June 20th Message: "A Blueprint for Fathers"

Main Scripture: John 3:16

Speaker: Pastor Robert Owens

We hope that all of you dads had a great Father's Day. Last Sunday, after Pastor Bob's grandkids expressed their love for him during the service by presenting him with a gift, he delved into the Word of God to present us with the perfect blueprint for fathers -- our Heavenly Father Himself.

John 3:16 is a very familiar scripture. However, Pastor Bob had us looking at it a little differently on Sunday. In the sermon, he showed us how this scripture gives us four ways that God relates to us as our Father. God Himself provides a model for earthly fathers to relate to their children.

First of all, the Father loves. John 3:16 starts with "For God so loved the world..." When a child comes into the world, a real father loves his child the moment he sees him or her. The child has done nothing yet to earn that love. But the father loves the child anyway. God loved us from before the time we were even conceived. We have not, and never will do anything great enough to earn His incredible love. But He loves us anyway with an everlasting love. Godly fathers must model this love when relating to their children.

Second, the Father gives: "that He gave His only begotten Son". The Father not only gave, but He gave His best -- His only Son. Fathers must be prepared to give their best to their kids. That means not only the obvious -- to house them, feed them, clothe them, provide for their education, but also give of yourselves. Giving material things is easy; giving of yourselves is much harder sometimes. You work hard. You're tired. You want to relax. But children, even grown ones sometimes, need your time. They need your wisdom and advice. They need to just have some fun with you every now and then. Don't give your kids the leftovers. Give to your kids as our Father gave to us. He gave His all.

The third way John 3:16 provides the perfect model of fatherhood is in showing that the Father requires. In this verse, which gives us God's Plan of Salvation, He has a requirement: "...that whosoever believeth in Him..." God provides the plan, but He does require something of us to realize this plan. We must believe. Earthly fathers must also set requirements for their children. Children should be required to be honest, to be respectful, to work and to try their best. And not only must fathers set the expectation that the requirements are met, but they must also lead by example. Godly fathers must be like Joshua, in Joshua 24:15, and boldly state "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".

Lastly, the Father prepares His children for the future. God has a plan for us. In the last portion of John 3:16, He again lays it out for us "...that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life". By allowing God to have control of our lives, He is preparing us for everlasting life with Him. A good father follows this example by preparing his children for this life. He instills in them a strong work ethic, teaches them how to handle money, how to handle victory and defeat, what to look for in a spouse and, most of all, how to honor God. A good father looks at his child's future, even beyond his own lifespan, and tries to prepare them for all they will face.

Fathers, look to God as your perfect blueprint for fatherhood. If you do so, you can't go wrong.