FATHER’S DAY: SUPER DADS
Scott Bayles, pastor
Blooming Grove Christian Church: 6/16/2013
Well, let me start out today by saying “Happy Father’s Day” to all of our Dads. One little boy, when asked to explain about Father’s Day, said, “It’s just like Mother’s Day, only you don’t spend as much on the present.”
It may not be fair, but that’s the way it is, right? Well, five weeks ago we paid tribute to all of our Super Moms. So today, I wanted to pay tribute to all of our Super Dads! For many of us—especially my kids—it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture our dads as a superhero. They teach us, they shape us, they encourage and love us. Our fathers are heroes in our own homes. Earlier this week I came across this little cartoon.
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It shows a dad wearing a suit and tie getting ready to leave for work. He says, “Bye, Kiddo, I’m off to work!” In the next panel you can stars in the little boys eyes and you see dad from his perspective—dressed like Superman with muscles to match.
One of my favorite books to read to our kids is titled My Dad, My Hero by Ethan Long. In a cartoonish, comic-strip style the cover showcases an idealized dad, dressed in blue superhero garb complete with red cape and pumped-up muscles. But inside, the story shows a dad lacking any real superpowers. The book opens with dad tripping over building blocks since he "cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound" and struggling to open a jar of pickles since he obviously "does not have super strength." But after the son comes to the end of his amusing list of what dad is unable to do, he realizes that his dad is "really super... and definitely a hero" in his eyes.
Earlier this month, 5-hour ENERGY® even held a Super Dad Contest. They put out the call for fans to nominate dads, grandpas, godfathers, stepdads and other father figures as Super Dads! Nominations came in from all over the country, with many touching tributes, but in the end they selected ten winners to receive a free 12 pack of 5-hour ENERGY® to get them through their daily duties as Super Dads!
All of this just sort of sets up the question—what does it take to be a Super Dad? The Bible has a whole lot to say about dads and to dads. There are myriad examples of good dads and even some Super Dads in the Bible—not the least of which is God himself! But I’d like to focus our attention on a short paragraph found in the little book of 1 Thessalonians. And here’s what it says:
“You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 NLT).
Paul is writing here as a sort of spiritual father to a church that he helped plant in the city of Thessalonica, and he’s reminding them of the kind of relationship that they had while he was there—that he treated each of them as a father treats his own children. In this brief passage Paul highlights three characteristics of Super Dads everywhere.
• SUPER-EXAMPLES
First, Super Dads are a super-example for their kids. Paul says, at the beginning, “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you” (vs. 10 HCSB). In other words, Paul was constantly setting an example by the way he lived his life. He didn’t just tell them how to live; he showed them.
One of my dad’s favorite things to say, especially when I caught him smoking, was, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Did you ever hear that growing up? It doesn’t work that way, does it? The reality is—your kids are watching everything you do and they’re probably going to follow in your footsteps. Children who grow up in abusive homes are 10 times more likely to abuse their kids. On the other hand, children who grow up with a loving compassionate father will learn to be loving and compassionate themselves. So Dads, you need to be the kind of man that you want your son to be and your daughter to marry. This reminds me of a song Phillips, Craig & Dean wrote a few years back called I want to be just like you. The opening verse says:
He climbs in my lap for a goodnight hug
He calls me Dad and I call him Bud
With his faded old pillow and a bear named Pooh
He snuggles up close and says, "I want to be like you"
I tuck him in bed and I kiss him goodnight
Trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light
And I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see
He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me
Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me
Kids really do want to be just like their dads. And dads, this is why it’s so important for you to be involved in church. Statistics tell us that in families where mom is a regular church-goer but dad isn’t, only 37% of the kids will attend church even sporadically when they grow up. On the other hand, in households where dad attends church regularly, 78% of the kids will still attend church when they grow up. And in families where dad attends church but mom doesn’t, it actually goes up to 84%! That’s how powerful a father’s example is in the lives of his kids.
It reminds me of the little boy who was playing on a Sunday morning while his Dad was in a recliner reading the paper. And the father said, “Son, get yourself ready for Sunday School.” The little boy asked, “Are you coming with me today Dad?” The man replied, “No, I’m not coming. But I want you to hurry up and get ready.” The little boy then said, “Did you used to go to Sunday School when you were a boy, Dad?” The father proudly replied, “I most certainly did!” Then the little boy smiled, “Yeah, I bet it won’t do me any good either!”
