06-17-10 AM - Disciple Making Dads

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In the past 25 years, the number of dads present at their children’s births has risen from 27% to more than 90 percent.
More than 75% of men say they would trade rapid career advancement for more time with their families.


Psalm 68:5: “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling”

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12: “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,  12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”


1. Thanks for being a good example.
“You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.”
“holy,” which means that they were set apart for ministry.
“righteous,” meaning that their character and behavior was upright.
“blameless,” translated, “not able to find fault in.”
“One way to correct your children is to correct your example.

2. Thanks for caring for your kids.
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children…”

3. Thanks for encouraging your kids.
 “to come alongside with instruction and insight in order to move someone in a specific line of conduct.”

3. Thanks for encouraging your kids.

First, you have what it takes to be a difference-maker. I love you and am proud to be your dad.

Second, God has places and situations already prepared for you today where you will have the chance to be a difference-maker, to bring light where it is dark and vibrant life where things are dying – pay attention! 


He reminds them thirdly what King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

4. Thanks for comforting your kids.
“to come alongside with sympathy and concern.”                              
1 Thessalonians 5:14: “encourage the fainthearted”
“cheer up the discouraged.”

4. Thanks for comforting your kids.
When our kids are doing OK, they need encouragement.
When they’re falling apart, they need comfort.

5. Thanks for urging your kids to go deep with God.                    
“urging” means “to beg earnestly” and was used of an anguished appeal from one who is a witness.
(12)“to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.”


Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” 

It’s biologically easy to become a father, but biblically challenging to actually “father” our children. 

6. Thanks for not exasperating your kids.
“exasperate” means “to rouse to anger” or “to enrage.”
Colossians 3:21: “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”

7. Thanks for bringing your kids up to believe.
Proverbs 29:15 says, “A child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”

8. Thanks for disciplining your kids.
 “admonition” and carries with it the idea of a warning.
Literally, it means to “place before the mind.”

Proverbs 13:24: Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. 

Grace without discipline produces spoiled brats. 
Discipline without grace produces rebellious brats.

Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

The purpose of punishment is to inflict penalty and focuses on the past.
The purpose of discipline is to promote growth by looking to the future.

9. Thanks for teaching your children.

10. Thanks for having a heart for your kids.
Malachi 4:6 “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Romans 2:5 says that it’s the “kindness of God that leads us to repentance.”

There are no perfect fathers, except our Heavenly Father.
We can all be better dads if we will work at it.
We do not father alone.