How to be a good father, 06.21.26

Godly fatherhood starts with a right relationship with God. Fathers are important, and the family is the real underpinnings of civilization. Father’s Day gives honor where honor is due, because being a father is not a little thing, and the rate of failure at fatherhood is higher than most men think. Fatherlessness brings tragic results in homes, in children, and in society, and the Bible gives fathers clear instructions for how to stand in their place.

The call to follow God sits at the heart of being a good father. A son may want to “walk in the tracks” his daddy digs, but a father has to make sure those tracks lead to Christ. The question asked to Jimmy Carter, “Did you do your best?” and then “Why not?” presses hard on fathers because God calls men to give their best, not drift along. Fatherhood is a full time occupation, and God helps men who follow Him with all their heart, mind, soul, and spirit.

Provision is the first duty of the family. First Timothy says that a man who does not provide for his own household has denied the faith, and that is serious. Yet provision is not just money, food, and clothing. A wise father gives love, training, encouragement, a positive example, and spiritual leadership, because a child is not likely to find a father in God unless he finds something of God in his father.

Protection is also part of fatherhood. Luke 15 shows the lost son coming to his senses after leaving the safety of his father’s house, and fathers are called to guard their families physically and spiritually. Satan wants a foothold, and if he gets one in a father’s life, he can get one in the family. A father protects by setting an example, resisting the devil, watching what enters the home, and making sure the Word of God is taught.

Patience is seen in the father who kept looking down the road for his wayward son. Luke says the father saw him “a great way off,” ran to him, embraced him, and celebrated his return. Priorities are seen there too, because the main issue was not the shame, the wasted money, or the grief. The main thing was that the son was alive and had come home.

Prayer is the most important part. David prayed for Solomon, and a father’s prayer helped launch one of the great reigns of the Old Testament. Prayerlessness is a great sin against children, because fathers are called to pray for guidance, protection, truth, and blessing. The bottom line is simple: a good father shows up.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Fatherhood starts with following God Godly fatherhood is not built first on personality, money, or natural ability. The father who wants his children to walk in good tracks has to walk the Christ life himself. Children are watching more than fathers may know, and the question “Why not?” still searches the heart when a man has not given God and his family his best. [28:16]
• 2. Provision is more than money A father must provide for his family, and Scripture treats that duty as serious business. Yet the danger comes when provision turns into teaching children to love money or expect too much from the world. The better provision gives food and clothing with contentment, but also love, training, encouragement, example, and spiritual leadership. [32:59]
• 3. Protection must be spiritual too A father may naturally defend his family from physical harm, but spiritual danger can slip into a home more quietly. The father’s own life matters because a foothold in him can become a foothold in the family. Protection means resisting the devil, guarding what comes into the home, and making sure the truth of God’s Word is strong there. [39:58]
• 4. Patience keeps looking down the road The father in Luke 15 saw his son while he was still a long way off because his eyes had not stopped looking. Patience does not excuse sin, but it refuses to quit hoping for repentance and return. A wayward child needs compassion that can run, embrace, restore, and celebrate when the lost is found. [42:00]
• 5. Prayer is a father’s highest work Prayer is not an extra added to fatherhood after the “practical” things are done. David’s prayer for Solomon shows that a father’s intercession can shape a child’s future in ways no human strength can control. A father who keeps praying asks God to guide, protect, direct, and keep his children walking in the truth. [49:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [22:04] - Father’s Day and Honoring Fathers
• [23:23] - The Serious Work of Fatherhood
• [24:33] - The Cost of Absent Fathers
• [26:21] - Family as the Cornerstone
• [27:13] - Walking in a Father’s Tracks
• [28:16] - Following God as a Father
• [30:40] - Provision for the Family
• [37:13] - Protection for the Family
• [41:37] - Patience with Children
• [44:04] - Priorities in the Home
• [49:44] - Prayer for the Family
• [51:40] - Men Who Stand for Right
• [52:38] - A Father Who Shows Up

1. In Luke 15:20, what specific actions did the father take when he saw his son returning? How does this reflect his character?
2. According to 1 Timothy 5:8, what are the consequences of failing to provide for one’s family? How does the sermon expand the definition of “provision” beyond material needs? [32:59]
3. The story about the father who kept digging to rescue his son after an earthquake ends with the son saying, “I told the other kids not to worry. No matter what, my dad will be here.” What does this reveal about the impact of a father’s presence? [52:38]

1. Why do you think the father in Luke 15 prioritized celebration over reprimand when his son returned? What does this teach about God’s heart toward repentance?
2. The sermon mentions that “if Satan gets a foothold in a father’s life, he can get one in the family.” How does James 4:7 address this spiritual danger, and what practical steps can fathers take to resist it? [39:58]
3. The story about Jimmy Carter being asked, “Why not?” after admitting he didn’t always do his best challenges fathers to reflect on their efforts. How might this question apply to areas like spiritual leadership or patience in parenting? [30:04]

1. What are 1-2 non-material ways you can intentionally “provide” for your family this week (e.g., encouragement, spiritual guidance)? How might this shift your daily priorities? [34:34]
2. The sermon warns that “a child is not likely to find a father in God unless he finds something of God in his father.” What specific habit or attitude could you cultivate to better reflect God’s character to your children or others watching your life?
3. Reflect on a time when you struggled to protect your family spiritually (e.g., unhealthy influences, neglecting prayer). What is one practical change you can make to guard your home this month? [39:58]
4. The prodigal son’s father “kept looking down the road” for his child. If you have a strained relationship with someone, how can you actively demonstrate patience and hope while still upholding biblical truth? [42:00]
5. The story of the earthquake rescue emphasizes showing up. What is one upcoming event or routine moment where your presence could make a meaningful difference in your child’s life? [52:38]
6. The sermon calls prayerlessness a “great sin.” What specific area of your child’s life (or future) do you feel most compelled to pray for consistently starting today? [49:44]