The Andy Griffith Show

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.