Sermon for 6/20/99
Andy Griffith Show
Father’s Day Sermon
Introduction:
A. Observation from Carl about Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
B. Today we are going to be positive about Fathers.
C. My dad and Father’s Day.
D. The 13th was my father’s birthday.
E. Adam N Reiter- “He’s slowing down,” as some folks say, with the burden of years, from day to day; His brow bears many a furrowed line. He’s growing old- that dad of mine. His shoulders droop, and his step is slow, And his hair is white- as white as snow; But his blue eyes sparkle with friendly light, And his smile is warm and his heart is right. He’s old? Oh, yes! But only in years. For his spirit soars as the sunset nears; And blest I’ve been, and wealth I’ve had in knowing a man like my own dad. And proud am I, to stand by him, As he stood by me when the way was dim; I’ve found him worthy and just and fine, And a prince of a man- that dad of mine.
WBTU:
A. Father’s Day, 3rd Sunday in June. The idea of creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
B. A child being raised by the father. Reminds me of a show… Start theme song.
C. Andy and then Opie, Aunt Bea, Barney, Gomer, Floyd, mayor, Gober, etc.
D. Set in Mayberry, North Carolina.
E. A wholesome show, clean and fun entertainment, recommend to anyone. It is a shame we don’t have more shows like this one. Don’t make like they used to.
Thesis: Today we are going to go over 7 things that children need especially from their fathers. We are going to look at Scriptures and also illustrations from the Andy Griffith show.
For instances:
I. Children need compassion.
A. (1 John 4:7 NIV) Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
B. Children especially need love.
C. 3 ways to express our love to children:
1. Affection.
2. Attention.
3. Affirmation.
D. Report cards came out and much to everyone’s surprise, Opie got straight A’s. This was a major feat because he’d been struggling with arithmetic. Andy makes a big deal out of his son’s “smarts” and buys him a new bicycle and brags all over town about him. Meanwhile, Opie is told by his teacher that there was a mistake on his report card and that he really made a “D” in arithmetic. Opie tried at different times to tell his pa the truth, but after a while became afraid that he wouldn’t love him since he didn’t make the good grades he thought he’d made. Ms. Crump mentioned the grade to Andy, but instead of Andy being mad at Opie for not telling the truth, he himself apologized for making it so difficult for Opie to feel his love any other way.
II. Children need counsel.
A. (Deu 6:7 NIV) Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
B. Children always need counsel from wise parents. Learn responsibility.
C. A spoiled rich kid was driving towards Mayberry when he caused an accident. He was immediately taken to the jail for his hearing. He chose to stay in jail until his father’s lawyer could come and “bail” him out. Meanwhile, Opie comes into the courthouse and tells his pa that he accidentally threw a baseball through a window. Andy very simply explains that Opie’ll have to pay for the new window out of his allowance. Opie agrees to the punishment. However the rich kid things that Andy was being too harsh. Andy replied, “There comes a time when that youngen’s got to learn to stand on his own two legs.” At the end of the show, the rich kid has reformed and decides that he too should pay his debt to society rather than rely on his father to get him out of every mess he gets into.
III. Children need correction.
A. (Prov 13:24 NIV) He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
B. Opie makes friends with a new boy in town who is used to getting anything and everything he wants because if his parents don’t “obey” him, he’ll throw tantrums. Opie tried to learn the art of getting what he wanted, but found out when Andy ignored him that his pa really knew best and it looked foolish to be disrespectful.
C. Also frequent references to whippings. Barney, Nip it, Nip it in the bud.
IV. Children need confidence.
A. (Col 3:21 NIV) Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
B. A. Opie has gotten into the pattern of making up imaginary friends. He makes friends with a stranger in town named Mr. McBeevee, but his pa doesn’t believe him because of the way Opie described him. Mr. McBeevee jingles when he walks, has 12 extra hands and can make smoke come out of his ears. Andy is faced with the decision of spanking Opie for lying, but decides not to when he sees the honesty in Opie’s face. He is made to trust in the impossible, just as he’s made Opie to do in the past.
V. Children need celebration.
A. (Eccl 11:8 NIV) However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all.
B. (Psa 68:3 NIV) But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
C. (1 Th 5:16 NIV) Be joyful always;
D. Opie and Andy going to the fishing hole. A time of celebration. Birthdays, milestones in life.
VI. Children need challenges.
A. (Luke 16:10 NIV) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.(Luke 16:11 NIV) So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?(Luke 16:12 NIV) And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
B. Opie’s class takes up a collection for needy families. Opie only gives a nickel, much to the dismay of Andy who knows he has quite a bit more money from allowances. Andy took upon himself to teach his son about giving to those who aren’t as fortunate. Little did Andy know that Opie was saving to buy a little girl in his class a winter coat because she didn’t have one. He was saving his money to help someone with a much larger need.
VII. Children need consistency.
A. (Mat 7:24 NIV) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.(Mat 7:25 NIV) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.(Mat 7:26 NIV) But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.(Mat 7:27 NIV) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."(Mat 7:28 NIV) When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
B. Not one way this day, different the next.
C. Moody people.
D. God gives us stability.
E. Andy Griffith show is all about stability.
Conclusion:
A. What made Andy Griffith such a good father?
1. Went to church.
2. Believed in old fashioned values.
B. Fathers fail in many ways.
C. God is the perfect father.
D. (Psa 68:5 NIV) A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.(Psa 68:6 NIV) God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing
E. (John 14:18 NIV) I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
