This sermon explores fatherhood from a biblical perspective, emphasizing that fatherhood is a divine calling and an integral part of God’s kingdom work. The sermon is supported by a variety of biblical references and personal reflection questions to help the congregation examine their relationships with their fathers and understand the role of fathers in God’s plan.
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John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children
of God,
2 Corinthians 6:18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
Matthew 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven,
Dad daddy, dada, pa, papa, pop, poppa, poppy old man, old boy, old guy
origin, ancestor, parent, predecessor, patriarch, progenitor, forebearer, procreator
Begetter, sire, source
So, how would you describe your father?
* Was he soft and gentle or harsh and demanding?
* Was he there for you when you needed him, or was he always on the go and
away from the home a lot of the time?
* Was he affectionate and demonstrative, or did he keep his distance?
* Was he emotionally transparent and easy to read, or was he Stoic and reserved,
keeping his feelings to himself?
* Was he an outdoorsman or a homebody?
* Did he read to you when you were little and play with you as you were growing up?
* Did he teach you to do things? What sort of practical skills did you learn from
your father?
* Was he a good listener? Could you share your thoughts and feelings with him
without getting a lecture in return?
* Was he a man of faith? Did he share his faith with you and help you to experience
the peace of God’s presence and the power of God’s love?
* Was he authoritative or easy going?
* Was he quick to discipline you and keep you in line, or did he give you freedom
to explore and make your own discoveries … your own decisions … and your own
mistakes?
* If you’re a son, was your father someone you wanted to be like when you grew up?
If you’re a daughter, was your father the type of man you hoped to marry some day?
* What did you love most about your father?
If you had the chance, what words of gratitude and affirmation would you most like
to share with him today if you could?
I. THE FATHER’S LOVE IS A LOVE THAT IS A FAMILY LOVE.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:15 ” … You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,
Abba, Father.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children
of God,
Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
Lyrics “Abba Father” by Michael Card
Abba Father
Since that word became Your covenant name
Abba Father I cry out to You
Knowing You will hear my plea
For You’ve adopted me
II. THE FATHER’S LOVE IS A LOVE THAT IS BEYOND MEASURE.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
God is love ..
Ephesians 3:17 (TLB) May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous
love;
Ephesians 3:18 and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children
should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is;
Ephesians 3:19 and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great
that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last
you will be filled up with God himself.
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
Romans 8:39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Stuart Townsend’s song “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.”
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Romans 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, …”
James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
Pew reports that only 11 percent of American children lived apart from their
dads in 1960 which equates to 1 in every 10 children
Now an estimated 24.7 million children (33%) live absent of their biological father.
So one in every three American children are now growing up in a home without
their biological father.
39 % of students, first through 12th grade, are fatherless.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau:
Only 68% of children will spend their entire childhood with an intact family.
That equates to 1 in every 3 children in the United States not having access
to their father.
III. THE FATHER’S LOVE IS A LOVE THAT IS UNCONDITIONAL.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful
or proud
1 Corinthians 13:5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and
it keeps no record of being wronged.
1 Corinthians 13:6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth
wins out.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and
endures through every circumstance.
IV. THE FATHER’S LOVE IS A LOVE THAT PAYS ATTENTION.
Psalm 139:1 (NLT) Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything
about me.
Psalm 139:2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts
even when I’m far away.
Psalm 139:3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know
everything I do.
Psalm 139:4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
Fathers lead, feed, and intercede
1) Leadership- establishing and leading by example a household;
2) Feeding – providing for his family
3) Interceding – praying, protecting and upholding that which he established.
Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you.
Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
Matthew 5:6 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the
death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us.”
2 Corinthians 6:18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
