HOW TO SET A FATHERLY EXAMPLE

TEXT- 1 THESSALONIANS 2:9-12

INTRODUCTION

A LITTLE BOY AND GIRL WERE TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT GAMES THEY COULD PLAY TOGETHER. THE LITTLE BOY SAID, "I HAVE AN IDEA -LET'S PLAY BASEBALL." BUT THE LITTLE GIRL SAID, "OH, NO, I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT; BASEBALL IS A BOY'S GAME. IT'S NOT FEMININE TO RUN AROUND ON A DUSTY FIELD." SO THE BOY REPLIED, "OK, THEN, LET'S PLAY FOOTBALL." AGAIN THE GIRL ANSWERED, "OH, NO, I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT; THAT'S EVEN LESS FEMININE. THAT'S NOT A GIRL'S GAME. THE BOY REPLIED, "OK, I'VE GOT A BETTER IDEA. LET'S RACE TO THE END OF THE STREET."  BUT THE LITTLE GIRL AGAIN REPLIED, "OH, NO, GIRLS DON'T RACE BOYS." THE BOY SCRATCHED HIS HEAD TRYING TO THINK OF SOMETHING THE GIRL MIGHT WANT TO DO, AND FINALLY SAID, "OK, THEN, LET'’S PLAY HOUSE." "GOOD," REPLIED THE LITTLE GIRL, "I'LL BE THE DADDY."

WHEN IT COMES TO BEING IN CHARGE, EVERYONE WANTS TO PLAY THE "DADDY," BUT NOT EVERYONE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE POSITION.

TODAY, WE ARE CELEBRATING A HOLIDAY THAT IS ONE OP MY PERSONAL FAVORITES; FATHER'S DAY! 

OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN 1 THESSALONIANS 2:9-12 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HOW TO SET A FATHERLY EXAMPLE."

AS WE EXAMINE THIS PASSAGE, I WOULD LIKE US TO SEE HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS A FATHER TO THE CHURCH IN THESSALONICA.


PAUL WAS THEIR FATHER THROUGH THE GOSPEL.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:15 FOR IF YOU WERE TO HAVE COUNTLESS TUTORS IN CHRIST, YET YOU WOULD NOT HAVE MANY FATHERS; FOR IN CHRIST JESUS I BECAME YOUR FATHER THROUGH THE GOSPEL.

AS A KIND OF SPIRITUAL FATHER, PAUL WAS ALWAYS AWARE OF THE NEED TO SET THE RIGHT KIND OF EXAMPLE FOR THOSE TO WHOM HE MINISTERED.

HERE IN OUR TEXT WE FIND FOUR WAYS IN WHICH HE WAS AN EXAMPLE AS A SPIRITUAL FATHER.

AS WE CONSIDER THESE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS, LET US KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL OF US ARE TO BE GOOD EXAMPLES FOR THOSE AROUND US.

WE MAY NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN OF OUR OWN, BUT WE CAN STILL BE AN EXAMPLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILDREN.

WE MAY NOT BE A PHYSICAL FATHER, BUT STILL, WE CAN BE A FATHERLY MODEL FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILDREN.

WHAT MUST WE DO IN ORDER TO SET A FATHERLY EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS?