THE PROFILE OF A GODLY FATHER

THE PROFILE OF A GODLY FATHER

June 21

MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 20:12 (NIV) — 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

1 Thessalonians 2:7–12 (NIV) — 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 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.

INTRODUCTION:

 1 Thessalonians 2:7–12 (NLT) — 7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. 8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. 9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. 10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. 11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. 12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

1. LOVING

1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV) — 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

Ephesians 5:21–26 (NKJV) — 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

ILLUSTRATION:

Luke 15:17–18 (NLT) — 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,

Luke 15:18–20 (GW) — 18 I’ll go at once to my father, and I’ll say to him, “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you. 19 I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Make me one of your hired men.” ’ 20 “So he went at once to his father. While he was still at a distance, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him.

2. TRANSPARENT

1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NCV) — 8 Because we loved you, we were happy to share not only God’s Good News with you, but even our own lives. You had become so dear to us!

ILLUSTRATION: AS SHARED BY MELVIN NEWLAND 

3. INDUSTRIOUS:

1 Thessalonians 2:9 (NKJV) — 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

ILLUSTRATION.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NET) — 8 But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NKJV) — 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

Proverbs 10:4 (NIV) — 4 Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 13:4 (NLT) — 4 Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.

4. PIOUS 

1 Thessalonians 2:9–10 (NIV) — 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

5. INFLUENTIAL:
1 Thessalonians 2:12 (ESV) — 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (NLT) — 12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

ILLUSTRATION: