Best Dad Ever: How to father like God the Father

John shows the relationship of the perfect Father and the perfect Son more than any other Gospel, and that relationship gives fathers a clear picture of what a godly dad looks like. The Father is “the best dad ever,” and the Son reveals what kind of Father God is. Earthly fathers are not perfect, and children are not perfect, but God still gives fathers a real pattern to follow.

John 5 shows the Father working, and the Son working because he sees what the Father does. A godly father models everything he wants his child to do. The Father does not say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Godly fatherhood puts obedience, prayer, worship, self-control, reverence, and trust in the Lord where children can actually see it.

John 8 shows the Father honoring the Son. The Son is not desperate for the approval of men because “my Father honoreth me.” The Father’s words at the baptism and the mount of transfiguration say it plainly: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” A godly father catches his child doing what is honorable and honors it in sincerity and truth.

John 10 shows the Father knowing the Son, and the Son knowing the Father. That kind of knowledge is not just recognizing a face or knowing a schedule. The Father knows the Son’s purpose, and the Son knows the Father’s will. Godly fatherhood requires real conversation, the kind that learns what makes a child tick and also lets the child know the father’s heart, hopes, struggles, and values.

John 10 also shows the Father giving a clear command. The Son says, “This commandment have I received of my Father.” A godly father is not just a watcher while culture gives the commands. Love gives boundaries, rules, responsibilities, correction, and accountability for the child’s good.

John 10 says the Father sanctified the Son and sent him into the world. Children are not meant to stay under the roof forever. Psalm 127 calls children arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so fatherhood aims, prepares, and launches children into God’s mission. John 11 then shows the Son praying with confidence: “I know that thou hearest me always.” A godly father takes time away from business, ministry, screens, and noise to hear his child deeply.

The final warning says every person needs more than a better earthly father. John 1 says sinners must receive Christ and be born of God. The devil’s family is left only by the new birth, and God becomes Father through faith in Jesus Christ.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Fathers model before they command [33:26] The Father does in front of the Son what the Son is called to do. Godly fatherhood cannot live by a double standard and expect children to learn holiness from lectures alone. A child will often follow the life that is displayed more than the rule that is announced. [33:26]
• 2. Affirmation steadies a child’s soul [39:38] The Father’s honor gave the Son stability when men rejected, mocked, and accused him. A child who never hears love and approval may spend years chasing validation from weaker voices. True affirmation is not flattery, but honest honor given when something honorable is seen. [39:38]
• 3. Knowing requires real conversation [44:49] The Father knows the Son, and the Son knows the Father. That kind of relationship is not built by living in the same house while staying strangers. Meaningful questions can open the heart, reveal motives, and teach a child that the father cares about the soul, not just behavior. [44:49]
• 4. Loving authority gives clear commands [49:54] The Father gave the Son a command, and the Son knew exactly what it was. Love does not leave children to be discipled by the world while parents stand back and watch. Clear commands, consistent correction, and accountability tell a child that the father values the child’s future more than his own comfort. [49:54]
• 5. Children are arrows, not trophies [58:23] Psalm 127 pictures children as arrows in the hand of a mighty man. An arrow is prepared, aimed, and released toward a target, not kept forever as a possession. Godly fatherhood takes an active lead in spiritual development so children can be launched into God’s mission.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:29] - Father’s Day and a Dad Joke
• [28:11] - Fathers Carry Profound Influence
• [30:02] - The Perfect Father and Son in John
• [32:34] - A Godly Father Models Godliness
• [38:23] - The Father Affirms the Son
• [43:30] - A Father Knows and Is Known
• [49:30] - Clear Commands and Loving Discipline
• [55:26] - Sanctified and Sent Into the World
• [58:23] - Children as Arrows in the Hand
• [62:18] - The Father Always Hears His Child
• [66:29] - Choosing One Step Toward Godly Fatherhood
• [69:09] - Born Again Into God’s Family
• [72:29] - Prayer and Invitation

1. In John 5:17-19, what does Jesus say about the relationship between His actions and the Father’s actions?
2. According to John 10:15, how does the mutual knowledge between the Father and the Son shape the Son’s purpose?
3. What metaphor does Psalm 127:3-4 use to describe children, and what does it imply about a parent’s role?
4. How does the Father’s public affirmation of Jesus (e.g., at His baptism) contrast with the Son’s experience of rejection by others? [40:41]

1. Why is it significant that Jesus only does what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19)? How might this principle apply to earthly fathers?
2. The Father’s affirmation of Jesus is described as stabilizing Him amid rejection. How might a lack of affirmation from a parent impact a child’s sense of identity or resilience? [39:38]
3. Psalm 127:4 compares children to “arrows.” What does this imagery suggest about the goals of parenting, and how does it challenge modern views of raising children?
4. In John 10:15, the Father and Son’s mutual knowledge leads to sacrificial action. How does deep relational understanding between parent and child foster trust and purpose?

1. What is one area of your life (e.g., prayer, integrity, service) where you need to model godliness more intentionally for others to see? How can you start this week? [33:26]
2. When was the last time you intentionally affirmed someone’s character or actions? Identify a specific moment this week to honor someone’s honorable choice with sincerity.
3. Psalm 127:4 calls parents to “aim” their children like arrows. What specific spiritual or practical skill could you help develop in a child or young person to prepare them for God’s mission?
4. How might you create opportunities for deeper, unhurried conversations with those you influence? What questions could you ask to better understand their hopes or struggles? [44:49]
5. Are there areas where you’ve avoided setting clear boundaries or commands out of fear of conflict? What step can you take to lovingly establish guidance for someone’s good? [49:54]
6. What distractions (e.g., work, screens, busyness) most often compete for your attention? How can you prioritize listening attentively to those who need to feel heard? [01:06:10]