Dads, Step Up…and Get Help
Last Sunday was Father’s Day. It was a joy to have more people in worship at Central than we had had in several weeks (including Mother’s Day) and to see so many who were present to encourage their dads.
This post may have just been written down recently, but it was in my mind from the time I wrote my sermon for Father’s Day, which was completed a long time ago. It comes from something that I said in the sermon, but only very quickly. I thought it might be good to expand on it here and maybe give a little further encouragement to dads.
The New Testament gives the primary responsibility of teaching our children about God to dads. Ephesians 6:4 will always be addressed to fathers! That verse challenges and commands dads to step up and be the spiritual instructors in our homes.
Let’s be honest: a lot of that happens in informal ways. Our children see how we make decisions. They get a front-row seat to how we handle conversations, interactions, and the ups and downs of life. They see whether or not we pray and read our Bibles. They get an education on how to treat a spouse.
But some of obeying that command, by definition, must be more “formal;” that is, we must talk at times. Do our children ever hear us talk about the wonder and beauty of God’s creation? Do we help them learn their Bible school lessons or their books of the Bible? Do we answer their questions about God (or, at least, tell them we will study on them)? Do we help them reason through moral decisions from Scripture?
None of that is easy, and it all takes dads stepping up.
However, the thing that I mentioned in my sermon requires more of the “formal” at first and, then, more of the “informal” teaching. But when pieced together, the dad who will step up and do it is not only helping his children, he is actually getting help in teaching them about God.
What is it? What is this huge decision? What is this thing that will obviously cost him thousands of dollars?
He steps up and says, “We’re going to Bible class.”
That’s it. Dads, you need to be the ones who say that this is going to be where we are whenever our congregation has Bible class. You need to be the one who makes sure alarms are set. You need to be the one who is making sure kids are up and getting ready so the whole family can go learn about God in age-appropriate ways.
And, just think: you are taking your children to people who have prepared themselves to teach your children how much God loves them in a way that is organized, engaging, and appropriate, and you can get part of the credit for it simply by making sure they are present! How easy is that?!
Dads, step up and take the help your congregation provides. Do it week-in-and-week-out. Let it be part of that “discipline and instruction of the Lord” that you are required to provide.
Certainly, don’t let it be the totality of your teaching. But the help is there. Take it!
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
