GOD’S PATTERN FOR FATHERHOOD

TEXT- MATTHEW 6:9-13

INTRODUCTION

IN A  CARTOON ENTITLED, "LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON," A FAMILY IS SETTING  IN THE  FIRST SCENE  AT THE DINNER TABLE  AND THE  SON TELLS  HIS FATHER, "I HATE FISH."  TO  WHICH THE  FATHER REPLIED, "YOU DON'T  HATE  FISH...  YOU  ONLY  THINK YOU HATE FISH."  IN THE  SECOND SCENE  THE SON  IS IN HIS BEDROOM  LISTENING  TO  HIS  LOUD  RADIO AND HIS FATHER ENTERS AND SAYS, "TURN THAT RADIO DOWN, I HATE  ROCK  AND  ROLL  MUSIC."  TO WHICH THE SON REPLIES, "YOU DON'T HATE  ROCK  AND  ROLL MUSIC'. YOU ONLY THINK YOU HATE ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC."

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 6:9-13 AND THE  TITLE OF  MY MESSAGE  IS, "GOD’S PATTERN FOR FATHERHOOD."

CHILDREN OFTENTIMES BASE THEIR CONCEPT OF GOD ON WHAT THEY SEE IN THEIR EARTHLY FATHERS.

WHEN WE EXAMINE THE ROLE OF  EARTHLY FATHERS, WE CAN SEE  A LIKENESS  TO GOD'S  ROLE TO US AS HIS CHILDREN.

HERE IN OUR TEXT JESUS IS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES HOW THEY NEED TO PRAY TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

IN  THIS  PRAYER  HE  ALSO GIVES US SOME INSIGHT CONCERNING THE CHARACTERISTICS  OF  OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

IN  DOING  THIS  HE  GIVES US A PATTERN THAT ALL EARTHLY FATHERS  SHOULD FOLLOW  AND TRY TO EMULATE.

AS  WE  EXAMINE  THIS  MODEL FOR EARTHLY FATHERS THERE ARE FIVE CHARACTERISTICS I'D LIKE TO FOCUS UPON.