FATHER’S DAY 2023
BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH
JOHN 8:32 THEN YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.”
INTRODUCTION: WELL, AS I DID A WEB SEARCH FOR “GREAT MEN” QUOTES, I FOUND MANY THAT EXPRESSED A RATHER PRAGMATIC AND, IN MY OPINION, UNBIBLICAL VIEW OF MANHOOD. HERE ARE A FEW:
AND THEN THERE WERE A FEW I COULD EMBRACE:
AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF THIS:
THE WOMEN BEHIND FATHER’S DAY
GRACE GOLDEN CLAYTON
THE FIRST KNOWN FATHER’S DAY SERVICE OCCURRED IN FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, ON JULY 5, 1908, AFTER HUNDREDS OF MEN DIED IN THE WORST MINING ACCIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY.
GRACE GOLDEN CLAYTON, THE DAUGHTER OF A DEDICATED MINISTER, PROPOSED A SERVICE TO HONOR ALL FATHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAD DIED. HOWEVER, THE OBSERVANCE DID NOT BECOME AN ANNUAL EVENT, AND IT WAS NOT PROMOTED; VERY FEW PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE LOCAL AREA KNEW ABOUT IT. MEANWHILE, ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, ANOTHER WOMAN WAS INSPIRED TO HONOR FATHERS …
SONORA SMART DODD
IN 1909, SONORA SMART DODD OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, WAS INSPIRED BY ANNA JARVIS AND THE IDEA OF MOTHER’S DAY. HER FATHER, WILLIAM JACKSON SMART, A FARMER AND CIVIL WAR VETERAN, WAS ALSO A SINGLE PARENT WHO RAISED SONORA AND HER FIVE BROTHERS BY HIMSELF, AFTER HIS WIFE ELLEN DIED GIVING BIRTH TO THEIR YOUNGEST CHILD IN 1898. WHILE ATTENDING A MOTHER’S DAY CHURCH SERVICE IN 1909, SONORA, THEN 27 YEARS OLD, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA.
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, SONORA HAD CONVINCED THE SPOKANE MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION AND THE YMCA TO SET ASIDE A SUNDAY IN JUNE TO CELEBRATE FATHERS. SHE PROPOSED JUNE 5, HER FATHER’S BIRTHDAY, BUT THE MINISTERS CHOSE THE THIRD SUNDAY IN JUNE SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE MORE TIME AFTER MOTHER’S DAY (THE SECOND SUNDAY IN MAY) TO PREPARE THEIR SERMONS. THUS, ON JUNE 19, 1910, THE FIRST FATHER’S DAY EVENTS COMMENCED: SONORA DELIVERED PRESENTS TO HANDICAPPED FATHERS, BOYS FROM THE YMCA DECORATED THEIR LAPELS WITH FRESH-CUT ROSES (RED FOR LIVING FATHERS, WHITE FOR THE DECEASED), AND THE CITY’S MINISTERS DEVOTED THEIR HOMILIES TO FATHERHOOD.
BECOMING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY
THE WIDELY PUBLICIZED EVENTS IN SPOKANE STRUCK A CHORD THAT REACHED ALL THE WAY TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AND SONORA’S CELEBRATION PUT THE IDEA ON THE PATH TO BECOMING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. HOWEVER, THE HOLIDAY DID NOT CATCH ON RIGHT AWAY, PERHAPS DUE TO THE PERCEIVED PARALLELS WITH MOTHER’S DAY.
THE FIRST BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS IN 1913, BUT IN SPITE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON, IT DID NOT PASS.
EIGHT YEARS LATER, PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE SIGNED A RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF FATHER’S DAY “TO ESTABLISH MORE INTIMATE RELATIONS BETWEEN FATHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN AND TO IMPRESS UPON FATHERS THE FULL MEASURE OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS.”
IN 1966, PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT THE HOLIDAY BE CELEBRATED ON THE THIRD SUNDAY IN JUNE.
UNDER PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON, IN 1972, CONGRESS PASSED AN ACT OFFICIALLY MAKING FATHER’S DAY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. (SIX YEARS LATER, SONORA DIED AT AGE 96.)
