Who are Fathers?
Matthew 2:13-23, Proverbs 4:1-9 and Genesis 27:1-23
June 15, 2025 Father’s Day
Preached with Crosby Bearden
On this Father’s Day, Crosby and I decided to focus on fathers. We looked for Scriptures that talked about fathers. We found three. In these three, we found a father can be a protector, a teacher, and make mistakes. We’ll look at those stories and add some stories about our own fathers. Then we’ll finish with talking about how fathers are there for us and help us. After the message, we’ll invite you to share ways that your father has helped you.
Our first story features the father of Jesus. Crosby will tell us how Jesus’ father Joseph protected Jesus when he was young.
(Crosby summarizes Matthew 2:13-23)
Crosby tell us how your own dad has been a protector in your life: (Crosby tells a story about his dad)
One story in my own life where my dad protected us financially when Lori and I were in our early thirties. We were moving to Granger, Indiana as I took a job as Associate Pastor at a large church in South Bend. The church did not have a parsonage so we needed to buy a house for the first time. But we were young and had not accumulated much financially. We decided on a beautiful, but reasonably priced house for our family in the suburbs, but we didn’t have the money for a downpayment.
I asked my dad if we could borrow the money from him for the downpayment. Instead, he gave it to us as a gift. It made it possible for our family to enjoy a nice home. I hoped that I could repay my dad later. Unfortunately, we had to sell the house less than two years later for a small loss. But my dad was gracious and did not ask us to ever repay that downpayment.
The second Scripture that Crosby and I found was in Proverbs. Here we find that the author speaks as a father to his child giving him wisdom and advice. Our fathers can be our teachers.
Crosby tell us about how your father has been a teacher to you: (Crosby talks about what he’s learned from his dad)
For me, I’ve learned many things from my dad. Probably the most important has been a good work ethic. My dad was never one to sit around. I never remember seeing him watch the television or sit in a chair. He was always working. I watched him build our garage. I watched him build our little house on stilts for us kids. I watched him take his work home with him and work on those projects at home. He was always busy and taught me the value of a good work ethic.
A third story we found in the Bible about fathers is the story of Father Isaac and his two sons Esau and Jacob. It’s a story where the father makes a mistake. Crosby would you tell that story:
(Crosby tell the story of Genesis 27:1-23)
This is a story of a father making a mistake. Crosby, has your father ever made a mistake?
(Crosby tell the story of his dad making a mistake)
I shared a few weeks ago about the mistake my dad made recently. He called me up a couple months ago. He said, “I don’t like the way your daughter is raising her children. She is doing it wrong. You need to get you daughter to change how she’s raising her children.”
I told him, “Dad, we raised our kids the way we believed was the best. They can raise their kids the way they see is the best. It’s not our business.”
Fathers can make mistakes.
But despite the mistakes of our fathers, they are there to help us. Crosby, could you share a story about how your dad has helped you: (Crosby share a story)
Now, we’d like to hear from you. How has your father helped you?
