Walking In The Way Of A Father

Key Passage: 2 Kings 21:10-12, 21:18-22

Supporting Scriptures: Mark 9:36-37| Mark 10:14 | Romans 3:23

Introduction

Being a dad is a great privilege, but it’s also an awesome responsibility. Fathers obviously have a tremendous influence on their families, and they can determine the course of a nation. If a young man grows up without a dad, his chance of going to prison rises two-fold. And when fathers walk away from their responsibilities, the entire family suffers. Whatever pathway a father walks—whether good or bad—his children are likely to follow.

Sermon Points

A warning from the example of King Manasseh (2 Kings 21:11-12, 21:20-22)

The attitude of Jesus (Mark 10:14)

Questions for Fathers
If your children follow in your footsteps, will they …

Have a strong desire to discover and fulfill God’s will for their lives?
Live lives of faith, focused on God, trusting Him for their needs?
Be industrious?
Have the wisdom to live today with tomorrow in mind?
Be encouragers who lift up other people?
Have prayer lives that are genuine, diligent, and based on God’s Word?
Hunger for the Word of God, seeking to live according to its principles and developing a relationship with the Lord?
Seek to personally lead others to Christ?
Faithfully serve the Lord through their local church?
Recognize their body as the temple of the Holy Spirit?
Live and work in the power of the Holy Spirit?

Summary

Since children admire their dads and want to be like them, fathers must carefully consider what kind of example they are leaving for their children. The goal is to model a life fully devoted to the Lord—characterized by a commitment to the Word of God, prayer, faith, service, and obedience.

Copy Sermon Outline

2 Kings 21:10-12, 21:18-22

10 Now the LORD spoke through His servants the prophets, saying,

11 Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols;

12 therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.

18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza, and Amon his son became king in his place.

19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.

20 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done.

21 For he walked in all the way that his father had walked, and served the idols that his father had served and worshiped them.

22 So he forsook the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.

Mark 9:36-37

36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

37 Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me."

Mark 10:14

14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Romans 3:23

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

2 Kings 21:11-12, 21:20-22

11 Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols;

12 therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.

20 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done.

21 For he walked in all the way that his father had walked, and served the idols that his father had served and worshiped them.

22 So he forsook the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.

Aired On 19 Jun 2015