Involved Fathers - September 26, 2021

by Chuck Ryan

Involved Fathers 
Text: Ephesians 6:4 
Thesis: The involvement of the father in the child’s life is critical to their spiritual, mental, 
emotional, and social development. 
  
I. “Fathers do not exasperate your children”. (vs 4a) 
A. Un-kept promises exasperate children. 
1. Children love to be with their dads. 
2. Children get their hopes up. 
B. Children look to their fathers for confirmation. Give them a nod, a smile, a pat on the back or a 
verbal compliment for the job well done. This will go a long way in saying, “That’s my girl!!!” or 
“That’s my boy!!!” 
1. Boys learn how to be men from their dads. 
2. Girls learn how to respect themselves as women, from their dads. 
II. “Fathers bring your children up in the training and instruction of the Lord”. (vs4b) 
A. Children learn to understand and accept God’s love from their father’s involvement in their lives. 
1. A child’s self-esteem is developed as they understand that their parents love and adore them. 
a.  To a child, their parent is larger than life,  
b. A child’s assessment of themselves is not determined by what they think of themselves but what 
they think the most significant person in their lives think about them. 
c. Dad, do your children know that you love and adore them? 
B. Fathers verbally instruct your children about the things of God.  
1.Do not leave the important things of life up to chance.  
(Deuteronomy 6:1-9) 
  “You must learn to love God more than me.” DAD 
C. Fathers instill a Godly value system with your child through example. 
D. Fathers let your children hear you pray. 
E. Fathers pray with your child and give them an opportunity to pray in your  
presence. 
1. Affirm their prayers! 
F. Fathers take an active role in the disciplining of your children. 1. Do not make mom look like the 
“bad guy”.  
• “For what son is not disciplined by his father. If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), 
then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined 
us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 1Our 
fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may 
share in his holiness. 1No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a 
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”. (Hebrews 12:7-11) 
G. Fathers have fun with your children.