Ephesians 6:4

Intro: A parade of biblical fathers.

If you look in the Bible for good examples of earthly fathers,

 you will be hard pressed to find any!

1. Adam ________________________________________________
2. Noah _________________________________________________
3. Abraham ______________________________________________
4. Lot __________________________________________________
5. Isaac _________________________________________________
6. Jacob ________________________________________________
7. Achan ________________________________________________
8. Jephthah ______________________________________________
9. David ________________________________________________
10. Eli __________________________________________________

Father’s Responsibilities to Their Children

• Three principles from Ephesians 6:4

1. Fathers are to Encourage Their Children
2. Fathers are to Instruct Their Children
3. Fathers are to Discipline Their Children

1. ‘Encourage’ stated negatively in verse 4, ‘do not provoke you children to wrath.’ (Also see Col. 3:21)

1. Ways Fathers Can Discourage Their Children:
   1. Showing favoritism - Genesis 37:3-4
   2. Failing to really listen to them

• Signal they don’t measure up

1. Reliving our lives through them
2. Unreasonable, or no expectations

1. Ways Fathers Can Encourage Their Children
   1. With your words – Prov 12:18; 15:1-4; 16:24
   2. By praying for & with your children – Mt. 19:12-13

• By Loving your wife – Eph 5:25

1. By asking for forgiveness – Mat 18:15FF
2. By fulfilling Ephesians 6:4b

Conclusion

“Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”

1. Nurture – Discipline - Admonition – Instruction

• The Gospel
• Discipleship