I suppose the scripture I have heard most on Father’s Day sermons is the story of the Prodigal Son. How much the Father waited and loved him! How wonderful the party thrown in his honor! In recent years it has become common to be told the problems of the Elder Brother. Good stuff.
But if I were preaching a Father’s Day sermon, here is my very short sermonette.
I would use two scriptures that show wonderful wisdom and love of two fathers, both of whom knew how to appeal to Jesus in behalf of their children. (Mark 5:22-24 and Mark 9:17) In one the father took Jesus to his child; in the other the father took his child to Jesus. Both cases the answer lay in connecting to Jesus! Did you get that. I will repeat. Both cases the answer lay in connecting the child to Jesus!
Mark 5:22-24 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
Mark 9:17 17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
The Rest of The Story: Jesus did it! He answered the fathers’ requests.
Dads and Moms, I’ll tell you some practical ways you can show Jesus’ love to your child.
Model behavior with an abundance of hugs and kisses; use movies, videos, songs, rhymes; attend church, camps, parties, nursing homes, and mission trips; pray with and for the child, teach good manners and mores, especially by use of Bible stories; and do whatever else modern life and technology makes possible.
Remember that in our Bible models, the father was the instigator and he was there! He was present! You may sometimes assign the duty to someone else, but the real answer is in the three being together—father, child, and Jesus. In many life situations, the duty is left to the mother, but God’s plan makes the husband the “priest” of the home.
Many men have failed this assignment and mothers have picked up the pieces and taken the children to Jesus as well as taken Jesus to their children. Lois and Eunice earned a special place in the Bible for doing just that. May you join them in raising some Timothys.
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baby dedication, parenting, Uncategorized and tagged baby baptism, baby dedication, children, generations. generational blessings, God’s instruction re raising children, parenting.
Sweet aroma 
Perfect advice for parents
Thank you. My heart hurts for children who are being neglected in their spiritual upbringing.
I feel the same. They’re losing the One thing needful❤️
Yes, indeed.
One of my greatest regrets is not taking my kids to Jesus sooner, but as long as I have breath and they have breath it is not to late. My son is a Christian, but my daughter I am not so sure of, but I am working on her and praying for her.
I am sure I answered this before, but apparently I blew it to the winds. You and your daughter seem to be honest with each other. Pour out your love in every way you can without the enabling of harm to her. Keep praying. Just visualize that bottle in heaven that catches all your tears. They will be heeded.
Thank you Oneta and you probably did, but my memory has more holes than a fishnet these days. We are sometimes painfully so and I am honest with her and she knows this. I do that and thankfully she is well adjusted in the self harm area now and it has been decades now since the last time. I will do that Oneta and again thank you!
God continue walking you along this path; and may he show himself strong to your daughter also. Good night, dear Lady.
It is a crushing blow when you do “all of the above” you have mentioned and they still stray away…. I do believe this is why the prodigal son has been given to us, so that we may always remain in hope of their return. Hugs Oneta for this lovely three part series.
Thanks for reading and sending support. I appreciate it very much. How much we would like to see our kids mature without problems. But it doesn’t happen that way. Gives me a look into our Father’s heart. How much we grieve the Holy Spirit when we decide to do our own thing! He knows we are going to get hurt! He will faithfully guide when we will be directed!
💔💔💔Blessings upon all those broken hearted family members who wait each day for the return of their prodigals.
Love love love this!
Thank you, Debbie. Hope you have had some take home lessons to pass on to others.
How I wish you had been around to advise me 40 years ago. But there were ‘voices’ to which I would not listen, and who knows, maybe I would have been tone deaf even to your wisdom back then.
But Father is redeeming even this sorry sad sac. Pray for my son.
❤️&🙏, c.a.
You are kind to say such things. I was blessed by not having a lot of baggage and insecurities in my upbringing. Generational blessings. I have not been able to do as well with my grandchildren. Got some bad addictions going on. With God out of government, schools, and many churches not Spirit-led, it is hard for our children to believe our message. I’m asking the Lord to remind me to pray for your son.
His name is Jon Post of Iowa. Thanx!
I have never noticed that. Yes! We fathers need to bring our children (And grandkids) to Jesus. It’s our number one job. Thank you for the reminder!
Thank you. I visited your blog. Enjoyed “Praise Him…” I had several years of fulfilling nursing home ministry. Health and finances demanded a change, so God opened my heart to blogging and He helped me figure out ways to do it. Thankfully.
Thank you Oneta. Welcome aboard. I look forward to your comments and will check in on your blog. Have a blessed week.
See you around the Word Press community.