Sermon 21 June 2009

"Father's Day"

Sunday Morning

Richard Hildreth

    This Sunday Pastor Hildreth spoke about living in love.

Some key points from the sermon

• God has ordained the family since Genesis.  We as the Church are also a family.
• Fathers need to understand that sometimes we needlessly upset our family. 
• We have responsibility to mature and develop our children.
• It is easy to provoke our children to anger when we abuse our authority over children
• It is our responsibility and authority to look after our children.
• We must not take out our bad days and frustrations on our family.
• We must teach and train our children to be Godly, because the results of our disobedience can be felt for generations.
• You have the priveledge to reflect an awesome God to your children.  You set the example for your children to follow.  So think; is God patient with you, faithful to you; shown great interest in you.  God is concerned about you.  We must be concerned for our children.
• Focus on God.  Foundation on prayer.
• We must not overly-protect our children.  When a leash is too tight, there is no ability for the child to grow and mature.  Instead give responsibilities and challenges to allow them to grow.  They will fail and make mistakes, but you should pick them up, correct, and encourage.  All restrictions should have a time, a level, and a growth.
• Have the answer to Why? Instill the Biblical truths that back your actions.
• We must not let the freedom go too far.  We must not over-indulge the children.  We must teach them the way the world works.
• Do not focus only on the negative.  Try to focus on encouraging when your children do well. Acknowledge the failure, but encourage on how to succeed in the future.
• Raise Your Children. Father's have an awesome responsibility.
• It is important to discipline your children.  Spoiled children are brats.
• It is a father's responsibility to teach children about God.  Mothers help, but the father should be the example.  If church is important to you it will be important to them.  If you show respect for your wife, your children will respect their mother.
• Children are very perceptive, they will follow the example of the father.
• It is a priveledge to be a man, and an ultimate priveledge to be a father.
• Live your lives so that when you are old you are not ashamed of that which you taught your children.

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