FATHER’S DAY TRIBUTE VIDEO
THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND FILL YOUR “FATHER’S TOOLBOX”. NOW TO BE CLEAR, I AM NOT GIVING YOU A FATHER’S TOOLBOX, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU A FEW THINGS TO FILL IT WHEN YOU GET IT. AND OF COURSE, THEY CENTER AROUND THE WORD “FATHER”
WHY? FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT WE NOW CURRENTLY LIVE IN A WORLD, AND ENVIRONMENT THAT IS NUTS!
THE CULTURE OF TODAY IS TRYING TO INFLUENCE OUR CHILDREN TO REJECT GOD
THE CULTURE TODAY IS TRYING TO CONVINCE US THAT WE CAN LIVE HOWEVER WE PLEASE
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DISCERN THIS AND COMBAT IT
IT WAS THIS WAY IN THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND IT WILL AND IS RETURNING AS THE IMMINENCE OF THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH:
EVER SINCE OUR FIRST PARENTS DISOBEYED GOD, HUMAN SOCIETIES HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED WITH ALL KINDS OF SIN IN THOUGHT, WORD, DEED, ATTITUDE, AND AFFECTION. THE GENERATIONS LEADING UP TO GOD’S JUDGMENT IN THE FLOOD EXHIBITED SUCH GROSS DEFILEMENT THAT GOD CHOSE TO JUDGE THE WHOLE EARTH, SPARING ONLY RIGHTEOUS NOAH AND HIS HOUSEHOLD:
THE LORD SAW THAT THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT IN THE EARTH, AND THAT EVERY INTENTION OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY. . . .
NOW THE EARTH WAS CORRUPT IN GOD’S SIGHT, AND THE EARTH WAS FILLED WITH VIOLENCE. AND GOD SAW THE EARTH, AND BEHOLD, IT WAS CORRUPT, FOR ALL FLESH HAD CORRUPTED THEIR WAY ON THE EARTH (GENESIS 6:5, 11–12)
EVEN AFTER THE FLOOD, GOD KNEW THAT “THE INTENTION OF MAN’S HEART IS EVIL FROM HIS YOUTH” (GENESIS 8:21), AND THIS TRUTH HASN’T CHANGED THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY. IN FACT, THE APOSTLE PAUL WARNS US THAT WICKED HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND GODLESS MORALITY WILL BECOME MORE PREVALENT AS WE PROCEED “IN THE LAST DAYS”:
BUT UNDERSTAND THIS, THAT IN THE LAST DAYS THERE WILL COME TIMES OF DIFFICULTY. FOR PEOPLE WILL BE LOVERS OF SELF, LOVERS OF MONEY, PROUD, ARROGANT, ABUSIVE, DISOBEDIENT TO THEIR PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, UNHOLY, HEARTLESS, UNAPPEASABLE, SLANDEROUS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, BRUTAL, NOT LOVING GOOD, TREACHEROUS, RECKLESS, SWOLLEN WITH CONCEIT, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD, HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING ITS POWER. AVOID SUCH PEOPLE. (2 TIMOTHY 3:1–5)
WISE PARENTS AND ESPECIALLY FATHERS SHOULD SEEK TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN FRO INFLUENCES THAT SEEK TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN CREATOR AND CREATURE AND AN INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS SPIRITUAL THINGS.
FATHER
F STANDS FOR FAITHFUL.
A FATHER NEEDS TO BE AND MUST BE FAITHFUL
IT IS ESSENTIAL AS A MAN OF GOD AND HENCE A FATHER FROM GOD
IT IS A QUALITY THAT CAN, IS, AND SHOULD BE PASSED ON TO OUR KIDS
WE ARE TOLD THAT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD
WE OFTEN APPLY THIS REDEMPTIVELY TOWARDS OUR SALVATION
CAN I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT WITHOUT FAITH IN GOD WITH REGARD TO EVERY ACTIVITY, PLEASING GOD IN THAT ACTIVITY IS IMPOSSIBLE.
FAITH COMES THROUGH OUR CONNECTION WITH THE WORD OF GOD. FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD
FAITH IS ROOTED IN CONNECTION WITH GOD THROUGH HIS WORD
AS A FATHER, WE CONNECT WITH GOD THROUGH HIS WORD AND THAT CONNECTION WITH GOD ALLOWS US TO PLEASE HIM IN WHAT WE DO.