Dads let’s be careful about the example that we set; not just in church attendance, but in every area of life. So first, Super Dads are a super-example to their kids.
• SUPER-ENCOURAGERS
Furthermore, Super Dads are a super-encouragement to their kids. Dad, you need to be your kid’s number one fan! You need to encourage them, to praise them, and applaud them. Listen again to what Paul said: “like a father with his own children, we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you…” (vs. 11-12 HCSB).
How often do you as a dad just encourage your kids and tell them how awesome they are and that you’re proud of them?
Mark Twain once said, “I can live for ten years on a good compliment.” Most of us could use one a little more often, but I appreciate the sentiment. Unfortunately, it’s also been said that it takes ten compliments to balance just one critical comment, and I think that’s true. Children today are being constantly criticized. Whether it’s at school, in social settings or even at church, kids get picked on and made fun of. Especially for girls, society is bombarding them with the belief that they’re not skinny enough, they’re not smart enough, they’re not pretty enough. As a result, so many kids grow up feeling inadequate. It’s our job as dads to make sure they hear positive affirming words at home. That’s why God urges all believers to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).
Dick Hoyt is a father who knows all about encouraging his kids. When his wife Judy gave birth to their son Rick—who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy—they were told he would never walk. So, in the spring of 1977, when Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident, nothing seemed more impossible. But rather than discourage his son or focus on his limitation, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, “Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped.” Determined to nurture that feeling, the father and son team went on to run in over 1,000 races, including marathons and triathlons. Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days.
Rick’s philosophy as a father is not to focus on what his son can’t do, but on what he can do. With so many outside influences telling our kids that they aren’t good enough or pretty enough, it’s so important for us dads to frequently and regularly encourage our kids—remind them: you’re worth something, I’m proud of you, God made you special and he loves you very much. So Super-Dads are super-examples, super-encouragers, and finally Super Dads are super-exhorters.
• SUPER-EXHORTERS
Finally, Paul says, “like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God” (vs. 11-12 ESV). So, in addition to encouraging our kids—Super-Dads exhort their kids. Now, we don’t use the word exhort a whole lot today, so let me read the definition of the word translated exhort in this verse. It means “to come alongside with instruction and insight in order to move someone in a specific line of conduct.”
The idea is that a dad’s job is to teach his children—to guide them into adulthood. Solomon’s advice to parents is: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV). The NKJV says, “train up a child in the way he should go…” This means teaching them God’s word, teaching them the difference between right and wrong, instilling them with good moral values, and, of course, this also involves disciplining your children.
The Bible says, “My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights” (Proverbs 13:11-12 NLT).
Children thrive the best in an atmosphere of genuine love, undergirded by consistent, compassionate discipline. Raising your kids with loving discipline will teach them to respect authority, respect other people, and most importantly to respect God.
But exhorting your kids isn’t just about time-outs and spankings; it’s also about taking advantage of teachable moments that happen every day—like talking to your daughter about the brevity of life and what happens after we die, because the fish that you gave her for her birthday only lasted two weeks before going belly-up; or explain to your son the value of putting others before yourself while you’re standing in the hot sun giving away free bottles of water. So Dads, exhort your kids—train them up in the way they should go.
Conclusion:
While I’m sure there are a whole host characteristics and qualities that could be used to describe the heroic nature of Super-Dads, I think these three are pretty important. If you want to be a Superhero to your kids, be a super-example, a super-encourager, and a super-exhorter!
I’m convinced that there are a lot of Super-Dads here today. Many of you wouldn’t be here if not for your own Super-Dad. So I’d just like to say thanks you to all our dads. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for teaching us the difference between right and wrong. Thank you for providing for us. Thank you for coaching softball and teaching us how to throw a spiral. Thank you for showing us how to be a good husband. Thank you for teaching us to love God and love our neighbor. And thank you for encouraging us, exhorting us, and being an example for us to follow.
Invitation:
Sadly, not everyone here today grew up with a super-dad. Maybe your dad wasn’t so super or maybe he wasn’t around at all. If that’s the case, I want you to know that you have a Father in heaven who loves you and He wants nothing more than for you to be a part of his eternal family. If there is any way that our church can help you connect with your heavenly Father, let us know while we stand and sing.
