The following statistics are of American households:
43% of children live without a father in the home.
90% of homeless/runaway children are without a father in the home.
71% of pregnant teens are without a father in the home.
85% of children who exhibit behavioral disburtances are without a father in the home.
71% of high school dropouts are without a father in the home.
63% of youth suicides are committed by youths without a father in the home.
Being a father is hard.
11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his [a]wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and [b]hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the [c]pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to [d]his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and [e]in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to [f]his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and [g]embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate." Luke 15:11-24
Our compassion has to be beyond our natural human tendencies.
Qualities of a Biblical Father:
I. A Biblical Father Teaches.
5 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as [a]frontals [b]on your forehead. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:5-9
If we're not teaching we are letting our children down.
You might not be actively teaching but you are still teaching kids with everything you do. They watch and will do what you do.
II. A Biblical Father Leads.
"15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
III. A Biblical Father Disciplines.
Correcting behavior, explaining.
"My son, do not reject the [a]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:11-12
IV. A Biblical Father is compassionate.
Mourn with them.
Be vulnerable with them.
"Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who [a]fear Him.
For He Himself knows [b]our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust." Psalm 103:13-14
V. A Biblical Father Provides.
"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8
"Or what man is there among you [a]who, when his son asks for a loaf, [b]will give him a stone? 10 Or [c]if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:9-11
VI. A Biblical Father Loves.
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag andis not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 [a]bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [b]prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.' 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Men, step up. Fathers, need to be in church. Be a father to a child, a young man who doesn't have a father.
The whole world is a prodigal son!