FATHER
A STANDS FOR AUTHENTIC
A FATHER NEEDS TO BE AUTHENTIC
WE CANNOT CONVEY WHAT WE DO NOT EMBRACE.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS FAKE
AUTHENTIC CONDUCT IS ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE PARENTING AS A FATHER.
GONE ARE THE DAYS OF, “DO AS I SAY, AND NOT AS I DO.”
AUTHENTIC IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
GROWING AFFECTION FOR THE WORD OF GOD
MEANINGFUL PRAYER
RESTING IN THE CONTROL OF GOD
INTENTIONAL SERVICE THAT IS SELFLESS
THE MOST EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR CHILDREN IS WHEN THIS IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THEIR MOTHER
IT IS OFTEN EASY FOR US AS CHRISTIAN MEN TO CHALLENGE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO TRUST IN GOD DURING TIMES OF TRIAL
BEING AUTHENTIC MEANS THAT WE ALSO NEED TO BE TRUSTING IN GOD DURING THOSE SAME TIMES
SOMETIMES THAT MEANS WE MIGHT BE THE SOLUTION TO THE STRUGGLE OF SOMEONE ELSE
A KEY PART OF AUTHENTICITY IS WHAT I CALL LONG BALL CHRISTIANITY
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SHORT TERM, WE SEE WHAT IS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF US
WHEN WE LOOK LONG TERM, WE EMBRACE THE RESULT OF OUR AUTHENTICITY
HEBREWS 12:1–3 THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SUCH A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US. 2 LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME, AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD. 3 CONSIDER HIM WHO ENDURED SUCH OPPOSITION FROM SINFUL MEN, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.
2 TIMOTHY 4:7–8 I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. 8 NOW THERE IS IN STORE FOR ME THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, WILL AWARD TO ME ON THAT DAY—AND NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALSO TO ALL WHO HAVE LONGED FOR HIS APPEARING.
JAMES 1:12 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO PERSEVERES UNDER TRIAL, BECAUSE WHEN HE HAS STOOD THE TEST, HE WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE THAT GOD HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
“A GODLY FATHER DOES WELL TO PAY ATTENTION TO HIS OWN EXAMPLE, KNOWING THAT HIS CHILDREN AND OTHERS ARE WATCHING AND MAY FOLLOW HIS LEAD.”
FATHER
T STANDS FOR TEACHER
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE LIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF OUR CHILDREN
RIGHT AND WRONG
GENDER
SYSTEMIC RACISM
IF WE AS DADS DO NOT TEACH OUR CHILDREN, WE ARE GIVING PERMISSION FOR OTHERS TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN
IT IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN, IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT WHAT WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN
LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW IDEAS
TEACH THEM ABOUT SALVATION SO THEY UNDERSTAND AND MAKE A DECISION FOR CHRIST. I BRING THIS UP FIRST BECAUSE SALVATION HAS ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES.
TEACH THEM TO LOVE BIBLICALLY – DO WHAT IS GOOD, BEST, AND RIGHT.
TEACH THEM TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT WORK ETHIC BECAUSE GOD IS INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING THEY DO
TEACH THEM TO BE GENEROUS
TEACH THEM TO BE HELPFUL
TEACH THEM RESPECT
IN THESE AREAS AND OTHERS, YOUR GREATEST TOOL IS WHEN YOU DIRECT THIS TEACHING TO WARDS THEIR MOTHER
THE BIBLE PROMISES:
PROVERBS 22:6 TRAIN A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT TURN FROM IT.
THE PATTERN OF TEACHING IS TO DO IT NOW SO THAT IT IS EMBRACED TOMORROW!
FATHER
H STANDS FOR HUMBLE
DAD'S NEED TO BE HUMBLE TODAY
HUMILITY IS A STRNGTH THAT SHOULD NOT BE DISCOUNTED.
HUMILITY SHOWS A DEPENDANCY ON GOD THAT IS OFTEN LACKING.
