and the well-being of every member of our household. They should not feel oppressed or neglected. Remember, Jesus as leader of all, came to serve.
2. 1 Cor 11:3, Mar 10:45
3. Illustration: the February 27 issue of U. S. News & World Report concluded that: Dad is destiny. More than any other factor, a father’s presence in the family will determine a child’s success and happiness.” The article noted that nearly two out of every five children in America do not live with their fathers. Poem—Just like Daddy, ill file, tell about the man who admitted that he didn’t want his kid to be like him in his role, Charles Barkley saying he didn’t want to be a role model,
4. If things in your household are going awry, it is your responsibility. The buck stops with you. This presidency is not an elected position, but an appointed one. There is not an option. It is a delegated authority from God Himself. However, if you lead outside the bounds of scripture you will lose authority. As the leader, we set the example in everything. Jesus set our example by being the supreme leader and head, yet by serving the disciples. You must know the affairs of your home. Ignorance is not an excuse with the police, nor is it with God. It is a major thing for a father to walk out on his family. God never walked out, never will walk out. This calls for decisiveness. It calls for a clear understanding of servanthood. It calls for a clear set of godly priorities.
Closing illustration: "Well, I know someone braver than your father!" Elizabeth replied, "who?" Jimmy quickly answered, "Jesus Christ, that’s who." There was a long silence and then my daughter said, "No, but He is second!" At that moment I realized the tremendous influence that a father has over his Children.
A. A Father is to minister to, love, protect, and lead his family. This is the only information we have about Joseph. He is not heard from again in Scripture. His legacy is a godly father. What will you be remembered for Dad? What will your kids say of you 20 years after you are gone?
B. Deal with fathers who have messed up, and with people who had losers for fathers, or who do not have fathers, and with men who do not have children, but may be a father figure to others.
• My only regret in my life is that it was always so difficult to let my father know the great depth of my affection for him. - Dwight D. Eisenhower
