Photo taken by me as an example of a stay at home dad and kids. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There were many lessons to note from last Sunday’s message on “Awesome Dads”. Senior Pastor: Rev. Steve Ramsdell gave the sermon message and below is an outline of the message. There is a podcast of each sermon at this Link.
The podcast came in handy this past week since my whole family has been fighting off some upper respiratory ailments and we stayed in. The notes in blue print below are my personal notes I took while watching the podcast. The notes in black below are provided by the church staff and are available to everyone by going to the podcast link and clicking on the PDF icon under each sermon.
A dad has an amazing impact on a child and on this world. While a child is young, they believe dads can do anything until at some point they understand that they can’t. That’s when we have a chance to point out that our heavenly Daddy can.
1. CELEBRATE THEIR CHILDREN’S INDIVIDUALITY.
“Train children how to live right, and when they are old, they will not change.” Proverbs 22:6 (NCV)
How can we be an awesome dad? Awesome dads find out how God wired their children and tries to support and encourage what God wants them to do.
“Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” Galatians 6:4 (NLT)
2. AFFIRM THEIR CHILDREN’S INFINITE VALUE.
“Not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without your Heavenly Father knowing it. … and you are much more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29 & 31 (NLT)
A child’s value is not what value others assign to them but what value God assigns to them and we know that God places a high value on each individual; after all, He gave up His Son for all.
“God made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex. Your workmanship is marvelous….” Psalm 139:13-14 (NLT)
Everyone needs to be affirmed in a world that doesn’t do any of those things. Listen to children no matter how silly it may seem. Sometimes we let them know how valuable they are and don’t even know it. It was early last Sunday morning when I went into my daughter’s room to make sure she was okay. She’s had a bad cough for over a week and at times, was struggling to catch her breath. We had taken her to the doctor and he gave instructions on what to do; telling us that her lungs were clear and let her rest so it will get better. But you worry and so I checked on her. Later that morning, she asked me why I came into her room and I told her just to check and make sure she was okay. She smiled and knew how valuable she is.
3. BELIEVE IN THEIR CHILDREN’S POSSIBILITIES.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much….” Luke 16:10a (NIV)
Be a dad that believes in their child and values them by trusting them to try small task. Christ trusted the twelve disciples with His church so we should be able to trust our children with small task around the house.
“Each person must be responsible for himself.’ Galatians 6:4 (NCV)
If they accomplish small task, later in life they will be prepared to do bigger things.
4. DIRECT THEIR CHILDREN WITHOUT CONDEMNING.
“Correct your children while there is still hope; do not let them destroy themselves.” Proverbs 19:18 (NCV)
We all need direction and correction. When you sail the sea, there are many corrections made along the way. For a child, there can be many very tender, very loving corrections that can be made.
“When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need – words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.” Ephesians 4:29 (NCV)
Words are powerful so share words that are positive, uplifting, and hopeful.
5. LOVE THEIR CHILDREN UNCONDITIONALLY.
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)
As I think back to the most meaningful point in the sermon for me, it would be this: it is best to believe in a child and value them by trusting them with small task. They may not be perfect at first but by letting them get the experience and the satisfaction of accomplishment, they will be prepared to do much bigger things that may change the world in the future.
Nehemiah received his plan from God. We should also go to God in prayer for the master plan. There are plans God will put in your heart when you seek to do good for the people around you; your family, your neighbors, or the people you work with. When He does, be attentive to the thoughts and images that come to mind. Make notes and keep track of progress so that at the end of the successful journey, details are easily retrievable for teaching others.