SHOW YOUR CHILDREN THAT YOU ARE NOT TOO PROUD TO GO TO GOD FIRST AND GO TO HIM FAST
ADMIT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG
OUR CHILDREN NEED TO SEE THAT WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO ADMIT OUR WEAKNESSES AND ASK FORGIVENESS FOR OUR FAULTS
E STANDS FOR ENCOURAGER
HOW DO WE BE ENCOURAGERS TODAY AS FATHERS?
EPHESIANS 6:1–4 CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS IN THE LORD, FOR THIS IS RIGHT. 2 “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER”—WHICH IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH A PROMISE— 3 “THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH YOU AND THAT YOU MAY ENJOY LONG LIFE ON THE EARTH.” 4 FATHERS, DO NOT EXASPERATE YOUR CHILDREN; INSTEAD, BRING THEM UP IN THE TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION OF THE LORD.
ENCOURAGEMENT HAS AS MUCH TO DO WITH WHAT WE DO NOT DO AS WITH WHAT WE DO.
WE EXPECT OUR CHILDREN TO OBEY THEIR PARENTS
THIS IS THE BASIC DIRECTION WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE. IF FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE THAN FOR OUR CHILDREN TO REAP THE BENEFIT OF THE PROMISE – FOR THINGS TO GO WELL WITH THEM.
PROSPERITY
LONG LIFE
WE ACHIEVE THIS BY ENCOURAGING RIGHT BEHAVIOR
WE ARE TOLD TO NOT EXASPERATE OR PROVOKE OUR CHILDREN
HERE IS WHAT THAT MEANS
PROVOKE TO ANGER
UNREASONABLE DEMANDS
PETTY RULES
FAVORITISM
ALL TIS DOES IS BRING DISCOURAGEMENT TO OUR CHILDREN
COLOSSIANS 3:21 FATHERS, DO NOT EMBITTER YOUR CHILDREN, OR THEY WILL BECOME DISCOURAGED.
IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT FIGURED IT OUR, DISCOURAGEMENT IS THE OPPOSITE OF ENCOURAGEMENT!
WE ENCOURAGE OUR CHILDREN WHEN WE “BRING THEM UP”
PROVIDE FOR THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS
PROVIDE FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS
WE ENCOURAGE WHEN WE DIRECT AND LEAD, NOT DEMAND AND LEGISLATE
FATHER
R STANDS FOR ROCK
HOW CAN YOU BE A ROCK FOR YOUR KIDS. OR A HERO?
BE THEIR SECURITY. OUR CHILDREN NEED TO FEEL SECURE. PROVIDE THAT FEELING AND PLACE
OPEN YOUR HEART. LET THEM SEE YOUR STRENGTH, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF SEEING YOUR COMPASSION, AND FORGIVENESS
LOVE AND RESPECT YOUR WIFE AND THEIR MOM. WE ARE TO TREAT THEIR MOM, AND OUR WIFE WITH RESPECT. WE CAN’T LOVE HER PERFECTLY, BUT OUR CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER DOUBT OUR LOVE FOR HER
TAKE TIME TO UNDERSTAND YOUR KIDS. EACH IS DIFFERENT. THEY DO NOT ALL FIT INTO THE SAME MOLD. WHAT MAKES HIM TICK? WHAT MAKES HIM SAD? WHAT IS HIS DREAM? CHILDREN WANT YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WHO THEY ARE.
IF YOUR KIDS ARE YOUNG, READ TO THEM.
BE AFFECTIONATE. NEVER BE AFRAID TO HUG YOUR KIDS, TELL THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM. IT MIGHT BE HARD FOR YOU, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM FEELING LOVED OR UNLOVED. OH, AND STUDIES SHOW THAT IF THEY ARE EMBARRASSED BY THIS, IT WILL ONLY SERVE TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH EMBARRASSING SITUATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THEM. HAVE DINNER TOGETHER – SANS THE TV AND THE VIDEO GAME. IF YOU HAVE TO, PUT THE CELL PHONES IN THE CORNER FOR TIME OUT. SHOW THEM HOW TO LIVE. LEARN NEW THINGS WITH THEM. WHETHER A CRAFT, OR A SKILL, OR A CLASS TAKEN TOGETHER.
WELL, DAD’S, THERE YOU HAVE IT. NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST BY ANY MEANS, BUT ENOUGH TO GET YOU STARTED.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY.
