TOP 10 SAYINGS OF A WISE FATHER

10. Why? Because I said so, that’s why!

9. Just wait ‘till you have kids of your own.

8. What did I just finish telling you?

7. This is going to hurt me more that it does you!

6. Do I look like I’m mode of money?

5. Not now, I’m watching the game.

4. When you break your leg, don’t come running to me!

3. No! We are NOT lost!

2. Be quiet! Can’t you see I’m trying to think?

And the number one saying of a wise father is…..a TIE!

1. Wait until your mother gets home!

1. How should I know? Ask your mother!

BACKWARDS, FORWARDS, IT’S STILL D-A-D

Ephesians 6: 1-4 –

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.  ⁴Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

A. CHILDREN

Vs. 1 – Children – large part of the congregation

“in the Lord” – The parents are Christians or the Lord provides strength to obey.

Why Obey?

1. RIGHT - vs. 1

Why Honor?

1. REQUIRED - vs. 2 Exodus 20:12, Deut. 5:16

· Show love and respect

· Care for them as long as they need us

· Live in a way the brings honor to them

2. RELEASES blessing – vs. 2,3

· Well – escape a good deal of sin and danger

· Avoid things that would threaten, shorten their lives

· Long- Life – Life is not measured only by Quantity of Time,

but also by Quality of experience

Sin always ROBS us

Obedience always ENRICHES us.

B. DADS

“Everything in the home is controlled by switches – except the children!”

GOOD DADS AND BAD DADS

- David – Pampered Absalom

- Eli – Failed to discipline his sons

- Noah – Provided a godly example for his children

- Joseph – Protected his earthly son Jesus after his birth

I Don’t TICK them off – vs. 4

“Fathers, don’t provoke your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Col 3:21

How do you Provoke and Discourage?

· Saying one thing and DOING another

· Always blaming and never PRAISING

· Inconsistent and unfair in discipline

· Showing favoritism in the home

· Making PROMISES and not keeping them

· Making light of problems that to children are very important

Christian parents need the fullness of the SPIRIT so they can be SENSITIVE

to the needs and problems of their children.

How do you Promote and Encourage?

- Don’t compare one child with another

- Parents don’t use children as weapons for fighting against each other

- Loving heart, listening ear, watching eyes, helping hands

II DEDICATE yourself to their Nurture – vs. 4

- Jesus’ home – Luke 2:52

- Nowhere in the Bible is the training of children assigned to agencies outside the home, no matter how much they might assist.

III DISCIPLINE - vs. 4

Why? Realization of our sin nature

Evidence of our love

How? Love and not anger

Firm and consistent – gives assurance to the child

To Discipline we MUST be DISCIPLINED!

IV DECIDE to Instruct and Encourage – vs. 4

- Instruction needs to be tied to the WORD of God

- Encouragement needs to be tied to the LOVE of God

If a home is truly Christian, it is a place of encouragement. In such a home, the child finds refuge from battles, and yet, strength to fight the battles and carry the burdens of growing maturity. They find a loving heart, a watching eye, a listening ear, and a helping hand. They do not want any other place – home meets their needs. In this kind of a home, it is natural for a child to trust Christ and want to live for Him.