“As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 11-12 NKJV
Impacting church and culture for GOD’s glory through father-led family discipleship is at the heart of GFM’s mission of “Advancing the Cause of Christ to the Ends of the Earth… Beginning Right at Home.” Among the myriads of noteworthy events of historical significance, both honorable and perverse, that dominate the headlines this month, perhaps the most important for GOD’s people is Father’s Day. Every dad is leaving a legacy as “Father-Power” is automatic and value-free. In other words, we all inherit a legacy from the previous generation that is automatically passed down whether it’s full of virtue or vice. This is sobering stuff indeed. Intentionally passing on the truth to the next generation is a matter of dead serious urgency that ought to be at the forefront of everything that the church and family are about.
#1 Father-Led Family Discipleship Champions Resolute Biblical Conviction – Ps.145:3-4
Irreplaceable Nature of GOD’s Glory (Ultimate Reality) – Rom.11:33-36
- Biblical Doxology Exalts GOD’s Greatness as Eternal King, Sovereign Creator, Merciful Redeemer, & Preeminent Head
Irreplaceable Nature of Manhood (Dominion Mandate)– Gen.1:27-28
- Biblical Manhood Rejects Passivity, Stewards Responsibility, & Leads Courageously
Irreplaceable Nature of Marriage (Creation Order)– Matt.19:4-6; Eph.5
- Biblical Marriage Upholds GOD’s Nuclear Design à Gender Roles à Glory of Motherhood
IRREPLACEABLE: Cannot be replaced, redefined, reordered, reorganized, reprogrammed, or reimagined according to the humanistic falsehood & hubris of expressive individualism in a Romans 1 spirit of rebellion for “the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
*CULTIVATE BIBLICAL FATHERHOOD*
- Pray for the spiritual vitality of your children & grandchildren!
- Invest in their spiritual vitality by bringing them to places like the Creation Museum & Ark Encounter.
- Take personal ownership of their spiritual vitality/discipleship by understanding that education is not neutral but a matter of dead serious worldview urgency.
2. Father-Led Family Discipleship Champions Biblical Home Life – Pr.24:3-4
The Glory of Children (Fruitful Blessings) – Ps.127; Mal.2:15
- Biblical Fruitfulness begins with the reality that GOD is the Progenitor of Life & every precious life is priceless in beauty.
The Priority of Godly Character (Shepherding Hearts) – Deut.6:4-9
- Biblical Character focuses on moral & spiritual development in the fear of GOD as the Biblical Goal of education vs. academic (Ivy League), athletic (Div.1), or social (Cool).
The Vision of Generational Faithfulness (Legacy) – Josh.4:19-24 cf. Jud.2:7-15
- Biblical Faithfulness focuses on the long-term impact of our lives as heirs to the past & ancestors to the future by the legacy that we’ve received & are passing down. Be the hero (Josh.24:15)!
*CULTIVATE BIBLICAL FATHERHOOD*
- Pray for your children & grandchildren’s future spouses (& families)!
- Encourage your kids & grandkids to have babies (children & grandchildren)!
- Get your hands on some family discipleship resources & show up at family discipleship events to proactively equip & encourage your heart!
3. Father-Led Family Discipleship Champions Resolute Biblical Leadership – 1 Thes.2:11-12
Invests Worldview Wisdom (Awe & Reverence) – Pr.1:7; 2 Cor.10:3-5
- Biblical Wisdom begins with reverential fear of Almighty GOD (Is.57:15).
Instills Hope-Filled Vision (Insatiable Optimism) – 2 Chr.32:7-8; Eph.6:4
- Biblical Hope is a confident expectation of a guaranteed future b/c Biblical Vision sees that GOD’s hand is mighty & His outstretched arm is not shortened (Eph.3:20-21; Heb.11:6).
Infuses the Courage of Decisive Action (Just Do Something) – Neh.4:14
- Biblical Courage is not the absence of fear but the deliberate refusal to allow fear dictate decisions & therefore harnessing manly strength to initiate decisive action for God’s glory & the good of multitudes.
“Dads are the God-ordained leaders of worldview wisdom, hope-filled vision, & courageous action at the helms of their homes who shepherd the hearts of their wives & children in the pathways of righteousness for GOD’s glory & their good.”
*CULTIVATE BIBLICAL FATHERHOOD*
- Establish the Family Table/Suppertime as a Priority (Dad Lead in Prayer)!
- Establish the Old-Fashioned Tradition of Family Worship (Father-Led)!
- Establish the Discipline of Family Church (Worship Together)!
A Final Word of Encouragement for Dads
Remember that impacting church and culture for Christ through father-led family discipleship is a matter of dead serious urgency that ought to be at the forefront of everything that the church and home are about. GFM believes that a resurgence of biblical fatherhood that is intentional at shepherding the hearts of children and grandchildren to live in total dependency upon our perfect Father in Heaven and His Holy Word will change the world one heart (& home) at a time. Every one of us will either live FROM our father’s approval or live FOR our father’s approval. Thanks be to GOD, that He is not merely a reflection of our biological father but is much rather the all-glorious perfection of Fatherhood. Regardless of our family background and the legacy we received from our dads, may each of our hearts be filled with joy and gladness knowing the unconditional love and grace of our Heavenly Father as His chosen, adopted, and accepted children to the praise of His glory in Christ Jesus. Happy Father’s Day!
“So our parenting [& grandparenting] must target the central heart issue of our children [& grandchildren]. You are to exercise your authority in such a way that it gives your children [& grandchildren] eyes to see the awesome, presence, power, authority, and grace of God. When our children [& grandchildren] are blown away by the glory of God, they will be predisposed to reach out for His grace and submit to His will.” – Paul David Tripp, “AWE: Why It Matters for Everything We Think, Say, & Do”
