WARNING: Anything you do or say can be used against you… as a sermon illustration!
Father’s Day is my annual reminder of why I had kids: for stories. Without Abe, Charlotte, and Gwen, I wouldn’t have anything to preach!
My kids catch the brunt of the embarrassment dished out from the pulpit, and I am so thankful they are good sports about it. I may lay off them when they become moody teenagers, but, for now, they like being in the sermons.
Last Wednesday, it was Charlotte’s turn, and she said, “Afterwards, everyone was telling me things like, ‘You were the star of the show tonight.'”
And the other kids were jealous! Crazy kids.
I love being a dad, but the responsibility of it weighs heavily on me. I know I only have a short time to influence my kids while they are in the home, and I want them to be disciples of Jesus Christ for life. The culture of my home is going to influence them far more than any single conversation we have.
Dads, don’t expect church to fix things in your kids that you are not willing to fix at home.
Every time I am talking to a man about his home, I try to give him hope through a challenge. I say things like, “Good news! God wants to use YOU to change your home. Once you embrace your role, about 80% of the other issues should fall into place.”
Nourish and cherish your wife as the Lord loved the church. Don’t provoke your kids to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (see Ephesians 5 and 6).
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Happy Father’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate one of the greatest challenges in life.
–Pastor Ryan