2025-06-15 Sermon Notes1
| Series | Location | Subjects | Takeaways | Sermon Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church | - | - |
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.
See also
- Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 93-95
Points
- It is only by the grace of God in Jesus Christ mediated into our lives by the Holy Spirit that we can be faithful Christian fathers.
- Today we will be learning about the kind of father that God is recreating us to be.
- In the context of our reading today:
- Paul is defending himself against the accusations of Ananias the high priest.
- Paul said that he always strives to have a conscience that is right toward God and men.
- A conscience is that internal voice given to us by God that judges us morally, either excusing our right actions or condemning our wrong actions.
- When we sin, we confess our sin and therefore we can have a conscience that does not offend God
- 1 John 1.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- When we sin, we confess our sin and therefore we can have a conscience that does not offend God
Earn the respect of your children
- determine by God's grace to earn and maintain the respect of your children by living without offense toward God and men
- We also ought to have a conscience that does not offend others around us:
- A father should show to their children and their wife that when they have committed sin, they have confessed their sin to God and ask their family to also forgive them.
- Ephesians 5.25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;
- Ephesians 5.28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
- If your children do not see you endeavoring to love your wife in a caring and nurturuing way, then you show them that you are unloving and selfish
- A father should show to their children and their wife that when they have committed sin, they have confessed their sin to God and ask their family to also forgive them.
- If you want your children to respect you then you should exercise self-control with regard to:
- abstaining from gluttony in food
- The Lord holds gluttony at the same level as drunkenness
- honoring the Lord with how you use your discressionary time
- In 1 Thess 2 Paul saw himself as a spiritual father
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe. As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
- In 1 Thess 2 Paul saw himself as a spiritual father
- abstaining from gluttony in food
- We also ought to have a conscience that does not offend others around us:
Show verbal expressions of affection to your wife and children
- You should be a father who mirrors the Heavenly Father.
- Matthew 5.48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
- 1 Peter 1:15-16 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy."
- How does our Father prove His love to us? By word and deed (actions). By what we say and what we do.
- 1 John 2:5-6 But God's love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him: he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.
- Tell your wife that you love her, in front of your children, and then show it by your actions.
- Believers should tell each other that they love each other.
- Paul called Timothy, my dearly beloved son.
Monitor the worldly influence that comes into your children's lives
- The system of this world is not a neutral issue
- 1 John 5.19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
- Romans 12.2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- Do not let the world squeeze you into its mold.
- What is the way of blessedness?
- Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in Yahweh's law. On his law he meditates day and night.
- You fathers are appointed by God to be governors within your home to deal with your children wisely and to not allow unrestrained undisciplined actions from your children.
- You cannot stop your children from sinning. Only God can do that.
- But what you can do is prevent your children from feeding on this world's sinful ideas.
- Father's monitor your child's electronic devices.
- We are a part of our world. And we cannot block all things from your children, but we can protect them.
- Do not thoughtlessly tell your children no computers, no tv etc.. These are all simply tools and there is a right way to use these things.
- Remember that the devil is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
maintain regular family worship
- Maintain a regular practice of family worship.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-9 These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.
- God will pour out judgement upon those families who do not cry out to God.
- Jeremiah 10.25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that don't know you, and on the families that don't call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob. Yes, they have devoured him, consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.
Guide your children in how to find godly spouses
- Determine to be actively involved in the process of helping your children in all dealings with those of the opposite sex and finding a partner.
- The idea that a father, when their child is 18, must be completely hands off in manners of finding a spouse is completely unbiblical.
- Martin Luther: "Parental power is not for the benefit of the father, but for the benefit of the children. And that father who misuses such parental power loses such parental power."
- The idea that a father, when their child is 18, must be completely hands off in manners of finding a spouse is completely unbiblical.
- You are a picture of Christ to your children.
- If you do not love your wife then you are communicating to your children that Christ does not love them.
- If you are unfaithful, you communicate that Christ is unfaithful.
- What a horror if your life proclaims such lies about Christ!
- But on the other hand, if you are a godly man, then look what you communicate
- If you are faithful to your wife, you communicate that Christ is faithful to his bride the church
- If you love your wife with tender affection you communicate that Christ has tender affection for the church.
- What a privilege to make Christ real to your bride.
Application
- As a father you may feel discouraged because things are not going well with your children.
- Case study: A father felt discouraged because his children were not going well.
- A friend said to him the task of a father is to train up his child in what is right.
- And our Father said to us Behold I am with you always, to the end of the world.
- Look to Jesus. Rely on the Holy Spirit who annoints you out of His fullness.
- When guilt and shame consume you, come to Christ who washes you clean in His blood.
- When you doubt, remember that Jesus Christ is praying for you. And He is subduing all enemies under His feet.
- Your weakness and deficiency can become the platform where the might of God is displayed.
- Use every opportunity to train, teach, pray, care for and love your children, and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
- Exhibit the grace of God to poor and unworthy sinners.
- Perhaps you have failed to lead your children in Godliness
- you've been passive
- you've been abusive
- you've fallen short of providing leadership in your home.
- It is never too late
- to evangelize to your children
- to confess your sins and to apologize to your children.
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions
2025-06-15 Sermon Notes1
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On this page
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
See also
Points
Earn the respect of your children
Show verbal expressions of affection to your wife and children
Monitor the worldly influence that comes into your children's lives
maintain regular family worship
Guide your children in how to find godly spouses
Application
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions