06-15-08 #Disciple Bible Study titled: “LEARNING FROM THE PERFECT FATHER”

[Disciple]

“LEARNING FROM THE PERFECT FATHER”
Romans 8:38-39
Intro.
Father’s Day- it doesn’t get the attention and fanfare like Mother’s Day. Maybe it’s like the little boy who was asked to explain about Father’s Day. He said, “It’s just like Mother’s Day only you don’t spend as much on the present”
There are some major differences between the two days however. Mother’s Day we have a higher church attendance. Mother’s often get flowers. Emotions are high. Father’s Day- The attendance is not quite as high at church. Emotions are not quite as high. Businesses don’t make as much profit.
With the exception of the telephone companies, we’re told that the busiest day of the year for telephone calls is Mother’s Day. Father’s Day is also a big money maker for the phone companies because there are more collect calls on that day than any other day of the year.
Have you wondered why there is such a difference between the two days? Guys think about this. Maybe there isn’t as much sentimental feeling associated with Father’s Day because generally speaking, fathers are not as sensitive to the needs of their children as mothers are. Men are not as sentimental about things as women are.
Ill- Did you hear about the mother who left her room in the maternity ward to go to the nursery and she found her husband staring through the glass at their newborn baby. She could see that he was totally captivated by their baby by how intently he stood there staring. She heard him say “It’s just amazing, I just can’t believe it.” She was so touched by this she tiptoed up to him, put her arm through his and said, “Honey, what are you thinking about?” And he said, “I just can’t understand how they’re able to a crib like that for only $89.95.”
Sonora Dodd is responsible for the establishing of Father’s Day as a national day of celebration and honor. She was listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day in 1909 when she first thought of Father’s Day. She had been raised by her father after her mother’s death and she wanted him to know how special he was to her. It was through her efforts that President Calvin Coolidge signed the proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
In his book, “Dare To Discipline”, James Dobson says “Good fathers are made, not born”. He gives three specific things a father needs to keep in mind. Children often follow in their father’s footsteps. Dad the example you set about God, Jesus, the church, and spiritual things will make an impression on your children that cannot be erased, set a great spiritual example.
The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Love your father in the way Christ loved the church-
Eph. 5:25
Make time to spend with your children . Say what we will about our time, ultimately we control our time and decide how we spend it. Let’s look at our heavenly Father and learn about being a father.
I. Our Father Loves His Children

Look at just a couple of verses that teach us this truth.

1 John 4:19
Romans 5:8

What stands out in these verses is that God did not wait for us to come up to his expectations and desires for us before he loved us. He loved us first and God never stops loving us. We may disappoint him with our failures and disobedience, but he never stops loving us. That is what Paul said in Romans 8:38-39. Nothing will ever be able to separate us from God’s love through Christ Jesus

Ill.- Erma Bombeck- “When the Lord was making father”

“When the Lord was creating fathers he started with a tall frame. An angel standing nearby said, “What kind of father is that? If you’re going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won’t be able to shoot marbles without kneeling. He won’t be able to tuck a child into bed without bending. He won’t even be able to kiss a child without stooping,” God smiled and said, “Yes, but if I make him child size, who will the children have to look up to?” And when God made the father’s hands, they were large…The angel shook his head and said, “I don’t think you want to make hands like that. Large hands are clumsy. They can’t manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused by baseball bats.” God smiled and said, “I know, but they’re large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of the day, yet small enough to cup a child’s face in his hands.” Then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders. The angel nearly had a heart attack. “Boy, this is the end of the week, alright!” he said. “How’s he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his legs?” God smiled and said, “A mother needs a lap but a father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle, or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus.” God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could not be contained any longer. “That’s not fair,” he said. “Do you honestly think that those large feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?” Again God smiled and he said, “They’ll work. You’ll see. They’ll scare off mice at a summer cabin, or leave footprints that will be a challenge to follow.” God worked throughout the night, giving the father few words, but a firm voice and eyes that saw everything. Finally almost as an afterthought, he added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, “Now are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?” And the angel was silent.” added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, “Now are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?” And the angel was silent.”
God loves his children unconditionally. God loves his children completely. God loves his children constantly. And so should we fathers love our children.
II. Our Fathers Encourages His Children
God is quick to give encouragement to his children. We need to follow his example and encourage our own children.
Ill. - William Arthur Ward “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”
Ill. - In the book, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’, Revised Edition, story is told of a young boy who was told by one of his teachers that his singing sounded like the shutters in the wind. His mother worked hard to encourage him not only with her words but also with her actions. She worked hard to pay for his lessons. She went barefoot to be able to pay for music lessons, because of the encouragement this young boy received, he went on to become one of the greatest opera singers the world has ever know. And all of us have heard of Enrico Caruso.
We can see in Scripture how God also encourages his children. He encouraged Moses at the burning bush. It is interesting to see how the Lord encouraged Moses to go to Egypt to free the Israelites. Moses doubted his own ability.
Exodus 3:11
And God encourage Moses with the promise of his own presence I will be with you…
God encouraged Moses by giving him power to do miraculous works. When Moses said he was not eloquent to speak and was slow of speech and tongue, God said, Now go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. (Exodus 4:12)
God encouraged Moses with his words, his presence, and his help. As dads we need to be careful the things we say to our children. What kind of message are we sending to them?
Ephesians 4:29
Dad, are the words you speak to your children helpful for building them up? Are they wholesome words Are your words beneficial to your children? How sad that so many children hear nothing but words that are yelled and screamed in unkind ways



III. Our Father Disciplines His Children
Today we hear so much about how parents should not discipline their children. Parents have become fearful of discipline because we want to avoid being abusive to our children. Let me assure you that you can be a good father and still discipline in spite of those who say that discipline means that you don’t love your child.
Would you agree with me that God is the perfect Father? Would you agree that God loves his children? Would you say that God is indeed a good father and a good example for fathers to follow today? Consider some scripture verses about this perfect Father we have
Deut. 8:5
Proverbs 3:12
Hebrews 12:10-11
God is good. God is a loving father. God is the perfect father. His intentions and actions are never evil or unloving. And God disciplines his children because he loves us.
The man who disciplines his children wisely is reflecting the character and love of God. Discipline and correction teaches responsibility. It teaches that wrong actions have negative consequences. Discipline helps your child start living right.
Conclusion
What is our responsibility today?
We have a perfect father who loves us, encourages us, and disciplines us.
We dads need to realize that it is our responsibility to bring up our children in the training of the Lord. Dad, is regular, weekly worship a habit of your life? You need to be the example for your children and help them develop the best habit of their lives. And you need to start when they’re young.
What do your children learn about God as they watch your life? What are you teaching your children today?
We can be glad there’s a Father’s Day for us to celebrate and honor our fathers. And dad, when you are the reflection of your perfect Heavenly Father, you really give your family reason to honor and celebrate.
The most important issue dad, is “are you a Christian?”